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all fear of the new States turning against the right of Congress
to the public domain must be effectually quelled； as those who
are opposed to that interest must always hold a vast majority
here； and they will never surrender the whole or any part of the
public lands unless they themselves choose to do so。 That was
all he desired to say。
ON FEDERAL POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY。
WASHINGTON； March 9； 1849。
HON。 SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY。
DEAR SIR： Co1onel R。 D。 Baker and myself are the only Whig
members of Congress from Illinois of the Thirtieth； and he of the
Thirty…first。 We have reason to think the Whigs of that State
hold us responsible； to some extent； for the appointments which
may be made of our citizens。 We do not know you personally； and
our efforts to you have so far been unavailing。 I therefore hope
I am not obtrusive in saying in this way； for him and myself；
that when a citizen of Illinois is to be appointed in your
department； to an office either in or out of the State； we most
respectfully ask to be heard。
Your obedient servant；
A。 LINCOLN。
MORE POLITICAL PATRONAGE REQUESTS
TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE。
WASHINGTON； March 10； 1849。
HON。 SECRETARY OF STATE。
SIR：There are several applicants for the office of United
States Marshal for the District of Illinois。 Among the most
prominent of them are Benjamin Bond； Esq。； of Carlyle； and
Thomas； Esq。； of Galena。 Mr。 Bond I know to be personally every
way worthy of the office； and he is very numerously and most
respectably recommended。 His papers I send to you； and I solicit
for his claims a full and fair consideration。
Having said this much； I add that in my individual judgment the
appointment of Mr。 Thomas would be the better。
Your obedient servant；
A。 LINCOLN。
（Indorsed on Mr。 Bond's papers。）
In this and the accompanying envelope are the recommendations of
about two hundred good citizens of all parts of Illinois； that
Benjamin Bond be appointed marshal for that district。 They
include the names of nearly all our Whigs who now are； or have
ever been； members of the State Legislature； besides forty…six of
the Democratic members of the present Legislature； and many other
good citizens。 I add that from personal knowledge I consider Mr。
Bond every way worthy of the office； and qualified to fill it。
Holding the individual opinion that the appointment of a
different gentleman would be better； I ask especial attention and
consideration for his claims； and for the opinions expressed in
his favor by those over whom I can claim no superiority。
A。 LINCOLN。
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS； April 7； 1849
HON。 SECRETARY OF THE HOME DEPARTMENT。
DEAR SIR：I recommend that Walter Davis be appointed receiver of
the land…office at this place； whenever there shall be a vacancy。
I cannot say that Mr。 Herndon； the present incumbent； has failed
in the proper discharge of any of the duties of the office。 He
is a very warm partisan； and openly and actively opposed to the
election of General Taylor。 I also understand that since General
Taylor's election he has received a reappointment from Mr。 Polk；
his old commission not having expired。 Whether this is true the
records of the department will show。 I may add that the Whigs
here almost universally desire his removal。
I give no opinion of my own； but state the facts； and express the
hope that the department will act in this as in all other cases
on some proper general rule。
Your obedient servant；
A。 LINCOLN。
P。 S。The land district to which this office belongs is very
nearly if not entirely within my district； so that Colonel Baker；
the other Whig representative； claims no voice in the
appointment。
A。 L。
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR。
SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS； April 7； 1849。
HON。 SECRETARY OF THE HOME DEPARTMENT。
DEAR SIR：I recommend that Turner R。 King； now of Pekin；
Illinois； be appointed register of the land…office at this place
whenever there shall be a vacancy。
I do not know that Mr。 Barret； the present incumbent； has failed
in the proper discharge of any of his duties in the office。 He
is a decided partisan； and openly and actively opposed the
election of General Taylor。 I understand； too； that since the
election of General Taylor； Mr。 Barret has received a
reappointment from Mr。 Polk； his old commission not having
expired。 Whether this be true； the records of the department
will show。
Whether he should be removed I give no opinion； but merely
express the wish that the department may act upon some proper
general rule； and that Mr。 Barret's case may not be made an
exception to it。
Your obedient servant；
A。 LINCOLN。
P。 S。…The land district to which this office belongs is very
nearly if not entirely within my district； so that Colonel Baker；
the other Whig representative； claims no voice in the
appointment。
A。 L。
TO THE POSTMASTER…GENERAL。
SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS； April 7；1849。
HON。 POSTMASTER…GENERAL。
DEAR Sir：I recommend that Abner Y。 Ellis be appointed
postmaster at this place； whenever there shall be a vacancy。 J。
R。 Diller； the present incumbent； I cannot say has failed in the
proper discharge of any of the duties of the office。 He；
however； has been an active partisan in opposition to us。
Located at the seat of government of the State； he has been； for
part if not the whole of the time he has held the office； a
member of the Democratic State Central Committee； signing his
name to their addresses and manifestoes； and has been； as I
understand； reappointed by Mr。 Polk since General Taylor's
election。 These are the facts of the case as I understand them；
and I give no opinion of mine as to whether he should or should
not be removed。 My wish is that the department may adopt some
proper general rule for such cases； and that Mr。 Diller may not
be made an exception to it； one way or the other。
Your obedient servant；
A。 LINCOLN。
P。 S。This office； with its delivery； is entirely within my
district； so that Colonel Baker； the other Whig representative；
claims no voice in the appointment。L。
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR。
SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS； April 7； 1849。
HON。 SECRETARY OF THE HOME DEPARTMENT。
DEAR SIR：I recommend that William Butler be appointed pension
agent for the Illinois agency； when the place shall be vacant。
Mr。 Hurst； the present incumbent； I believe has performed the
duties very well。 He is a decided partisan； and I believe
expects to be removed。 Whether he shall； I submit to the
department。 This office is not confined to my district； but
pertains to the whole State； so that Colonel Baker has an equal
right with