FFoorr tthhee PPeeooppllee A Newslette r o f t he Abraham L incoln Asso ciation Vo lume 5, N umb er 2 Summer 2 00 3 Spr i ng fi el d , I l li n o i s

Keller Family Donation Honors Association

By Thomas F. Schwartz the Old State Capitol as a major Lincoln historic site. Both were the wo recent donations to the property of Oliver Dickey, Keller’s Presidential great-grandfather. Copies of the origi- TLibrary and Museum were on nals will be placed in the Old State display February 12 at the Abraham Capitol. Lincoln Symposium to honor the Lincoln wrote to Secretary of the memory of Oliver J. Keller Sr. and his Interior John P. Usher, urging him to: leadership as president of the Abraham “Please see Mr. Dickey a friend, and Lincoln Association in raising money son of a friend, of mine. He is a gen- to restore the Old State Capitol. tleman of very high standing; and I Governor Otto Kerner asked former will be glad if you hear him patiently, members of the Association to reacti- and oblige him if possible.” “Mr. vate the organization and assist the Dickey” was Oliver Dickey, son of State of Illinois in saving the Old State John Dickey who was Lincoln’s room- Capitol for future generations. Under mate from 1847 to 1849 when both Keller’s leadership, the Association men served in Congress. Oliver Dickey raised nearly $300,000 to purchase served as the law partner of Thaddeus period furnishings for the rooms in the Stevens, the influential congressman Old State Capitol. Mr. and Mrs. O. J. from Pennsylvania. As a delegate to Keller Jr. donated an original Lincoln the 1860 Republican National Con- letter dated April 13, 1863, and a vention, Dickey also served in the del- Recent donations by the Keller Family signed 1858 Lincoln photograph in egation that traveled to Springfield to were on display at the memory of O. J. Keller Sr. and the officially deliver the news to Lincoln Old State Capitol during this year’s efforts of the Association in preserving that he had been nominated. Abraham Lincoln Symposium. The Lincoln Statue at Richmond Another View

s the line between news and haps even most of those in attendance. Unionists, was less than receptive to a entertainment continues to The following essay is by a native visit by President Lincoln. The war, Ablur in our postmodern cul- Virginian, Dr. Phillip C. Stone. For then in its closing stages, had sapped ture it is not surprising that a handful over two decades, Stone has taught at the energy, life, and wealth of of protesters at the unveiling of a stat- Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, Richmond and the Confederacy. The ue of Abraham Lincoln and Tad in the Virginia, and currently serves as presi- burning of much of the city just days former Confederate capital of Rich- dent. While his reasoned assessment is before Lincoln’s appearance there was mond, Virginia, received national not the stuff for television cameras, it not only the most recent, but also the attention. Vitriolic statements com- is well worth reading. most devastating source of suffering paring Lincoln to a conquering leader Welcome to Richmond, for Richmonders. of a foreign power feeds the stereotype Mr. Lincoln! Lincoln, however, was fully enti- that the Civil War continues in the Under the conditions obtaining in tled to be in Richmond. He was enti- hearts and minds of Southerners. Like April 1865, it is certainly understand- tled to enter the city because he was all stereotypes, however, the protesters able why the city of Richmond, except President of the United States. The hardly reflected the views of many, per- for African Americans and a handful of continued on page 6 2 For the People

