Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

David Davis to Abraham Lincoln, 30 July 18581
Bloomington. Ill^s
July 30, 1858.Dear Lincoln.
Yesterday, I saw in town Robert W. Briggs, of Tazewell Co— the former Sheriff– He thinks that there is a great deal of doubt about the election of the member of the Legislature there—S. W. D. Chace, whom you doubtless know, an old Whig— & an old Methodist Preacher, but who voted for Buchanan in 1856— is to be the candidate of the Democracy– He is very talented, as you know, and is a fine Public Speaker– Briggs thinks C ^M^ajor Cullom is the only man who can beat him, and that, says, that Major Cullom is hesitating–2

Briggs says, what I did not know, that Davidson beat Kellogg for Congress, in in 1856, in Tazewell Co[County], some 2 or 300 votes— that the Fillmore men voted for Davidson, generally, he thinks–3

It is plain to me— that there ought to be, some union, with the Fillmore men, who are right in principle–

Otherwise, I fear the result in the County– There could be a Union with the Fillmore men, nominating Cullom

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for the Legislature & a Fillmore man for Sheriff–4

Briggs thinks that the matter might be brought around— but he says what you & I know, to be true— that there is not now, & never was any political managers, or tacticians, in Tazewell Co— and that every thing there generally manages itself–

The Democracy in Tazewell, has always been well organized & managed— even in old Whig times (when there were no cross purposes)— we were quite often beat in Tazewell— as witness D^r Maus & Tackaberry’s election to the Legislature–

Tazewell Co— ought to be especially attended to— and that immediately and a great deal of electioneering put on it– Had not young Cullom of Springfield better see to that go up there at once,–

Being a Fillmore elector & Fillmore man he could bring about a union– If Matheny would go along with him, it w^d[would] be a good idea– The union, should be attempted at once–5 You can see what beneficial results are likely to accrue in Dewitt, Piatt &c[etc]— from such a course–6

Depend upon it— that it is as much needed in Tazewell–

Give the thing y matter your earnest attention— & act promptly & decisively–y What Buchanan M^r Breckinridge’s speech at Barbecue in Ky– & continued onslaught of the adm^r[administration] must have their effects on Douglass–7
Yr fr^d[Your friend]D Davis

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[Envelope]

BLOOMINGTON Ill.[Illinois]
JUL[JULY] 30 [1858?]Hon A. LincolnSpringfieldIllinois

[ docketing ]
Lincoln, Abraham (President)

D. Davis
Ans^d[Answered]8

1David Davis wrote and signed this letter, including the address on the envelope.

2Davis is discussing potential candidates for the Thirty-Ninth Illinois House of Representatives District, which consisted entirely of Tazewell County. By early August, the Democrats of Tazewell County had identified Robert B. M. Wilson as their candidate, not Squire W. D. Chace. When the Tazewell County Republican convention was held in Tremont on August 30, 1858, Richard N. Cullom was selected as that party’s candidate. Cullom ultimately received 1,783 votes in the election, losing to Wilson, who earned 1,955 votes.
Abraham Lincoln had been nominated in June at the 1858 Illinois Republican Convention to run against incumbent Stephen A. Douglas to represent Illinois in the U.S. Senate. At this time the Illinois General Assembly elected the state’s representatives in the U.S. Senate, thus the outcome of races for the Illinois House of Representatives and Illinois Senate were of importance to Lincoln’s campaign. Lincoln and Douglas both focused their campaign efforts on the former Whig stronghold of central Illinois, where the state legislative races were the closest. Among the former Whigs whose votes were courted were those who had moved into the American Party following the dissolution of the Whig Party. See 1858 Federal Election.
John Clayton, comp., The Illinois Fact Book and Historical Almanac, 1673-1968 (Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 1970), 220, 222; David Davis to Abraham Lincoln; Summary of Speech at Tremont, Illinois; Summary of Speech at Tremont, Illinois; Daily Illinois State Journal (Springfield), 4 November 1858, 3:2; The Weekly Chicago Times (IL), 11 November 1858, 2:5; Allen C. Guelzo, “Houses Divided: Lincoln, Douglas, and the Political Landscape of 1858,” The Journal of American History 94 (September 2007), 392-99, 400-401; Michael Burlingame, Abraham Lincoln: A Life (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008), 1:457-58, 476-77.

