In the contingency of his removal, however, I have recommended William Butler as his successor, and I do not wish what I write now to be taken as any abatement of that recommendation.

William J. Black is also an applicant for the appointment, and I write this at the solicitation of his friends to say that he is every way worthy of the office, and that I doubt not the conferring it upon him will give great satisfaction.

Your ob’t servant,
A. Lincoln

TO T. J. HENDERSON.

Springfield, December 15. 1854
Hon.  T. J. Henderson.

Dear sir:—­Yours of the 11th was received last night, and for which I thank you.  Of course I prefer myself to all others; yet it is neither in my heart nor my conscience to say I am any better man than Mr. Williams.  We shall have a terrible struggle with our adversaries.  They are desperate and bent on desperate deeds.  I accidentally learned of one of the leaders here writing to a member south of here, in about the following language: 

We are beaten.  They have a clean majority of at least nine, on joint ballot.  They outnumber us, but we must outmanage them.  Douglas must be sustained.  We must elect the Speaker; and we must elect a Nebraska United States Senator, or “elect none at all.”  Similar letters, no doubt, are written to every Nebraska member.  Be considering how we can best meet, and foil, and beat them.  I send you, by mail, a copy of my Peoria speech.  You may have seen it before, or you may not think it worth seeing now.

Do not speak of the Nebraska letter mentioned above; I do not wish it to become public, that I received such information.

Yours truly,
A. Lincoln.

1855
Loss of primary for senator
to E. B. WASHBURNE.

Springfield, February 9, 1855
my dear sir: 

I began with 44 votes, Shields 41, and Trumbull 5,—­yet Trumbull was elected.  In fact 47 different members voted for me,—­getting three new ones on the second ballot, and losing four old ones.  How came my 47 to yield to Trumbull’s 5?  It was Governor Matteson’s work.  He has been secretly a candidate ever since (before, even) the fall election.

All the members round about the canal were Anti-Nebraska, but were nevertheless nearly all Democrats and old personal friends of his.  His plan was to privately impress them with the belief that he was as good Anti-Nebraska as any one else—­at least could be secured to be so by instructions, which could be easily passed.

The Nebraska men, of course, were not for Matteson; but when they found they could elect no avowed Nebraska man, they tardily determined to let him get whomever of our men he could, by whatever means he could, and ask him no questions.