President’s Column

By Robert S. Eckley appeared on the platform at many of unrequited devotion manifested by political meetings with Lincoln from the two. Davis had been offended n his book, Life on the Circuit with 1852 through 1862, and when he much earlier in 1848 when he wished Lincoln, Henry Clay Whitney failed to obtain the 1856 Republican to run for judge of the Eighth Circuit Iwrote: “When I first knew the nomination for Congress in the dis- and Lincoln made no effort on his eighth circuit, the great triumvirate trict, Lincoln wrote to Davis and behalf, because Benjamin Edwards, consisted of Davis, Lincoln, and Whitney, “It turned me blind.” Davis brother of Ninian Edwards, husband Swett: and their social consequence and Swett played active roles in both of ’s sister, also was in the order named.” And so they of Lincoln’s United States Senate cam- coveted the position. Ultimately, were from the fall of 1849 until paigns and Swett ran for and was elect- Edwards decided not to seek the Abraham Lincoln stopped making the ed to the state legislature in 1858 in judgeship and the issue disappeared. twice-a-year tour a decade later. They order to support Lincoln’s candidacy. Lincoln’s later delay in finding an were the stalwarts most consistently In 1860 the Eighth Circuit bar appropriate appointment for Davis making the tour, although there were proved to be one of the best political after the 1860 election was a more vis- others who joined periodically or for machines in the nation. Aside from the ible slight when a year and a half tran- portions of the circuit, and each coun- candidate Lincoln, Davis was its driver spired before he was named to the ty usually had several local attorneys. and Swett was his principal lieutenant. United States Supreme Court. In the There were fourteen counties in the The second-choice strategy adopted by meantime Orville Browning, named to circuit in 1849, eight from 1853 Davis at the Republican National replace Senator Stephen Douglas after through 1856, and only five in the last Convention paid off on the third bal- his death, was actively seeking the three years of their joint enterprise as lot. Immediately following adjourn- same office while Swett and other the population and caseload grew. ment of the convention, Davis and Eighth Circuit friends worked for David Davis had met Lincoln in Swett went to the hotel of Thurlow Davis, assisted by prominent members Vandalia in 1835 as Jesse Fell, John Weed, William Seward’s manager, and of the St. Louis bar at Swett’s urging, Todd Stuart, and Lincoln stood visit- invited him to meet Lincoln in and by Mary Todd Lincoln. ing before the state capitol. During the Springfield, which he did along with Swett’s own situation was another next decade and one half, they occa- Swett. A following meeting occurred matter. He did not help his own cause sionally met at the bar and even more between Lincoln, Weed, Davis, and by not knowing what he wanted or frequently in the political hustings as Swett after the election in December. how to phrase his appeal, written in fellow Whigs. They became much bet- In the campaign, Davis was constantly response to Lincoln’s request on the ter acquainted once Lincoln rejoined involved and traveled to the East to day of the inauguration. Nevertheless, the tour after his term in the Thirtieth reassure disparate party leaders, during the first two years of his admin- Congress. This was on the second tour including Pennsylvania Senator Simon istration, Lincoln offered him posi- of the circuit for the newly elected Cameron, Horace Greeley, Maryland tions on three occasions, none particu- Judge Davis, where he introduced Congressman Henry Winter Davis, larly attractive, which he declined. Leonard Swett to Lincoln in a Logan New York Governor Edwin D. Swett had sought the Republican County tavern. Swett had just been Morgan, and others, of Lincoln’s gubernatorial nomination in the same admitted to the bar after stopping and respect for them. Davis and Swett state convention in Decatur of 1860 staying in Bloomington on his way played important roles in the cabinet that nominated Lincoln, when Lincoln home to Maine from the Mexican War. choices, especially for the War and had avoided expressing any preference. The trio enjoyed a lifelong friend- Interior departments, and Lincoln dis- His reasons were that each of the three ship in the practice of law and politics. patched Swett on December 25 to candidates was his friend, but According to the information assem- Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Washing- significantly he wished to avoid stir- bled in The Law Practice of Abraham ton, D.C., for three weeks of consulta- ring an acrimonious Chicago argu- Lincoln, Swett was a party of record in tions regarding the cabinet and the ment, which might have deprived him ninety cases in which Lincoln was deteriorating political situation. Before of his unanimous selection. A wise involved—usually with or opposed to leaving Washington, Swett became political decision. In 1862 Swett was Lincoln, and there were probably seriously ill and spent almost eight nominated for Congress in a newly many more where the association was weeks in all, at his own expense, before arranged district and lost to Demo- informal. In more than a few he was able to return to Bloomington cratic candidate Stuart, Lincoln’s first instances, Lincoln was the acting judge in late February. law partner and former congressman of choice in filling in for Davis when Like many campaign supporters from a part of the new district, as a he could not be on the bench. Swett before and after, there was an element continued on page 6 For the People 3

THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN ASSOCIATION ROBERT S. ECKLEY Member News President MOLLY M. BECKER RICHARD E. HART t is with great sadness to learn of numerous articles and the 1976 best- RICHARD MILLS the passing of several beloved selling book, The Homosexual Matrix. Vice-Presidents members of the Association. He completed a manuscript exploring THOMAS F. S CHWARTZ I Secretary The Reverend Lee Morehead was Lincoln’s sexuality before his death. one of the most energetic and enthusi- Charles Becker, husband of Molly JUDITH BARRINGER Treasurer astic students in the Lincoln field. He Becker, died after a long illness. Those DONALD R. TRACY sponsored an annual tour of the in Springfield associate Charles with Immediate Past-President Lincoln sites, bringing a busload of The Franklin Life Insurance Company, Board of Directors Dan W. Bannister R-Lou Barker Roger D. Bridges Michael Burlingame John Daly Brooks Davis Rodney O. Davis Donald H. Funk Allen C. Guelzo Edith Lee Harris Kathryn M. Harris Earl W. Henderson Jr. Fred B. Hoffmann Barbara Hughett Robert W. Johannsen Robert J. Lenz Susan Mogerman Larry M. Newell Georgia Northrup Phillip S. Paludan James W. Patton III Mark Plummer Gerald Prokopowicz James A. Rawley Marvin Sanderman Brooks D. Simpson Robert A. Stuart Jr. Louise Taper IHPA Educational Services Coordinator Keith Sculle presents the Andy VanMeter Abraham Lincoln Association Award to Priyanka Chaudhary during the Margaret VanMeter Daniel R. Weinberg Illinois History Exposition on May 1. Vibert White Robert Willard interested people to Springfield for now American General. He loved to Douglas L. Wilson several days of lectures and touring the hunt, especially big game. Kenneth J. Winkle Lincoln sites. Our condolences go out to the all Honorary Directors Irving Dilliard served on the of the families and friends. Governor Rod R. Blagojevich Senator Richard Durbin board of the directors for several Two Abraham Lincoln Associa- Senator Peter Fitzgerald decades. As his health declined and tion Student Awards were presented at Congressman Ray LaHood trips to Springfield became difficult, the May 1 Illinois History Day com- Congressman John Shimkus Mayor Timothy J. Davlin the board voted to make Dilliard a petitions. Roger Waite, a freshman at The Honorable Rita Garman “director emeritus.” Known for his High School, Chicago, Emeritus Directors work in the newspaper field, especially was awarded $500 for his essay, “Civil John R. Chapin with the St. Louis Post Dispatch, War Censorship and the Suppression Cullom Davis Dilliard loved people, loved history, of the Chicago Times.” Priyanka John J. Trutter Harlington Wood Jr. and worked to better the shortcomings Chaudhary, an eighth grader at Distinguished Directors of society. Lincoln Magnet School, Springfield, Mario M. Cuomo Dr. C. A. Tripp passed away after also received $500 for her essay David Herbert Donald a long bout with cancer. After working “Lincoln’s Changing Views on John Hope Franklin with Alfred Kinsey, Tripp established Slavery.” The essays will appear in Harry V. Jaffa Garry Wills himself as a leading scholarly sex future issues of the newsletter and on researcher with the publication of the ALA Web site. 4 For the People

