John T. Stuart to Abraham Lincoln and Edward D. Baker, [January 1849]1
Honl Messrs[Honorable Messieurs] Lincol & BakerI have signed a recommendation for the appointment of Mr. Harvey for the office of Marshal of the State of Illinois. In the event that Mr Harvey does not receive the appointment it would give me much pleasure as it would
doubtless the Whigs of Illinois that that appointment should be conferred upon Mr. B. Bond–
He is worthy of the office by his honesty and capacity.
Your friendJohn T. Stuart2<Page 2>
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Marshal Illinois,
1849,
Bond Benjamin,
Recommended by John T. Stuart– in case Mr Harvey, whom he had formerly recommended, does not succeed–
1849,
Bond Benjamin,
Recommended by John T. Stuart– in case Mr Harvey, whom he had formerly recommended, does not succeed–
1John T. Stuart wrote and signed this letter.
The actual date of this letter is unknown, but on January 2, 1849, Stuart joined other
prominent Illinoisans in signing a petition endorsing William Harvey for the job of U.S. marshal. On January 18, Ninian W. Edwards, who also signed the petition, wrote Abraham Lincoln an almost identical letter suggesting Benjamin Bond as an alternative should Harvey fail to be appointed. The
similarity of Stuart’s and Edwards’ letters, and the absence of any other known letters
regarding Harvey, lends strong credence to the assumption that Stuart wrote his letter
sometime in January 1849.
2Harvey did not receive the appointment; Bond did and held the job until 1853. In
March 1849, Lincoln wrote several letters soliciting government officials on Bond’s
behalf, though he preferred that the appointment go to Charles G. Thomas.
Abraham Lincoln to John M. Clayton; Abraham Lincoln to John M. Clayton; Abraham Lincoln to John M. Clayton; Abraham Lincoln to John M. Johnson; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of
the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1849 (Washington, DC: Gideon, 1849), 247; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of
the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1851 (Washington, DC: Gideon, 1851), 267; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the
United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1853 (Washington, DC: Robert Armstrong, 1853), 259.
Autograph Letter Signed, 2 page(s), RG 59, Entry 760: Appointment Records, Applications and Recommendations for Office, Applications and Recommendations for Public Office, 1797-1901, NACP.