GDG- Abe the Political Opportunist

[Dennis Lawrence]

To Richard W. Thompson 
<http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=lincoln;cc=lincoln;rgn=div1;view=trgt;idno=lincoln2;id=2_51_2;note=ptr>[1]
CONFIDENTIAL
Hon: R. W. Thompson: Springfield, Ills.
Dear Sir. May 25. 1849-

I am about to ask a favor of you---one which, I hope, will not cost 
you much. I understand the General Land-Office is about to be given 
to Illinois; and that Mr. Ewing desires Justin Butterfield of Chicago 
to be the man. I will not trouble you with particulars, but will 
assure you, that the appointment of Mr. Butterfield will be an 
egregious political blunder. I believe it will gratify no single whig 
in the state, except it be Mr. B. himself. Now, the favor I wish of 
you is, that you will write Gen: Taylor at once, saying that in your 
opinion, either I, or the man I recommend, should be appointed to 
that office, if any one from Illinois, shall be. I restrict my 
request to Illinois, because I think it probable you have already 
recommended some one, probably from your own state; and I do not wish 
to interfere with that. Yours truly A. LINCOLN

Annotation

[1]   ALS, ORB. ``Colonel Dick'' Thompson was a Whig member of 
Congress from Terre Haute, Indiana.