Now, I do not intend that, you shall forget there is such a being as your humble servant, nor do I intend to be classed with the "unwashed", because of the fact that I have been kept in Office by them.2 No sir, I am as far from it as ever I was. To become one is not in my nature– I might as well attempt to turn the Mississippi up stream. There is no aspect in which I can view them in but the same characteristics, as in days past, present themselves. I am still Whig—whig all over, I have seen nothing to induce me to change my opinions but more than enough to confirm them. The ostensible object of locofocoism is now, as it has ever been— "public plunder", by that "cohesion" they are held together. Any thing can be done ^served up^, however disgusting, if in the name of democracy, is gulped down by their followers with a gusto that to a genuine whig is exceedingly nauseating. If such men as the "little giant" & Co[Company]. sicken at the strange spices thrown into their filthy pottage, how is it to be supposed that any man who has ever been a Whig from principle, can partake of their cookery^?^ Maj H. also says he is "di[s?]gus," as the Frenchman said, and as far as Lecompton is concerned, is in opposition to the administration and with the rest of the Democrats from our state are classed by the Administration as no better than Black Reps.–3

But such men as Don, Little Red, of Quincy, Slushpot of Coles,4 ^Revd[Reverend]^ Irish Yankee, now of St. Louis, corporal Slim, of M—

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and a certain old "inhabitant," six feet four when he is straight, which, I am told he is seldom known to be,—5 by a jug full, since he has become a convert to "patent democracy"—6 one of whose symbols it is a mysterious looking barrel with red and or blue heads,— through which he is said to see divers and sundry queer looking things, that have so unexpectedly, and to the great sorrow of weeping friends draws drawn him away from those who loved and honored him as a Whig; and ^also^ some pious souls not a thousand miles from where you stand, whose word with the Spring creek whigs (I may misscall the name of the Creek)7 was ^upon a time^ implicitly relied on, have sold their birth-right! I will bet a h[a?]ss cake they is^too are ^ swindled? Shelbyville, I learn has had some "inquiring mourners"— they too have seen new lights, and after nine days their eyes opened upon new beauties, and ^but^ before they had time to finish their oaths of allegiance to old Buck, and publish it to the world their spiritual adviser was pronounced base coin, "by authority”, and pronounced ^also worse than^ an "Arnold"— and cut adrift, as dead wood— read out of the party! What a dilema these poor unfortunates are in!8

A man situated as I am, must not quarrel with his bread. I know very well that I am watched, and have been for years by a pack of hyenas, in the garb of friendship. A whisper of opposition will consign me to the "headsman", in two minutes, he is required to proclaim "great is Mehomed".9 My course is to play "shut pan",10 knowing even then I11 is ^am^ set down as unsound on "the goose".12 If forced to say something I plant myself upon that part of the platform favoring the Pacific R. Road, upon that plank I am sound to the core!13

The Democrats, as a general thing ^think^ the next Congress will be against the administration largely, and many think they are "goners" in 1860.14

If you manage right, you can carry the State easy. I hope to be home in time to see it done. Fight for the legislature— that gained the work is more than half done. By the way, I met Kellogg, Washburn &c[etc.] a few days since and we unanimously, agreed and will insist that, you must fill the next senatorial chair from Illi,— All agreed that to you more than ^to^ any ^to^ other man in the state was ^entitled^ the position. So you see if it is left to us the thing is as good as did, and I may add, that I believe it will come to pass.15

Though absent from home I am pretty well posted in what is going on in Illinois.

I live within a few doors of Gov Seward, and know him very well— he speaks of you as the man, if the Reps succeed, and he is quite sanguine. Any documents y or speeches you may want I can get for you, the Governor has always an assortment and offers me any quantity I can dispose of to advantage. He can beat any live man in the races of '60!

N. K. Sargeant alias “Oliver Old School”, called me aside the other day and disclosed a private plan, that a number of the opposition was favorable to, and asked my concurrence, viz: To nominate Edward Bates for Pres^t[President] and Simmons of R.I. for vice. He had no doubt that it would succeed,— that many of the leading men in and out of Washington would go into it. But as yet it was private, asked me to call at “the rooms”, which I promised to do.16 Please give this letter to the flames as soon as read— because there is any amount of treason in, which if known, would hand hand me over to such mercies as vultures give to lambs.

Colby Young and myself are the only monuments of mercy left in office from Illinois, who remain true to our ancient colors

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we can talk freely together— many are the resolves we make— but of course they like the "common law" are, unwritten— they keep us however, down to the lowest salary and work us to the utt utmost of our strength, which, fortunately, we are both able to endure. But how long we shall be able to keep our positions— poor as they are is uncertain. Colby wishes to be remembered to you.

I insist upon your writing me a few lines.