I shall take pleasure in giving any further information in my power should you call on me.

Your friend, A. Lincoln.

RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR POSTAGE RECEIPT

To Mr. Spears.

Mr. Spears: 

At your request I send you a receipt for the postage on your paper.  I am somewhat surprised at your request.  I will, however, comply with it.  The law requires newspaper postage to be paid in advance, and now that I have waited a full year you choose to wound my feelings by insinuating that unless you get a receipt I will probably make you pay it again.

Respectfully, A. Lincoln.

1836 Announcement of political views.

New Salem, June 13, 1836.

To the editor of the “Journal”—­In your paper of last Saturday I see a communication, over the signature of “Many Voters,” in which the candidates who are announced in the Journal are called upon to “show their hands.”  Agreed.  Here’s mine.

I go for all sharing the privileges of the government who assist in bearing its burdens.  Consequently, I go for admitting all whites to the right of suffrage who pay taxes or bear arms (by no means excluding females).

If elected, I shall consider the whole people of Sangamon my constituents, as well those that oppose as those that support me.

While acting as their representative, I shall be governed by their will on all subjects upon which I have the means of knowing what their will is; and upon all others I shall do what my own judgment teaches me will best advance their interests.  Whether elected or not, I go for distributing the proceeds of the sales of the public lands to the several States, to enable our State, in common with others, to dig canals and construct railroads without borrowing money and paying the interest on it.  If alive on the first Monday in November, I shall vote for Hugh L. White for President.

Very respectfully, A. Lincoln.

RESPONSE TO POLITICAL SMEAR

TO ROBERT ALLEN

New Salem, June 21, 1836

Dear Colonel:—­I am told that during my absence last week you passed through this place, and stated publicly that you were in possession of a fact or facts which, if known to the public, would entirely destroy the prospects of N. W. Edwards and myself at the ensuing election; but that, through favor to us, you should forbear to divulge them.  No one has needed favors more than I, and, generally, few have been less unwilling to accept them; but in this case favor to me would be injustice to the public, and therefore I must beg your pardon for declining it.  That I once had the confidence of the people of Sangamon, is sufficiently evident; and if I have since done anything, either by design or misadventure, which if known would subject me to a forfeiture of that confidence, he that knows of that thing, and conceals it, is a traitor to his country’s interest.