Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

William Kellogg to Abraham Lincoln, 26 July 18581
Canton
July 26. 1858Hon A LincolnSir
I have just read your speech at Springfield, and can not forgo the pleasure of congratulating you and the Republican party on the statesmanlike and most able vindication or our doctrins and the fundimental principls on which rests the institutions of Government2

I esteem it the speech of the Campaign

Douglass is posted for a speech at

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Lewistown in this County on the 16.th of Aug[August] next Our friends are anxious that you should be there to answer him either on the same or next day–3

Can you be there I think it would have a good affect

If you will write me I will can come write me and I will see that it has publicity–4

May I hear from you
Yous TrulyW Kellogg

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[Envelope]
CANTON Ills.[Illinois]
JUL[JULY] 26W Kellogg
MC[Member Congress]Hon A. LincolnSpringfieldIlls–

1William Kellogg wrote and signed this letter, including the handwritten frank and the address on the envelope.

2Abraham Lincoln had recently been nominated at the 1858 Illinois Republican Convention to run against incumbent Stephen A. Douglas to represent Illinois in the U.S. Senate. On Saturday, July 17, 1858, Lincoln attended a speech by Douglas in Atlanta in the morning and another in Springfield in the afternoon. Lincoln delivered a speech of his own at the Illinois statehouse in Springfield that evening. His speech was printed in the Illinois State Journal as well as in pamphlet form at Lincoln’s request.

Michael Burlingame, Abraham Lincoln: A Life (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008), 1:457-58; The Lincoln Log: A Daily Chronology of the Life of Abraham Lincoln, 17 July 1858, https://www.thelincolnlog.org/Results.aspx?type=CalendarDay&day=1858-07-17; Speech at Springfield, Illinois; Report of Speech at Springfield, Illinois; Report of Speech at Springfield, Illinois; Daily Illinois State Journal (Springfield), 20 July 1858, 2:1-6; The Illinois State Journal (Springfield), 21 July 1858, 2:4-7, 3:1; Abraham Lincoln to Gustave P. Koerner; Speech of Hon. Abraham Lincoln, Delivered in Springfield, Saturday Evening, July 17, 1858 ([Springfield?]: n.p., [1858?]).

3Douglas addressed an audience estimated variously at 4,000 or 5,000 people in Lewistown on August 16, 1858, following the Fulton County Democratic Convention earlier in the day.
Lincoln chose to speak in Lewistown on the next day, August 17, since Douglas had informed him that his presence was unwelcome at Douglas’ campaign events. William Kellogg himself introduced Lincoln in Lewistown and gave a speech of his own.
Daily Illinois State Journal (Springfield), 21 August 1858, 2:2-3; Chicago Daily Press and Tribune (IL), 19 August 1858, 1:1-2; 21 August 1858, 2:3; The Lincoln Log: A Daily Chronology of the Life of Abraham Lincoln, 17 August 1858, https://www.thelincolnlog.org/Results.aspx?type=CalendarDay&day=1858-08-17; Report of Speech at Lewistown, Illinois; Abraham Lincoln to Charles W. Michael and William Proctor.

4Lincoln’s response to this letter has not been located. Charles W. Michael and William Proctor also wrote Lincoln around this date asking him to speak in Lewistown. In his reply to the pair Lincoln referenced having written to William Kellogg of his willingness to speak in the town if a crowd could be guaranteed. William Kellogg delegated the task of answering Lincoln to Amos C. Babcock and William P. Kellogg, who wrote with a promise of an enthusiastic crowd and stated that they were circulating handbills throughout Fulton County to advertise the event. William Kellogg also informed Proctor that handbills would be sent to Lewistown for distribution there.
William Proctor to Abraham Lincoln.