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Know…Nothing lodges were in existence； and you were with me that day
and both those nights。 I had never been there before in my life； and
never afterward； till the joint debate with Douglas in 1858。 It was
in 1854 when I spoke in some hall there； and after the speaking； you；
with others； took me to an oyster…saloon； passed an hour there； and
you walked with me to； and parted with me at； the Quincy House； quite
late at night。 I left by stage for Naples before daylight in the
morning； having come in by the same route after dark the evening；
previous to the speaking； when I found you waiting at the Quincy
House to meet me。 A few days after I was there； Richardson； as I
understood； started this same story about my having been in a
Know…Nothing lodge。 When I heard of the charge； as I did soon after；
I taxed my recollection for some incident which could have suggested
it； and I remembered that on parting with you the last night I went
to the office of the hotel to take my stage…passage for the morning；
was told that no stage…office for that line was kept there； and that
I must see the driver before retiring； to insure his calling for me
in the morning； and a servant was sent with me to find the driver；
who； after taking me a square or two； stopped me； and stepped perhaps
a dozen steps farther； and in my hearing called to some one； who
answered him； apparently from the upper part of a building； and
promised to call with the stage for me at the Quincy House。
I returned； and went to bed； and before day the stage called and took
me。 This is all。
That I never was in a Know…Nothing lodge in Quincy； I should expect
could be easily proved by respectable men who were always in the
lodges and never saw me there。 An affidavit of one or two such would
put the matter at rest。
And now a word of caution。 Our adversaries think they can gain a
point if they could force me to openly deny the charge； by which some
degree of offence would be given to the Americans。 For this reason
it must not publicly appear that I am paying any attention to the
charge。
Yours truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO JOHN B。 FRY。
SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS； August 15； 1860。
MY DEAR SIR：Yours of the 9th； inclosing the letter of HON。 John
Minor Botts； was duly received。 The latter is herewith returned
according to your request。 It contains one of the many assurances I
receive from the South； that in no probable event will there be any
very formidable effort to break up the Union。 The people of the
South have too much of good sense and good temper to attempt the ruin
of the government rather than see it administered as it was
administered by the men who made it。 At least so I hope and believe。
I thank you both for your own letter and a sight of that of Mr。
Botts。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO THURLOW WEED
SPRINGFIELD； ILL。 August 17 1860。
MY DEAR SIR：Yours of the 13th was received this morning。 Douglas
is managing the Bell element with great adroitness。 He had his men
in Kentucky to vote for the Bell candidate； producing a result which
has badly alarmed and damaged Breckenridge； and at the same time has
induced the Bell men to suppose that Bell will certainly be
President； if they can keep a few of the Northern States away from us
by throwing them to Douglas。 But you； better than I； understand all
this。
I think there will be the most extraordinary effort ever made to
carry New York for Douglas。 You and all others who write me from
your State think the effort cannot succeed； and I hope you are right。
Still； it will require close watching and great efforts on the other
side。
Herewith I send you a copy of a letter written at New York； which
sufficiently explains itself； and which may or may not give you a
valuable hint。 You have seen that Bell tickets have been put on the
track both here and in Indiana。 In both cases the object has been； I
think； the same as the Hunt movement in New Yorkto throw States to
Douglas。 In our State； we know the thing is engineered by Douglas
men； and we do not believe they can make a great deal out of it。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
SLOW TO LISTEN TO CRIMINATIONS
TO HON。 JOHN ______________
（Private。）
SPRINGFIELD； ILL。； Aug。 31； 1860
MY DEAR SIR：Yours of the 27th is duly received。 It consists almost
exclusively of a historical detail of some local troubles； among some
of our friends in Pennsylvania； and I suppose its object is to guard
me against forming a prejudice against Mr。 McC___________； I have not
heard near so much upon that subject as you probably suppose； and I
am slow to listen to criminations among friends； and never expose
their quarrels on either side。 My sincere wish is that both sides
will allow bygones to be bygones； and look to the present and future
only。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO HANNIBAL HAMLIN
SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS； September 4； 1860
HON。 HANNIBAL HAMLIN。
MY DEAR SIR：I am annoyed some by a letter from a friend in Chicago；
in which the following passage occurs： 〃Hamlin has written Colfax
that two members of Congress will； he fears； be lost in Maine； the
first and sixth districts； and that Washburne's majority for governor
will not exceed six thousand。〃
I had heard something like this six weeks ago； but had been assured
since that it was not so。 Your secretary of state；Mr。 Smith； I
think；whom you introduced to me by letter； gave this assurance；
more recently； Mr。 Fessenden； our candidate for Congress in one of
those districts； wrote a relative here that his election was sure by
at least five thousand； and that Washburne's majority would be from
14；000 to 17；000； and still later； Mr。 Fogg； of New Hampshire； now at
New York serving on a national committee； wrote me that we were
having a desperate fight in Maine； which would end in a splendid
victory for us。
Such a result as you seem to have predicted in Maine； in your letter
to Colfax； would； I fear； put us on the down…hill track； lose us the
State elections in Pennsylvania and Indiana； and probably ruin us on
the main turn in November。
You must not allow it。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO E。 B。 WASHBURNE。
SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS；
September 9； 1860
HON。 E。 B。 WASHBURNE。
MY DEAR SIR： Yours of the 5th was received last evening。 I was right
glad to see it。 It contains the freshest 〃posting〃 which I now have。
It relieved me some from a little anxiety I had about Maine。 Jo
Medill； on August 3oth； wrote me that Colfax had a letter from Mr。
Hamlin saying we were in great danger of losing two members of
Congress in Maine； and that your brother would not have exceeding six
thousand majority for Governor。 I addressed you at once； at Galena；
asking for your latest information。 As you are at Washington； that
le