Hollywood Fools Some of the People Some of the Time Lincoln Never Said That

By Thomas F. Schwartz strations by peace activists. But did resenting each are recreated to have a Lincoln really say it? Well, an actor battle so that Yarnek can witness which ome of the most widely distrib- playing Lincoln said it in a Star Trek is the stronger emotion. “There’s no uted spurious Lincoln utterances episode but you won’t find it in the honorable way to kill, no gentle way to Scame out of Hollywood. In one Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. destroy. There is nothing good in war instance, the screenwriter wrote a The quote came from the Star Trek except its ending,” is uttered by the catchy line that needed to be attributed episode, “The Savage Curtain,” that actor Lee Bergere, who plays Lincoln to a credible historical figure. In the aired on March 7, 1969, and can be in the episode, shortly before the char- second instance, the script called for seen in reruns on cable channels or acter is killed by a spear. Abraham Lincoln to represent the purchased on video tape or DVD. In Hollywood is a potent force in our embodiment of all that is good and 1972 Bantam Books serialized the culture and indeed throughout the righteous so that an alien creature screenplays in book form. The Savage world because it understands how to named Yarnek could learn that good Curtain is number six in the series. capture our imaginations and commu- conquers evil. In both cases, Lincoln’s Gene Roddenberry and Arthur nicate messages effectively. People words were created by a screenwriter, Heinemann coauthored the teleplay. should remember that the words that not Lincoln himself. The setting is Stardate 5906.4. The come out of the mouths of screen Those of us who grew up during figure of a seated Lincoln a la Daniel characters—even characters based the 1950s and 1960s remember the Chester French is floating on the mon- upon historical figures—are most like- child stars used by the Walt Disney itor requesting to board the Enterprise. ly the words of a screenwriter, not the studios. Perhaps the most memorable Viewers discover that Abraham historical figure. David Letterman was Hayley Mills. In the movie Lincoln is Captain James T. Kirk’s always reminds his viewers, “It’s only Pollyanna, Mills plays an unflappable favorite historical figure. But Lincoln television,” warning them about tak- optimist who is able to win over an is merely a representation of the ing the medium too literally or seri- entire community to her rosy world embodiment of good that is recreated ously. We should apply Letterman’s view. The line that was used to empha- for a rock creature, Yarnek, who is quip to Hollywood as well, especially size the positive was a quote attributed unfamiliar with the concepts of good when it comes to Lincoln utterances. to Abraham Lincoln: “When you look and evil. Famous historical figures rep- After all, it’s only Hollywood. for the bad in mankind expecting the worse, you surely will.” Members of the cast were taken with the Lincoln quote and a Disney product line of February 12, 2004 Pollyanna lockets could be bought with these wise words engraved inside. Abraham Lincoln The quote is found on many Web sites Symposium/Banquet carrying with it the attribution to Symposium/Banquet Abraham Lincoln. It was only with the re-release of the film on DVD that the director and screenwriter David Swift he theme for the 2004 tinguished Professor at the University admitted that he, not Lincoln, wrote Abraham Lincoln symposium of Chicago Divinity School, will be the that phrase. Indeed, Lincoln never said Tis “Abraham Lincoln and the banquet speaker. Author of over fifty it. It was all a dramatic device required Party System.” Speakers include Mark books, the most recent being Visions of of the script. E. Neely, Jr., McCabe Greer Professor Utopia (2003) with Edward Rothstein Another example of Hollywood’s in the Era at Penn and Herbert Muschamp, Marty is one creative use of Lincoln involves a State University, Michael F. Holt, of the most thoughtful individuals quote that is frequently found on T- Williams Professor at the University of commenting on modern society. He shirts: “There’s no honorable way to Virginia, and Mark Voss-Hubbard of has been awarded sixty-seven honorary kill, no gentle way to destroy. There is Eastern Illinois University with com- doctorates and received numerous nothing good in war except its end- ments by Graham Peck of St. Xavier awards including the National ing.” A nice sentiment used most College. Humanities Medal and the National recently in the anti-Iraq war demon- Martin Marty, Fairfax Cone Dis- Book Award. For the People 5

