This
may be mere suspicion. You might write directly to Old Zach. You will be
the best judge of the propriety of that. Not a moment's time is to be
lost.
Let this be confidential except with Mr. Edwards and a few others whom
you know I would trust just as I do you.
Yours as ever,
A. LINCOLN.
REQUEST FOR GENERAL LAND-OFFICE APPPOINTMENT
TO E. EMBREE.
[Confidential]
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, May 25, 1849.
HON. E. EMBREE
DEAR SIR:--I am about to ask a favor of you, one which I hope will not
cost you much. I understand the General Land-Office is about to be given
to Illinois, and that Mr. Ewing desires Justin Butterfield, of Chicago,
to be the man. I give you my word, the appointment of Mr. Butterfield
will be an egregious political blunder. It will give offence to the whole
Whig party here, and be worse than a dead loss to the administration of
so much of its patronage. Now, if you can conscientiously do so, I wish
you to write General Taylor at once, saying that either I or the man I
recommend should in your opinion be appointed to that office, if any one
from Illinois shall be. I restrict my request to Illinois because you may
have a man from your own State, and I do not ask to interfere with that.
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