My dear sir:—­Your letter to Judge Logan has been shown to us by him; and, with his consent, we answer it.  When it became probable that there would be a vacancy on the Supreme Bench, public opinion, on this side of the river, seemed to be universally directed to Logan as the proper man to fill it.  I mean public opinion on our side in politics, with very small manifestation in any different direction by the other side.  The result is, that he has been a good deal pressed to allow his name to be used, and he has consented to it, provided it can be done with perfect cordiality and good feeling on the part of all our own friends.  We, the undersigned, are very anxious for it; and the more so now that he has been urged, until his mind is turned upon the matter.  We, therefore are very glad of your letter, with the information it brings us, mixed only with a regret that we can not elect Logan and Walker both.  We shall be glad, if you will hoist Logan’s name, in your Quincy papers.

Very truly your friends,

A. Lincoln, B. S. Ewards, John T. Stuart.

TO H. C. WHITNEY.

Springfield, June 7, 1855. 
H. C. Whitney, Esq.

My dear sir:—­Your note containing election news is received; and for which I thank you.  It is all of no use, however.  Logan is worse beaten than any other man ever was since elections were invented—­beaten more than twelve hundred in this county.  It is conceded on all hands that the Prohibitory law is also beaten.

Yours truly,
A. Lincoln.

RESPONSE TO A PRO-SLAVERY FRIEND

To Joshua.  F. Speed.

Springfield, August 24, 1855

Dear speed:—­You know what a poor correspondent I am.  Ever since I received your very agreeable letter of the 22d of May, I have been intending to write you an answer to it.  You suggest that in political action, now, you and I would differ.  I suppose we would; not quite as much, however, as you may think.  You know I dislike slavery, and you fully admit the abstract wrong of it.  So far there is no cause of difference.  But you say that sooner than yield your legal right to the slave, especially at the bidding of those who are not themselves interested, you would see the Union dissolved.  I am not aware that any one is bidding you yield that right; very certainly I am not.  I leave that matter entirely to yourself.  I also acknowledge your rights and my obligations under the Constitution in regard to your slaves.  I confess I hate to see the poor creatures hunted down and caught and carried back to their stripes and unrequited toil; but I bite my lips and keep quiet.  In 1841 you and I had together a tedious low-water trip on a steamboat from Louisville to St. Louis.  You may remember, as