William Duer to Abraham Lincoln, 15 June 18491
Chicago June 15 49My dear Sir,I received last night your letter of the 5th inst–2 Not being quite sure whether what you desired was a letter to the Sec[Secretary] of the proper department–3 have I got the right one?– or to yourself I send one of each4
Youservt &[Your servant etc]W. Duer2Abraham Lincoln’s June 5, 1849 letter to Duer has not been located. In early June 1849, Lincoln sent
a series of letters to numerous people requesting letters in support of his candidacy
for commissioner of the U.S. General Land Office. Presumably, he made a similar request of Duer.
Originally, only Justin H. Butterfield, James L. D. Morrison, and Cyrus Edwards were vying to become commissioner. Lincoln entered the competition after learning
that Butterfield was favored over Morrison and Edwards. 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.
3This is a reference to Thomas Ewing, who was secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, the department which oversaw the U.S. General Land Office. President Zachary Taylor, however, was ultimately responsible for appointing the commissioner of the U.S.
General Land Office.
4The enclosed letters Duer refers to have not been located. 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).