[As Mr. Lincoln concluded his address, there was witnessed the wildest scene of enthusiasm and excitement that has been in New Haven for years. The Palladium editorially says: “We give up most of our space to-day to a very full report of the eloquent speech of the Hon. Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, delivered last night at Union Hall.”]
RESPONSE TO AN ELECTOR’S REQUEST FOR MONEY
To ________________ March 16, 1860
As to your kind wishes for myself, allow me to say I cannot enter the ring on the money basis—first, because in the main it is wrong; and secondly, I have not and cannot get the money.
I say, in the main, the use of money is wrong; but for certain objects in a political contest, the use of some is both right and indispensable. With me, as with yourself, the long struggle has been one of great pecuniary loss.
I now distinctly say this—if you shall be appointed a delegate to Chicago, I will furnish one hundred dollars to bear the expenses of the trip.
Your friend as ever,
A. Lincoln.
[Extract from a letter to a Kansas delegate.]
TO J. W. SOMERS.
Springfield, March 17, 1860
James W. Somers, Esq.
Dear sir:—Reaching home three days ago, I found your letter of February 26th. Considering your difficulty of hearing, I think you had better settle in Chicago, if, as you say, a good man already in fair practice there will take you into partnership. If you had not that difficulty, I still should think it an even balance whether you would not better remain in Chicago, with such a chance for copartnership.
If I went west, I think I would go to Kansas, to Leavenworth
or Atchison.
Both of them are and will continue to be fine growing
places.
I believe I have said all I can, and I have said it with the deepest interest for your welfare.
Yours truly,
A. Lincoln.
ACCUSATION OF HAVING BEEN PAID FOR A POLITICAL SPEECH
To C. F. McNEIL.
Springfield, April 6, 1860
C. F. MCNEIL, Esq.
Dear sir:—Reaching home yesterday, I found yours of the 23d March, inclosing a slip from The Middleport Press. It is not true that I ever charged anything for a political speech in my life; but this much is true: Last October I was requested by letter to deliver some sort of speech in Mr. Beecher’s church, in Brooklyn—two hundred dollars being offered in the first letter. I wrote that I could do it in February, provided they would take a political speech if I could find time to get up no other. They agreed; and subsequently I informed them the speech would have to be a political one.