“It is truly gratifying to me to learn that while the people of Sangamon have cast me off, my old friends of Menard, who have known me longest and best, stick to me.  It would astonish, if not amuse, the older citizens to learn that I (a stranger, friendless, uneducated, penniless boy, working on a flatboat at ten dollars per month) have been put down here as the candidate of pride, wealth, and aristocratic family distinction.  Yet so, chiefly, it was.  There was, too, the strangest combination of church influence against me.  Baker is a Campbellite, and therefore, as I suppose, with few exceptions got all that church.  My wife has some relations in the Presbyterian churches and some with the Episcopal churches; and therefore, wherever it would tell, I was set down as either the one or the other, while it was everywhere contended that no Christian ought to go for me, because I belonged to no church, was suspected of being a deist, and had talked about fighting a duel.  With all these things, Baker of course had nothing to do.  Nor do I complain of them.  As to his own church going for him, I think that was right enough, and as to the influences I have spoken of in the other, though they were very strong, it would be grossly untrue and unjust to charge that they acted upon them in a body, or were very near so.  I only mean that those influences levied a tax of a considerable per cent. upon my strength throughout the religious community.”

In the same letter we have a striking illustration of Lincoln’s intelligence and skill in the intricate details of political management, together with the high sense of honor and manliness which directed his action in such matters.  Speaking of the influences of Menard County, he wrote: 

“If she and Mason act circumspectly, they will in the convention be able so far to enforce their rights as to decide absolutely which one of the candidates shall be successful.  Let me show the reason of this.  Hardin, or some other Morgan candidate, will get Putnam, Marshall, Woodford, Tazewell, and Logan [counties], making sixteen.  Then you and Mason, having three, can give the victory to either side.  You say you shall instruct your delegates for me, unless I object.  I certainly shall not object.  That would be too pleasant a compliment for me to tread in the dust.  And, besides, if anything should happen (which, however, is not probable) by which Baker should be thrown out of the fight, I would be at liberty to accept the nomination if I could get it.  I do, however, feel myself bound not to hinder him in any way from getting the nomination.  I should despise myself were I to attempt it.  I think, then, it would be proper for your meeting to appoint three delegates, and to instruct them to go for some one as a first choice, some one else as a second, and perhaps some one as a third; and if in those instructions I were named as the first choice it would gratify me very much.  If you wish to hold the balance of power, it is important for you to attend to and secure the vote of Mason also.”