Jesse K. Dubois to Abraham Lincoln, 11 June 18491
June 11t 1849Dear LincolnOn yesterday I sent you my private letter to Genl Taylor and whilst I was writing it F. A. Thomas Esq[Esquire] Clerk of our court, scratched off a communication to the President and I handed it to our leading whig friends that I saw, and If I had time I could get every whig and two thirds of the
Loco’s in our county to sign it.2 I sent a messenger on yesterday eving to Grass, and I have no doubt but what he will send on his mite.3
Your FriendJesse K. Dubois2Justin H. Butterfield, James L. D. Morrison, and Cyrus Edwards were vying to become commissioner of the U.S. General Land Office. Abraham Lincoln entered the competition after learning that Butterfield was favored
over Morrison and Edwards. In early June 1849, Lincoln sent a series of letters to
numerous people requesting letters in support of his candidacy. Although no such letter
from Lincoln to Dubois has been located, it is likely Lincoln made a similar request
of him since Dubois states that he has written President Zachary Taylor and is working
to procure signatures on another letter of support. Thomas Ewing was the secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, but Taylor was ultimately responsible for appointing the commissioner of the U.S.
General Land Office. See the General Land Office Affair.
Abraham Lincoln to Josiah B. Herrick; Abraham Lincoln to James M. McLean; Abraham Lincoln to Robert C. Schenck; Abraham Lincoln to Joseph R. Underwood; Abraham Lincoln to William A. Minshall and Robert S. Blackwell; Abraham Lincoln to Willie P. Mangum; Abraham Lincoln to William H. Seward; Abraham Lincoln to Duff Green; Abraham Lincoln to Unknown; Abraham Lincoln to David Rumsey; Abraham Lincoln to William Nelson; Abraham Lincoln to Nathaniel Pope.
3Dubois wrote Lincoln another letter June 24, 1849, repeating his hope that Lincoln would become commissioner. Ultimately,
neither Morrison, Edwards, nor Lincoln received the appointment; the job went to Butterfield
instead. See the General Land Office Affair.
Autograph Letter Signed, 1 page(s),
Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress (Washington, DC).