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of the sliding spars； which pass down through the buoyant
chambers and are made fast to their bottoms and the series of
ropes and pulleys or their equivalents in such a manner that by
turning the main shaft or shafts in one direction the buoyant
chambers will be forced downward into the water； and at the same
time expanded and filled with air for buoying up the vessel by
the displacement of water； and by turning the shafts in an
opposite direction the buoyant chambers will be contracted into a
small space and secured against injury。
A。 LINCOLN。
TO THE SECRETARY OF INTERIOR。
SPRINGFIELD； ILL。； June 3； 1849
HON。 SECRETARY OF INTERIOR。
DEAR SIR：Vandalia； the receiver's office at which place is the
subject of the within； is not in my district； and I have been
much perplexed to express any preference between Dr。 Stapp and
Mr。 Remann。 If any one man is better qualified for such an
office than all others； Dr。 Stapp is that man； still； I believe a
large majority of the Whigs of the district prefer Mr。 Remann；
who also is a good man。 Perhaps the papers on file will enable
you to judge better than I can。 The writers of the within are
good men； residing within the land district。
Your obt。 servant；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO W。 H。 HERNDON。
SPRINGFIELD； June 5； 1849。
DEAR WILLIAM：Your two letters were received last night。 I have
a great many letters to write； and so cannot write very long
ones。 There must be some mistake about Walter Davis saying I
promised him the post…office。 I did not so promise him。 I did
tell him that if the distribution of the offices should fall into
my hands； he should have something； and if I shall be convinced
he has said any more than this； I shall be disappointed。 I said
this much to him because； as I understand； he is of good
character； is one of the young men； is of the mechanics； and
always faithful and never troublesome； a Whig； and is poor； with
the support of a widow mother thrown almost exclusively on him by
the death of his brother。 If these are wrong reasons； then I
have been wrong； but I have certainly not been selfish in it；
because in my greatest need of friends he was against me； and for
Baker。
Yours as ever；
A。 LINCOLN。
P。 S。 Let the above be confidential。
TO J。 GILLESPIE。
DEAR GILLESPIE：
Mr。 Edwards is unquestionably offended with me in connection with
the matter of the General Land…Office。 He wrote a letter against
me which was filed at the department。
The better part of one's life consists of his friendships； and；
of them； mine with Mr。 Edwards was one of the most cherished。 I
have not been false to it。 At a word I could have had the office
any time before the department was committed to Mr。 Butterfield；
at least Mr。 Ewing and the President say as much。 That word I
forbore to speak； partly for other reasons； but chiefly for Mr。
Edwards' sake； losing the office （that he might gain it） I was
always for； but to lose his friendship； by the effort for him；
would oppress me very much； were I not sustained by the utmost
consciousness of rectitude。 I first determined to be an
applicant； unconditionally； on the 2nd of June； and I did so then
upon being informed by a telegraphic despatch that the question
was narrowed down to Mr。 B and myself； and that the Cabinet had
postponed the appointment three weeks； for my benefit。 Not
doubting that Mr。 Edwards was wholly out of the question I；
nevertheless； would not then have become an applicant had I
supposed he would thereby be brought to suspect me of treachery
to him。 Two or three days afterwards a conversation with Levi
Davis convinced me Mr。 Edwards was dissatisfied； but I was then
too far in to get out。 His own letter； written on the 25th of
April； after I had fully informed him of all that had passed； up
to within a few days of that time； gave assurance I had that
entire confidence from him which I felt my uniform and strong
friendship for him entitled me to。 Among other things it says；
〃Whatever course your judgment may dictate as proper to be
pursued； shall never be excepted to by me。〃 I also had had a
letter from Washington； saying Chambers； of the Republic； had
brought a rumor then； that Mr。 E had declined in my favor； which
rumor I judged came from Mr。 E himself； as I had not then
breathed of his letter to any living creature。 In saying I had
never； before the 2nd of June； determined to be an applicant；
unconditionally； I mean to admit that； before then； I had said
substantially I would take the office rather than it should be
lost to the State； or given to one in the State whom the Whigs
did not want； but I aver that in every instance in which I spoke
of myself； I intended to keep； and now believe I did keep； Mr。 E
above myself。 Mr。 Edwards' first suspicion was that I had
allowed Baker to overreach me； as his friend； in behalf of Don
Morrison。 I knew this was a mistake； and the result has proved
it。 I understand his view now is； that if I had gone to open war
with Baker I could have ridden him down； and had the thing all my
own way。 I believe no such thing。 With Baker and some strong
man from the Military tract & elsewhere for Morrison； and we and
some strong man from the Wabash & elsewhere for Mr。 E； it was not
possible for either to succeed。 I believed this in March； and I
know it now。 The only thing which gave either any chance was the
very thing Baker & I proposed；an adjustment with themselves。
You may wish to know how Butterfield finally beat me。 I can not
tell you particulars now； but will when I see you。 In the
meantime let it be understood I am not greatly dissatisfied；I
wish the offer had been so bestowed as to encourage our friends
in future contests； and I regret exceedingly Mr。 Edwards'
feelings towards me。 These two things away； I should have no
regrets；at least I think I would not。
Write me soon。
Your friend； as ever；
A。 LINCOLN。
RESOLUTIONS OF SYMPATHY WITH THE CAUSE OF
HUNGARIAN FREEDOM； SEPTEMBER ＇12？＇； 1849。
At a meeting to express sympathy with the cause of Hungarian
freedom； Dr。 Todd； Thos。 Lewis； Hon。 A。 Lincoln； and Wm。
Carpenter were appointed a committee to present appropriate
resolutions； which reported through Hon。 A。 Lincoln the
following：
Resolved； That； in their present glorious struggle for liberty；
the Hungarians command our highest admiration and have our
warmest sympathy。
Resolved； That they have our most ardent prayers for their speedy
triumph and final success。
Resolved； That the Government of the United States should
acknowledge the independence of Hungary as a nation of freemen at
the very earliest moment consistent with our amicable relations
with the government against which they are contending。
Resolved； That； in the opinion of this meeting； the immediate
acknowledgment o