Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865)
LINCOLN, Abraham (1809-1865). Autograph letter signed ("A. Lincoln"), as Congressman, to an unidentified correspondent. Washington, 5 January 1849. 1 page, oblong 8vo, small hole neatly repaired from verso, traces of mounting on verso.
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LINCOLN, Abraham (1809-1865). Autograph letter signed ("A. Lincoln"), as Congressman, to an unidentified correspondent. Washington, 5 January 1849. 1 page, oblong 8vo, small hole neatly repaired from verso, traces of mounting on verso.
A YOUNG CONGRESSMAN COMPLIES WITH A VERY EARLY REQUEST FOR HIS AUTOGRAPH: "Your note requesting my autograph is received. Here it is." The signature seeker was likely filling out his collection of Congressional autographs and if so he had to hurry, for Congressman Lincoln would leave the capital at the end of the Congressional session, on 3 March. Lincoln did not run for reelection in 1848 by prearrangement. The Whig Party in Illinois used that seat to rotate new, young politicians into office every two years. Lincoln waited his turn, now it was time to give way. Even in his short tenure, however, Lincoln made his mark, opposing the Mexican War and voting in support of the Wilmot Proviso to ban the expansion of slavery. He also proposed to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia, but the bill never emerged out of committee. Lincoln tried (unsuccessfully) to get the new Whig President, Zachary Taylor, to appoint him Commissioner of the General Land Office. Taylor offered the governorship of the Oregon Territory instead but Lincoln declined it and resumed his law practice. Not until the irruption of the Kansas-Nebraska crisis in 1854 did Lincoln return to the political fray.
A YOUNG CONGRESSMAN COMPLIES WITH A VERY EARLY REQUEST FOR HIS AUTOGRAPH: "Your note requesting my autograph is received. Here it is." The signature seeker was likely filling out his collection of Congressional autographs and if so he had to hurry, for Congressman Lincoln would leave the capital at the end of the Congressional session, on 3 March. Lincoln did not run for reelection in 1848 by prearrangement. The Whig Party in Illinois used that seat to rotate new, young politicians into office every two years. Lincoln waited his turn, now it was time to give way. Even in his short tenure, however, Lincoln made his mark, opposing the Mexican War and voting in support of the Wilmot Proviso to ban the expansion of slavery. He also proposed to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia, but the bill never emerged out of committee. Lincoln tried (unsuccessfully) to get the new Whig President, Zachary Taylor, to appoint him Commissioner of the General Land Office. Taylor offered the governorship of the Oregon Territory instead but Lincoln declined it and resumed his law practice. Not until the irruption of the Kansas-Nebraska crisis in 1854 did Lincoln return to the political fray.