Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

William D. Briggs to Abraham Lincoln, 2 May 18491
Tremont May 2^d 1849Dear Sir
I suppose you have long since received a copy of the proceedings of our town in relation to the appointment of Post-Master2 You were mistaken in supposing that I was opposed to the appointment of either Roberts or Stockwell my opposition was to Dr Stockwell or Shaw 3 A friend of mine Mr Scott is anxious to procure an appointment for John Lowry to some office in St. Louis of which you are no doubt apprized.4 It ^seems^ that it is necessary to procure the recommendation of some whig of Illinois at least such is the wish of Tho^s Ewing. I write you to solicit your aid in his behalf– I am not personally acquainted with Mr Lowry personally but he is highly recommended by those who do know him and by persons in whom I have great confidence as being an honest and efficient man for the office5
yours truly &c[etc]W. D. BriggsA. Lincoln

1William D. Briggs wrote and signed this letter.

2Several correspondents mention the proceedings of this public meeting, but a copy, if enclosed in any letter to Abraham Lincoln, is not extant.
John M. Bush to Abraham Lincoln; Benjamin F. James to Abraham Lincoln.

3Alanson Stockwell, David Roberts, John H. Ball, Joseph L. Shaw, and others were vying to become postmaster of Tremont, Illinois. Stockwell and Roberts were the original frontrunners for the job. Lincoln recommended one of the two to the Post Office Department, but then he began receiving letters opposing both Stockwell and Roberts and supporting Ball as an alternative. With Tremonters at odds over which candidate they preferred, Lincoln was forced to write the Post Office Department and ask that if the appointment was not already made, to suspend it until the town could unify around one candidate. On April 21, Lincoln wrote Briggs offering advice on how to handle the vexing problem. Lincoln advised Briggs “to get up a full and fair meeting” of the Whigs and, if he thought fit, Democrats of the area to decide who would become postmaster. This meeting occurred on April 28, and Roberts received the majority of support.
Lincoln himself preferred Roberts and recommended him for the position. Roberts received the appointment in May 1849 and held the job until 1860.
Petition of Richard T. Gill and Others to Abraham Lincoln; Mary L. Perkins to Abraham Lincoln; Fitz Henry Warren to Abraham Lincoln; John M. Bush to Abraham Lincoln; Benjamin F. James to Abraham Lincoln; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1849 (Washington, DC: Gideon, 1849), *489; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1851 (Washington, DC: Gideon, 1851), 550*; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1853 (Washington, DC: Robert Armstrong, 1853), *520; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1855 (Washington, DC: A. O. P. Nicholson, 1855), 346*; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1857 (Washington, DC: A. O. P. Nicholson, 1857), 346*; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1859 (Washington, DC: William A. Harris, 1859), 74*; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1861 (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1862), 376*.

4Mr. Scott could not be positively identified.

5Lincoln received two other letters, both from Tarrant A. Perkins, endorsing John Lowry for an appointment. Lincoln endorsed Lowry on the fourth sheet of a letter received from Perkins on May 4, 1849.
John Lowry does not appear in the official registers of the officers and agents of the federal government for 1849, 1851, and 1853, so apparently he did not receive an appointment.
Tarrant A. Perkins to Abraham Lincoln; Tarrant A. Perkins to Abraham Lincoln; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1849; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1851; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1853.