LaWanda Cox A Legacy of Scholarship

By Joseph E. Garrera New York when I arrived. Amazingly always been.” There they were, her ref- friendly, she eagerly ushered me in erence books, everything from the ith the large volume of with a stern word of caution, “If 1953 collected works to reprints of new Lincoln books pub- you’re here to pick my brain, forget noted diaries, journals, and reference Wlished each year it has it!” Then she asked, “Do you remem- sources that had previously served as a become common to overlook the ber, use it or lose it? Well I haven’t foundation for one of the most impor- enduring works previously published. been doing anything on Lincoln or tant Lincoln books ever published. For One noted example of important black freedom for years, so I have years they had occupied the exact same scholarship Lincoln and Black Freedom: nothing to tell you.” positions in her study—many yel- A Study in Presidential Leadership I explained how much I valued her lowed with age and faded spines. (University of South Carolina Press, book, Lincoln and Black Freedom, I asked if I could take her photo- 1981) by LaWanda Cox ranks as a which towers above so many others, graph. “What, photograph me? I’m seminal achievement for the student of and that it represents an enduring too old to photograph,” said Cox. Lincoln studies. achievement. “You mean my book is “But you can photograph this room where I wrote my books.” As we sat there sipping bourbon on that warm spring afternoon, I realized that I was visiting the sanctum where the intel- lectual dexterity of a great historian had been harnessed to the craft of scholarship. Yet, it disappointed me to realize that Cox believed that her book no longer provided value to the study of Abraham Lincoln. As we sat there she leaped up exclaiming, “Come with me. I want to show you something impor- tant.” Instantly we were heading to another room where she began sifting through several small boxes. “There it is! I want you to have this book. Have you read it?” The book was a fresh copy of Freedom, Racism, and Reconstruction: Collected Writings of LaWanda Cox, edited by Donald Nieman (University of Georgia Press, In this room LaWanda Cox wrote many of her most important works,, including 1997). Sadly, I confessed that I was Lincoln and Black Freedom. Note the rotary dial telephone. The instrument unaware of the 425-page book that she with the screen is not a computer, but a print enlarger for the visually impaired. was so eager to share with me. Undaunted by these candid remarks, In April of 2001 I met with still being read; it’s still important to Cox immediately went to work taste- Professor Cox in her New York City people?” It was immediately clear that fully inscribing to me the capstone of residence that overlooks Central Park. Cox believed that like so many Lincoln her career as a noted scholar. When I confirmed the meeting, which titles, her 1981 book was of little Today, at the age of ninety-four, for the record was April 4, 2001, Cox value. She asked, “Would you like to Cox has long since retired from requested that I not be tardy, declar- see where I wrote that book?” The Hunter College and the Graduate ing, “I’m a stickler for punctuality.” enthusiastic look on my face answered Center of the City University of New Our meeting was set for 1 P.M. so I her question, and with that, we walked York. And while her memory is failing, asked if I could bring anything. “Well down the hallway where she cracked her eyesight deteriorating, and her don’t be late and, if possible, bring a open the door into a time capsule of physical well being aging, the scholar- good bottle of bourbon.” sorts. With pride she explained, “My ship of LaWanda Cox endures as a It was a bright spring afternoon in study is arranged just the way it has standard to be measured against. 6 For the People