3Democrat James W. Davidson and Republican William Kellogg ran against each other for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in the Fourth Congressional District of Illinois in the election of 1856. Although Kellogg won the race with 51.1 percent of the voted compared to Davidson’s 45.7 percent, Davidson outperformed Kellogg in Tazewell County, earning 1,555 votes in that county, while Kellogg garnered 1,245.
Howard W. Allen and Vincent A. Lacey, eds., Illinois Elections, 1818-1990 (Carbondale and Edwardsville: Southern Illinois University Press, 1992), 10, 140.

4This proposed compromise of nominating a Republican for the Illinois House of Representatives and a member of the American Party for sheriff in Tazewell County was also mentioned to Lincoln by correspondents Thomas J. Pickett and Albert Parker around this time.
Thomas C. Reeves was nominated for sheriff of Tazewell County at the Republican county convention on August 30, 1858, and following his election served in the role until 1860.
Thomas J. Pickett to Abraham Lincoln; Albert Parker to Abraham Lincoln; Summary of Speech at Tremont, Illinois; Summary of Speech at Tremont, Illinois; History of Tazewell County Illinois (Chicago: Chas. C. Chapman, 1879), 713.

5Richard N. Cullom, his son Shelby M. Cullom, and James H. Matheny had all earlier been Whigs. Following the decline of the Whig Party Richard N. Cullom supported Republican presidential candidate John C. Fremont in the 1856 election. The younger Cullom and Matheny both supported American Party candidate Millard Fillmore in that year, with Shelby M. Cullom acting as a Fillmore elector. While Davis hoped that Shelby M. Cullom and Matheny would campaign in Tazewell County at this time in order to attract adherents of the American Party to the Republican cause, the two men seem to have concentrated their efforts in the campaign of 1858 in Sangamon County. Matheny was himself an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in the election of 1858 in the Sixth Congressional District of Illinois, which included Sangamon County. Matheny’s declared political affiliation in the election was independent, but he was grouped with Republican candidates.
Shelby M. Cullom, Fifty Years of Public Service (Chicago: A. C. McClurg, 1911), 3, 16, 23; Chicago Daily Press and Tribune (IL), 2 September 1858, 2:1; The Illinois State Journal (Springfield), 15 September 1858, 3:1; Daily Illinois State Journal (Springfield), 7 September 1858, 2:1; 22 September 1858, 2:1; The Weekly Pantagraph (Bloomington, IL), 6 October 1858, 2:2; Howard W. Allen and Vincent A. Lacey, eds., Illinois Elections, 1818-1990, 11, 142.

6DeWitt and Piatt counties were in the Thirty-Sixth Illinois House of Representatives District, where adherents of the American Party were also a concern in the election of 1858. Republican Daniel Stickel won this seat in November 1858.
John Clayton, comp., The Illinois Fact Book and Historical Almanac, 1673-1968, 220, 222; James B. McKinley to Abraham Lincoln; Daily Illinois State Journal (Springfield), 3 November 1858, 2:2.

7Vice President John C. Breckinridge gave a series of speeches in Kentucky the summer of 1858 in favor of the Lecompton Constitution, of which Douglas was an outspoken opponent. While President James Buchanan broke with Douglas over the Lecompton Constitution, Breckinridge did not, and he omitted any criticism of Douglas in his speeches. Despite their difference of opinion, Breckinridge issued an open letter in October 1858 supporting Douglas’ reelection to the U.S. Senate.
William C. Davis, Breckinridge: Statesman, Soldier, Symbol (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1974), 186-91; Louisville Daily Courier (KY), 24 July 1858, 1:6-7; 28 July 1858, 1:4-7; 31 July 1858, 1:7.

8Lincoln wrote this docketing.
Although Lincoln here indicates that he answered this letter, his response to Davis has been located. Davis wrote Lincoln numerous letters regarding the election of 1858.
David Davis to Abraham Lincoln; David Davis to Abraham Lincoln; David Davis to Abraham Lincoln; David Davis to Abraham Lincoln; David Davis to Abraham Lincoln; David Davis to Abraham Lincoln; David Davis to Abraham Lincoln.