To The Hon Abraham Lincoln
Dear Sir, perhaps you will smile 
at what I am about to write, but I 
can assure you it is from one who esteems 
you very highly for the services you have 
rendered our country in the cause of freedom 
& humanity, but that is not all for 
I am only one among hundreds of thousands 
who feel that your life is of almost infinite 
value to our country - yes & to the 
whole world too - on account of the still 
more important services you are yet to 
render to our country (if it be God's will) 
in the same good cause - we have had only 
two presidents of my choice (& those only my 
second choice) since J Q Adams & we know 
how lamentably short their terms were
Now if we should be so unspeakably fortunate 
as to choose you for our next 
President (as I think we shall by an overwhelming 
majority) I have not the least 
fear of your failing to perform all

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what would be considered the most 
important duties of your office 
to the entire satisfaction of all 
honest intelligent people
But there is one thing which I suppose 
people in general would humbly think 
worth a lingering thought -- which to me 
seems far from being a matter of the 
least importance which a republican 
President would have to think of 
that is to rid the house & grounds 
belonging to the capitol of every person 
male or female who has ever been 
employed as servants by Buchanan or 
Pierce - why sir -- under such circumstances 
I wouldent trust the best of them 
to feed my dog -- remember Harrison 
& Taylor -- perhaps what I have written 
is just as unnecessary as it would 
have been to remind you that it would be 
necessary for you to wash your face & 
hands when you get up in the morning 
be that as it may I hope you will excuse this 
intrusion -- receive it as a token of friendship

as it really is -- & may you long 
live to see the happy fruits of a 
thorough reform in our national 
affairs & to see the blighting curse 
of slavery dying out & when it shall 
be acknowledged in every part of country 
that man has no right to make merchandise 
of his fellow man
yours with respect
W. A.

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Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.