The Lincoln Statue at Richmond Another View

continued from page 1 ground, at the dedication of a Lincoln were wrong! war had tested whether Lincoln was statue, some claiming historical kin- In more recent times, some from truly president of the entire United ship to one as courteous and noble as our region who now claim the Stars States. The defeat of the Confederacy Robert E. Lee protested, waved Con- and Bars to be “Heritage not Hate” settled the point. federate battle flags, shouted, whistled stood by (if not actually compliant) Additionally, he had strong family and jeered, trying to compete with the while some of our fellow citizens connections to Virginia and was in ceremony to dedicate the Lincoln stat- intimidated, assaulted, even killed effect coming to his ancestral home. ue. It was an embarrassment. Though African Americans and civil rights Lincoln’s Virginia connections were claiming to affirm the values of Lee workers under the waving Stars and substantial. In the heart of the and the Lost Cause, engaging in such Bars. By our moral passivity, if not Shenandoah Valley, both of his rude and coarse conduct during a cer- outright complicity, we forfeited any Lincoln grandparents and several gen- emony at which three former Virginia claim of heritage. It passed over to the erations of his family lay buried in the governors, a congressman, the city’s racists and hate groups. “Lincoln Cemetery.” Their homes mayor and other public officials were So, 140 years later, as a Virginian (one called the Lincoln Homestead), participants was simply bad manners who celebrates the Union that is built by his cousins, were still occupied and utterly incompatible with Lee-like America, who renounces the legacy of by Lincolns. His grandfather, a resi- virtue. More than embarrassing was slavery, who celebrates the Union and dent of Rockingham County for about the insensitivity of those protesting in who sees Lincoln as our greatest pres- fifteen years, had married a local resi- the name of Confederate Heritage, ident, on behalf of almost all dent and there the president’s father, reminding African Americans present Virginians, I say, “Welcome to Rich- Thomas, was born. of an earlier time—not sufficiently dis- mond, Mr. Lincoln.” Lincoln was aware of his Virginia tant—when “Heritage People” showed roots. In 1848, while in Congress, he up at the home of their parents and wrote to a Lincoln cousin in Rocking- grandparents to terrify and persecute ham County to find out more about them with grotesque burning crosses. President’s his Virginia family. He acknowledged These Heritage claimants may not that he was a descendant of Virginians. wear sheets and burn crosses but their Column Like so many other American rhetoric and behavior have some of the families the Lincolns were also torn by same vulgarity and crudeness. Some of the war. Some of his cousins, bearing the rhetoric is simply silly. The claim the family name, fought for the that Lincoln was acting as a vile con- continued from page 2 Confederacy. One cousin, whose barn queror gloating and daring to sit at the result of the unpopularity of the just- was burned by General Philip Sheri- desk of Jefferson Davis is really amus- announced preliminary Emancipation dan’s troops, expressed bitterness ing. Lincoln came about as simply and Proclamation in addition to the about his cousin in the White House. humbly as one could come—at the end absence of thousands of heavily His Virginia cousins, further reflecting of the trip, he was in a rowboat with Republican troops. It was Swett’s last the irony of the time, owned slaves, no entourage, no band, no victorious attempt for public office. Swett never two of whom are buried in the Lincoln march, and in the company of his publicly complained of the oversight. cemetery. young son. Hardly Napoleonic! Davis served as executor of Lincoln then was entitled to be in Those of us from the Old Lincoln’s estate and spent almost Richmond both as the President of the Confederacy (I have lived my entire fifteen years on the Supreme Court. In United States and to visit his ancestral life in Virginia; my family had been 1872 he made a bid for the presidency home. here over two hundred years) need to as a Liberal Republican with Swett While the lack of hospitality of put an end to the nonsense that we and Fell serving as his campaign man- white Richmonders in April 1865 may were victims of Lincoln. Before agers. His effort was thwarted by five be understandable, the hostile reaction Lincoln was even inaugurated, most of newspaper editors, and the convention of some would-be claimants to the the Confederate states withdrew from chose Greeley, who was no match for Lost Cause heritage is neither under- the Union; the Confederacy seized President Ulysses S. Grant. The 1876 standable nor acceptable. In early April federal property, arsenals, and sup- election controversy over the Ruth- of this year, in a sun-drenched grassy plies; the Confederate government erford B. Hayes-Samuel Tilden contest field with the modern skyline of affirmed the morality and legality of provided an opportunity for Davis to Richmond looming in the back- owning other humans. To be blunt, we continued on next page For the People 7 be the deciding vote on the Electoral quently in the Illinois Supreme Court State of Illinois, donated in an early Commission set up by Congress to and the federal courts and carried two 1889 ceremony in the state capitol by resolve the question, but he declined. appeals to the United States Supreme Swett and received by Governor Back in Illinois the legislature was Court. He was Robert Lincoln’s attor- Richard Oglesby. Late in 1886 Swett struggling to elect a United States sen- ney in the insanity trial of Mary sat for his own bust to be made by ator, and on the fortieth ballot, with Lincoln and also arranged for her Volk. His widow donated it to the Art total support by every Democrat and release a year later. His was the right Institute of Chicago in 1901, which no Republicans, Davis was selected. blend of courage and audacity to carry later deaccessioned it, perhaps because Davis recommended that Robert Todd the 1887 appeal of the Haymarket Volk’s work was not well regarded by Lincoln be appointed as Secretary of anarchists to the Illinois Supreme artists of the time. Subsequently, she War by President James Garfield in Court along with the trial attorney gave it to the Chicago Historical 1877, which he did. After Garfield’s Captain William Black. That same year Society to be “among his friends” in its assassination, the evenly divided he made the principal dedicatory gallery of prominent Chicagoans, Senate had difficulty selecting new speech for the Saint Gaudens statue of where, ironically, it can no longer be leadership, and this time, Davis was Lincoln and he gave his last Lincoln found. Does this nugatory result, elected president pro tem by the lecture two months before he died in together with his prior disappoint- Republicans. As next in line for the 1889. His last political role occurred a ments, deny poor Swett, who worked presidency, Davis served out his six- year before when he nominated so willingly for the benefit of his two year term using the title vice president Federal Circuit Judge Walter Q. mentors, his place in the pantheon of until 1883. When he died three years Gresham for president at the 1888 the Eighth Circuit? later, Swett gave the eulogy before the Republican National Convention. Illinois Bar Association. Gresham lost on the eighth ballot to Swett moved from Bloomington Benjamin Harrison. to Chicago shortly after Lincoln’s The “Great Triumvirate” of the assassination and spent the last quarter Eighth Circuit was joined again in the For the People (ISSN 1527–2710) is century of his law practice there. He 1880s, at least through the sculptor’s published four times a year and is a was one of the founders of the hands of Leonard Volk. Lincoln was benefit of membership of the Chicago Bar Association and gained a cast in plaster even before he was nom- Abraham Lincoln Association reputation as a criminal defense attor- inated for the presidency in 1860. 1 Old State Capitol Plaza ney, originally set in motion by win- Later this bust became a popular Springfield, Illinois ning a case in Bloomington in 1857 image of Lincoln as many copies were 62701 against Lincoln as prosecutor, al- made in stone and bronze by Volk and though his principal practice was in his copiers. When Davis died in 1886 Newsletter design and layout by civil cases, especially for insurance Swett obtained the cooperation of the William B. Tubbs companies. The Chicago Times credited Davis family for Volk to make a death [email protected] him with the defense of thirty-three mask of him. This became the basis of alleged murderers and thirty-one ver- a marble bust sponsored by twelve dicts for acquittal. He practiced fre- friends and family members for the

