doctrine. They say his positions were well known when he was nominated, and that he must not now embarrass the canvass by undertaking to shift or modify them. He regrets that he cannot oblige all, but you perceive it is impossible for him to do so. Yours, etc., JNO. G. NICOLAY. TO S. HAYCRAFT. HON. SAMUEL HAYCRAFT. Springfield, ILL., June 4, 1860. MY DEAR SIR:-Like yourself I belonged to the old Whig party from its origin to its close. I never belonged to the American party organization, nor ever to a party called a Union party; though I hope I neither am or ever have been less devoted to the Union than yourself or any other patriotic man. Yours very truly, TO G. ASHMUN. A. LINCOLN. HON. GEORGE ASHmun. SPRINGFIELD, ILL., June 4, 1860 MY DEAR SIR:-It seems as if the question whether my first name is "Abraham" or "Abram" will never be settled. It is "Abraham," and if the letter of acceptance is not yet in print, you may, if you think fit, have my signature thereto printed "Abraham Lincoln." Exercise your judgment about this. Yours as ever, A. LINCOLN. TO S. GALLOWAY. HON. SAM'L GALLOWAY. SPRINGFIELD, ILL., June 19, 1860. MY DEAR SIR:-Your very kind letter of the 15th is received. Messrs. Follett, Foster, & Co.'s Life of me is not by my authority; and I have scarcely been so much astounded by anything, as by their public announcement that it is authorized by me. They have fallen into some strange misunderstanding. I certainly knew they contemplated publishing a biography, and I certainly did not object to their doing so, upon their own responsibility. I even took pains to facilitate them. But, at the same time, I made myself tiresome, if not hoarse, with repeating to Mr. Howard, their only agent seen by me, my protest that I authorized nothing-would be responsible for nothing. How they could so misunderstand me, passes comprehension. As a matter wholly my own, I would authorize no biography, without time and opertunity [sic] to carefully examine and consider every word of it; and, in this case, in the nature of things, I can have no such time and opertunity [sic]. But, in my present position, when, by the lessons of the past, and the united voice of all discreet friends, I can neither write nor speak a word for the public, how dare I to send forth, by my authority, a volume of hundreds of pages, for adversaries to make points upon without end? Were I to do so, the convention would have a right to re-assemble and substitute another name for mine. For these reasons, I would not look at the proof |