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the views and feelings of all who were represented in the convention；
to the rights of all the States and Territories and people of the
nation； to the inviolability of the Constitution； and the perpetual
union； harmony； and prosperity of allI am most happy to co…operate
for the practical success of the principles declared by the
convention。
Your obliged friend and fellow…citizen；
A。 LINCOLN。
To C。 B。 SMITH。
SPRINGFIELD； ILL。； May 26； 1860。
HON。 C。 B。 SMITH。
MY DEAR SIR：…Yours of the 21st was duly received； but have found no
time until now to say a word in the way of answer。 I am indeed much
indebted to Indiana； and； as my home friends tell me； much to you
personally。 Your saying； you no longer consider Ia。 a doubtful State
is very gratifying。 The thing starts well everywheretoo well； I
almost fear； to last。 But we are in； and stick or go through must be
the word。
Let me hear from Indiana occasionally。
Your friend； as ever；
A。 LINCOLN。
FORM OF REPLY PREPARED BY MR。 LINCOLN； WITH WHICH HIS PRIVATE
SECRETARY WAS INSTRUCTED TO ANSWER A NUMEROUS CLASS OF LETTERS IN
THE CAMPAIGN OF 1860。
（Doctrine。）
SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS； _______； 1860
DEAR SIR：Your letter to Mr。 Lincoln of and by which you seek to
obtain his opinions on certain political points； has been received by
him。 He has received others of a similar character； but he also has
a greater number of the exactly opposite character。 The latter class
beseech him to write nothing whatever upon any point of political
doctrine。 They say his positions were well known when he was
nominated； and that he must not now embarrass the canvass by
undertaking to shift or modify them。 He regrets that he cannot
oblige all； but you perceive it is impossible for him to do so。
Yours； etc。；
JNO。 J。 NICOLAY。
TO E。 B。 WASHBURNE。
SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS；
MAY 26； 1860
HON。 E。 B。 WASHBURNE。
MY DEAR SIR：I have several letters from you written since the
nomination； but till now have found no moment to say a word by way of
answer。 Of course I am glad that the nomination is well received by
our friends； and I sincerely thank you for so informing me。 So far
as I can learn； the nominations start well everywhere； and； if they
get no back…set； it would seem as if they are going through。 I hope
you will write often； and as you write more rapidly than I do； don't
make your letters so short as mine。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO S。 HAYCRAFT。
SPRINGFIELD； ILL。； June 4； 1860。
HON。 SAMUEL HAYCRAFT。
MY DEAR SIR：Like yourself I belonged to the old Whig party from its
origin to its close。 I never belonged to the American party
organization； nor ever to a party called a Union party； though I hope
I neither am or ever have been less devoted to the Union than
yourself or any other patriotic man。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
ABRAHAM OR 〃ABRAM〃
TO G。 ASHMUN。
SPRINGFIELD； ILL。 June 4； 1860
HON。 GEORGE ASHMUN。
MY DEAR SIR：It seems as if the question whether my first name is
〃Abraham〃 or 〃Abram〃 will never be settled。 It is 〃Abraham；〃 and if
the letter of acceptance is not yet in print； you may； if you think
fit； have my signature thereto printed 〃Abraham Lincoln。〃 Exercise
your judgment about this。
Yours as ever；
A。 LINCOLN。
UNAUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY
TO S。 GALLOWAY。
SPRINGFIELD； ILL。； June 19； 1860
HON。 SAM'L GALLOWAY。
MY DEAR SIR：Your very kind letter of the 15th is received。 Messrs。
Follett； Foster； & Co。's Life of me is not by my authority； and I
have scarcely been so much astounded by anything； as by their public
announcement that it is authorized by me。 They have fallen into some
strange misunderstanding。 I certainly knew they contemplated
publishing a biography； and I certainly did not object to their doing
so； upon their own responsibility。 I even took pains to facilitate
them。 But； at the same time； I made myself tiresome； if not hoarse；
with repeating to Mr。 Howard； their only agent seen by me； my protest
that I authorized nothingwould be responsible for nothing。 How
they could so misunderstand me； passes comprehension。 As a matter
wholly my own； I would authorize no biography； without time and
opportunity ＇sic＇ to carefully examine and consider every word of it
and； in this case； in the nature of things； I can have no such time
and Opportunity ＇sic＇。 But； in my present position； when； by the
lessons of the past； and the united voice of all discreet friends； I
can neither write nor speak a word for the public； how dare I to send
forth； by my authority； a volume of hundreds of pages； for
adversaries to make points upon without end？ Were I to do so； the
convention would have a right to re…assemble and substitute another
name for mine。
For these reasons； I would not look at the proof sheetsI am
determined to maintain the position of ＇sic＇ truly saying I never saw
the proof sheets； or any part of their work； before its publication。
Now； do not mistake meI feel great kindness for Messrs。 F。； F。； &
Co。do not think they have intentionally done wrong。 There may be
nothing wrong in their proposed bookI sincerely hope there will
not。 I barely suggest that you； or any of the friends there； on the
party account； look it over； and exclude what you may think would
embarrass the party bearing in mind； at all times； that I authorize
nothingwill be responsible for nothing。
Your friend； as ever；
A。 LINCOLN。
＇The custom then； and it may be a good one； was for the Presidential
candidate to do no personal canvassing or speakingor as we have it
now 〃running for election。〃 He stayed at home and kept his mouth
shut。 D。W。＇
TO HANNIBAL HAMLIN。
SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS； July 18； 1860。
HON。 HANNIBAL HAMLIN。
MY DEAR SIR：It appears to me that you and I ought to be acquainted；
and accordingly I write this as a sort of introduction of myself to
you。 You first entered the Senate during the single term I was a
member of the House of Representatives； but I have no recollection
that we were introduced。 I shall be pleased to receive a line from
you。
The prospect of Republican success now appears very flattering； so
far as I can perceive。 Do you see anything to the contrary？
Yours truly； A。 LINCOLN。
TO A。 JONAS。
（Confidential。）
SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS； JULY 21； 1860。
HON。 A。 JONAS。
MY DEAR SIR：Yours of the 20th is received。 I suppose as good or
even better men than I may have been in American or Know…Nothing
lodges； but in point of fact； I never was in one at Quincy or
elsewhere。 I was never in Quincy but one day and two nights while
Know…Nothing lodges were in existence； and you were with me that day
and both those nights。 I h