Newton Jasper Co. Ills
March 27th 1860
Hon. A. Lincoln
Honored & Dear Sir
I have been highly delighted at Seeing the perfect Success
of your tour East. It is very evident that nothing has transpired recently to
so much advance your interest and elevate you in the minds of the people, as
that short trip.
I regret you did not address the people of Pennsylvania
& New Jersey. I see by the papers that you were urged by the people of those
States to do so. Cant you do it yet? Those are two of the doubtful States, and
we must have Pennsylvania or we are almost certainly defeated, and I believe
there is no man can do as much to secure Penna. as yourself. After the meeting
of the Chicago Convention it will probably be too late for you to Speak in
Penna. as I think in all probability you will be chosen our Standard-bearer—
I saw one of the delegates to that Convn the other day from
the Southern part of Indiana and he Said that the Indiana delegation would will
go for Abraham Lincoln on the first balot. He said it was all a mistake about
Indiana going for Bates. It is ascertained that the Germans are opposed to
Bates, and this fact being once fully understood, will lay him on the Shelf.
I was of opinion some time since, that as it was so all
important to carry Penna. it would be pollicy for us to place a
Pennsylvanian at the head of the ticket, but I am now fully of the opinion that
the Strongest ticket we can get is Abraham Lincoln for President and Simon
Cameron for Vice P. –
I shall be at the Decatur Convention and hope to meet you
there—
I must not close, without mentioning the fact that we have a
little Abraham Lincoln at our house, about twenty four hours old– His arrival
created something of a Stir in our little town as it got noised around that
your Honor was at Mr Hays, and Several persons were on their way to call on
you, when it was discovered that it was not the original, but only a namesake—
I hope you will not think I am trying to flatter you . . .
What I write comes from the bottom of my heart –
Believe me very Sincerely and Truly Your Friend and Humb.
Sevt.
C. D. Hay
SOURCE: Abraham Lincoln Papers
at the Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.
