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PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN
LINCOLN, Abraham (1809-1865). Autograph Letter Signed (“A. Lincoln”), to James F. Babcock, Springfield, 14 March 1860.
Details
LINCOLN, Abraham (1809-1865). Autograph Letter Signed (“A. Lincoln”), to James F. Babcock, Springfield, 14 March 1860.
One page, 180 x 128mm. (Toned at margins, folds weak at margins with partial separations.)
Lincoln writes to a prominent Connecticut newspaper editor and supporter attempting to gauge his level of support in advance of the Republican National Convention in Chicago. Lincoln received a flood of invitations to speak following his triumph at the Cooper Union. Already planning to visit his son Robert at Exeter, Lincoln agreed to stump in Rhode Island and Connecticut, the latter of which was holding elections for governor in April. Lincoln also spoke in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, gaining many new supporters that would prove critical to his hopes for nomination. James F. Babcock, editor of the New Haven Palladium, hosted Lincoln during his stay in New Haven, Connecticut, where Lincoln spoke before a large audience at Union Hall, followed by a street procession led by local marching bands. Following Lincoln’s departure, Babcock worked behind the scenes to marshal support for Lincoln’s nomination.
Soon after his return to Springfield, he wrote to Babcock: “Yours of the 9th sent me at Norwich, was duly received At Bridgeport, the package was handed me, of which, doubtless, you have some knowledge — All straight — Please remind the State Committee that when they shall have furnished the canvas of the state, they have promised to write me the result.” To prevent alienating delegates bound to their first choices (e.g. Seward, Chase, Cameron), Lincoln sold himself as a strong second choice. His work in New England paid off handsomely. The majority of New Hampshire’s delegates chose Lincoln on the first ballot at Chicago, while two from Connecticut and four from Massachusetts also cast their votes for the Rail Splitter, helping place a strong second place on the first ballot and setting the stage for his nomination. Unpublished. Not in Basler.
One page, 180 x 128mm. (Toned at margins, folds weak at margins with partial separations.)
Lincoln writes to a prominent Connecticut newspaper editor and supporter attempting to gauge his level of support in advance of the Republican National Convention in Chicago. Lincoln received a flood of invitations to speak following his triumph at the Cooper Union. Already planning to visit his son Robert at Exeter, Lincoln agreed to stump in Rhode Island and Connecticut, the latter of which was holding elections for governor in April. Lincoln also spoke in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, gaining many new supporters that would prove critical to his hopes for nomination. James F. Babcock, editor of the New Haven Palladium, hosted Lincoln during his stay in New Haven, Connecticut, where Lincoln spoke before a large audience at Union Hall, followed by a street procession led by local marching bands. Following Lincoln’s departure, Babcock worked behind the scenes to marshal support for Lincoln’s nomination.
Soon after his return to Springfield, he wrote to Babcock: “Yours of the 9th sent me at Norwich, was duly received At Bridgeport, the package was handed me, of which, doubtless, you have some knowledge — All straight — Please remind the State Committee that when they shall have furnished the canvas of the state, they have promised to write me the result.” To prevent alienating delegates bound to their first choices (e.g. Seward, Chase, Cameron), Lincoln sold himself as a strong second choice. His work in New England paid off handsomely. The majority of New Hampshire’s delegates chose Lincoln on the first ballot at Chicago, while two from Connecticut and four from Massachusetts also cast their votes for the Rail Splitter, helping place a strong second place on the first ballot and setting the stage for his nomination. Unpublished. Not in Basler.