Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln to William D. Briggs, 21 April 18491
Springfield, April 21, 1849W– D, Briggs, Esq[Esquire]Dear Sir:
I received letters from both you and Garth this morning, protesting against the appointment of either Stockwell or Roberts as P. M[Postmaster]; and recommending M^r Ball–2 This perplexed me some, having already written the Department to appoint that one of the two first, whose recommendation there is most numerously signed– I now write the Department that if the appointment is not already made, to suspend it a while– And now I request you, and Garth, Jones, Ben. James, P. Menard, and D^r Shaw, and every body else, to get up a full and fair meeting of the whigs (and democrats too if you think fit) ^within the limits accomodated by that office;^ and give a decisive expression as to who shall be Post-Master– Let it be public, full, and fair– no cliqueism or cheateny about it. As the matter is now presented to me, it is impossible for me to know how to act properly–3
Yours as everA. Lincoln

1Abraham Lincoln wrote and signed this letter.

2William D. Briggs and Littleton T. Garth both wrote Lincoln on April 19. Richard T. Gill joined Garth in writing Lincoln.
William D. Briggs to Abraham Lincoln; Richard T. Gill and Littleton T. Garth to Abraham Lincoln.

3Alanson Stockwell, David Roberts, John H. Ball, Joseph L. Shaw, and others were vying to become postmaster of Tremont, Illinois. Lincoln received numerous letters recommending Ball. Lincoln preferred Roberts and recommended him for the position. Roberts received the appointment in May 1849 and held the job until 1860.
Petition of Richard T. Gill and Others to Abraham Lincoln; Mary L. Perkins to Abraham Lincoln; Fitz Henry Warren to Abraham Lincoln; Benjamin F. James to Abraham Lincoln; 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), *489; 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), 550*; 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), *520; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1855 (Washington, DC: A. O. P. Nicholson, 1855), 346*; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1857 (Washington, DC: A. O. P. Nicholson, 1857), 346*; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1859 (Washington, DC: William A. Harris, 1859), 74*; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1861 (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1862), 376*.