Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln to William B. Preston, 29 January 18501

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BY BAIN'S ELECTRO-CHEMICAL TELEGRAPH,

Dated Springfield Jan 29 1849. ^50^
There is a vacancy of U.S. District Judge here I am sure you will do right, and save trouble too, to have Stephen T Logan appointed here, at once2
A. Lincoln
J. Robinson, Print.

1This telegram is attributed to Abraham Lincoln but is not written in Lincoln’s hand. The original copy of this telegram is located in the Preston Family Papers at the Virginia Historical Society. It is possible, therefore, that William B. Preston was the recipient.

2Since 1819, Nathaniel Pope had been judge of the U.S. Circuit Court, District of Illinois. His death on January 22, 1850 created a vacancy which President Zachary Taylor had to fill.
Logan did not receive the appointment. President Taylor awarded the judgeship to Thomas Drummond instead.
Robert M. Sutton, "Pope, Nathaniel," American National Biography, ed. by John A. Garraty and Mark C. Carnes (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999), 17:678; Illinois Daily Journal (Springfield), 7 February 1850, 2:1.