Yours as ever,
A. LINCOLN.
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.
SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS. May 10, 1849.
HON. SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.
DEAR SIR:--I regret troubling you so often in relation to the
land-offices here, but I hope you will perceive the necessity of it, and
excuse me. On the 7th of April I wrote you recommending Turner R. King
for register, and Walter Davis for receiver. Subsequently I wrote you
that, for a private reason, I had concluded to transpose them. That
private reason was the request of an old personal friend who himself
desired to be receiver, but whom I felt it my duty to refuse a
recommendation. He said if I would transpose King and Davis he would be
satisfied. I thought it a whim, but, anxious to oblige him, I consented.
Immediately he commenced an assault upon King's character, intending, as
I suppose, to defeat his appointment, and thereby secure another chance
for himself. This double offence of bad faith to me and slander upon a
good man is so totally outrageous that I now ask to have King and Davis
placed as I originally recommended,--that is, King for register and Davis
for receiver.
An effort is being made now to have Mr.
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