Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

James Pollock to Abraham Lincoln, 18 June 18491
Milton Pa, June 18 1849Friend Lincoln
As I "would as leave", and a little leaver, see you in the General Land Office, "as any other Illinoian" I send you the enclosed,2 I rec^d.[received] your letter yesterday & answer at once as you say no time is to be lost.3 Go it strong! & do not permit any one to check mate you, I hope to hear of your success,4

All well, I am now engaged in the dry details of the law, & expect to continue so,
Yours trulyJa^s PollockHon A. Lincoln,

1James Pollock wrote and signed this letter.

2The enclosed letter Pollock refers to has not been located. Pollock references the competition over who would replace Richard M. Young as commissioner of the U.S. General Land Office. Originally, only Justin H. Butterfield, James L. D. Morrison, and Cyrus Edwards were vying to become commissioner. Abraham Lincoln entered the competition after learning that Butterfield was favored over Morrison and Edwards. See the General Land Office Affair.

3Lincoln’s letter to Pollock 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 Pollock.
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.

4Ultimately, neither Morrison, Edwards, nor Lincoln received the appointment; the job went to Butterfield instead. See the General Land Office Affair.