William H. Henderson to Abraham Lincoln, 18 May 18491
Washington May 18th 1849Hon A LincolnYour friends require your immediate presencedelay is fatal2
W. H Henderson,1This letter was attributed to William H. Henderson, but Henderson neither wrote nor
signed the letter.
2Henderson desired Abraham Lincoln’s presence to help advance plans to get Lincoln
appointed commissioner of the U.S. General Land Office. Justin H. Butterfield, James L. D. Morrison, and Cyrus Edwards were vying to replace Richard M. Young as commissioner. In a letter to Lincoln dated May 13, Henderson noted that Edwards had withdrawn his candidacy,
and he urged Lincoln to come to Washington immediately if he wanted the position,
believing that success would be assured by his presence. As Henderson hoped, Lincoln
would eventually become a candidate. Neither Morrison, Edwards, nor Lincoln received
the appointment, the job going to Butterfield instead. See the General Land Office Affair.
Handwritten Letter Signed with a Representation, 1 page(s),
Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress (Washington, DC).