Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln to Charles H. Ray, 8 September 18561
Springfield, Sep^t 8 1856My dear Sir,2
Have fifty copies, of the german Fremont paper sent regularly, in one bundle, to Jabez Capps, Mount Pulaski, Logan Co. Ills–3 Herewith is his letter to me–4

Another matter– Owing to M^r Hecker’s house having been burned, we can not get him out to address our german friends–5 Th[is] is a bad draw-back– It would be no more than just for us to raise him a thousand dollars in this emergency– Can we not do it? See our friends about it– I can find one hundred dollars towards it– Such a sum no doubt would greatly relieve him, and enable him to take the field again– We can not spare his services–6
Yours as everA. Lincoln–

1Abraham Lincoln wrote and signed this letter.

2The recipient of this letter was Charles H. Ray, as indicated by a subsequent letter.

3Lincoln is likely referring to the Illinois Staats-Zeitung, a German-language pro-Republican newspaper published in Chicago. At this time, Capps was the proprietor of a general store in Mt. Pulaski.

4Capps’ letter to Lincoln has not been located.

5The German-born Hecker was an outspoken supporter of the Republican Party.

6If Ray responded to Lincoln, that letter has not been located. Lincoln later contacted Hecker directly to offer financial support and encourage him to campaign for Fremont, who was the Republican Party candidate for president in 1856. See 1856 Federal Election.