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

Please enroll me as a member of the Mail this application (or a photocopy) Abraham Lincoln Association in the and a check to: category indicated: The Abraham Lincoln Association Railsplitter $35 1 Old State Capitol Plaza ($25 Student) Springfield, Illinois Postmaster $75 62701 Lawyer $200 Congressman $500 Name President $1,000 Street Web site: www.alincolnassoc.com City Members residing outside the U.S. add State $3.00. Zip 8 For the People

A Recommendation and a Rejection

By Thomas F. Schwartz Richard Yates to the State. What will be your chance William H. Grigsby with them I don’t know, but you s summer begins, many teen- might try. agers continue to scramble for Jacksonville, July 7th, 1858 Wishing you all success and pros- Aemployment. While the job perity. market continues to be tight, it may be Wm H. Grigsby, Esq. I am of some consolation that nineteen- Dear Sir: Yours very Respl’y, year-old William H. Grigsby of Yours of July 5, 1858 is recd. Richd. Yates. Missouri tried and failed to find a posi- I regret that I am not in a situation to tion with family friend Richard Yates, be of any service to you at the present who later became governor of Illinois. time. I have abandoned the practice of Abraham Lincoln to In this newly acquired letter by the the law & parted with my Library, and William H. Grigsby Henry Horner Lincoln Collection at do not expect ever to resume the prac- the Illinois State Historical Library, tice again. Wm. H. Grigsby, Esq. Springfield Yates indicates his reasons for not In our Railroad business there is My dear Sir: Aug: 3. 1858 being able to accommodate Grigsby. no place we can give you. I suppose Yours of the 14th July, desiring a He does, however, encourage Grigsby we have had to reject at least 20 wor- situation in my law office, was received to write to the firm of Lincoln and thy applicants for situations among several days ago. My partner, Mr. Herndon to pursue his interest in them some near relatives of my own. Herndon, controls our office in this studying law. In a four-page letter to I regret that I cannot be of service respect, and I have known of his Lincoln, Grigsby ignores his early to you for I like your letter & style, declining at least a dozen applicants claim to “tell my story as plain & sim- and your good determination, and like yours within the last three months. ple terms as possible,” seeking to think I see in them the elements of suc- If you wish to be a lawyer, attach ingratiate himself with the Springfield cess. no consequence to the place you are attorney. Lincoln’s reply is no more The office which I could recom- in, or the person you are with; but get satisfying than Yates’s letter. In it, mend to you to try and get in as in my the books, sit down anywhere, and go Lincoln encourages Grigsby to “get opinion preferable to any other in the to reading for yourself. That will make the books, sit down anywhere, and go State is that of Lincoln & Herndon in a lawyer of you quicker than any other to reading for yourself.” No doubt, it Springfield. They are both in full prac- way. Yours Respectfully, was a long, hot summer for Grigsby. tice and both at the head of the bar in A. Lincoln

Foorr tthhee PPeeoopplle Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage A Ne w sl et t er o f t h e A b ra h a m Li n co ln A s s o ci at i o n PAID 1 Ol d S t at e C ap it o l Pl a za Springfield, Illinois Sp r i ng f i e ld , I l li n o i s 62 70 1 Permit No. 263

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