Abraham Lincoln Papers: Incoming and Contextual Documents Document mal0342400

Woodbury Litchfield Co. Conn
July 28. 1860.

Hon Abraham Lincoln Springfield Ill,
Dear & Respected Sir,
In the inscrutable wisdom of divine Providence the hearts
of a large & respectable portion of the millions of the American
people are fixed upon you as the next president of the
United States. Should you be raised to that high &
exalted station may you prove worthy of the important
trust laid upon you, by so distinguishing yourself in the
discharge of your varied duties, as to be beyond a just
charge of criminal imputation from both friends & foes.
You have lived long enough to be sensible (though from
report five years younger than myself) that no station in
life however high or low is secure from, or free from care
and anxiety; that prosperity & adversity, pain & pleasure
are the common lot of all.
The high post of honor which we trust you are about to be
called to fill is one of arduous duties and deep responsibilities.
You will have a host of admirers & flatterers who will
applaud you in the hope to gain office & emolument
under your administration & patronage. You will
therefore need to discriminate closely that you be not
overun and imposed upon by unprincipled polititions who
have little regard for the free & sound principles on
which the government was established and its future
prosperity depends.
That the present state of affairs in our government is
unhappy--and even alarming---and needs a change for
the better--no one who has a just view and appreciation
of the subject will deny. The present administration
has become woefully corrupt and black with crimes;
and its most alarming feature is, that they are

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multiplying and becoming popular---and instead of the
perpetrators of them feeling shame and remorse, They are proud of
that for which they should exercise the deepest repentance
Insincerity and recklessness seem to be the peculiar
characteristic of the American people. There are,
very few of them in whom we can put any trust
or dependance. Moral rectitude in public or
private affairs is esteemed a question of small consequence.
It is fashionable to make high pretentions to
sanctity and religion in the way of public
profession--yet to reduce that profession to a
life of harmonious and consistent action is sure
to meet with obloquy and abuse even from those
who profess. This is owing to religious teaching---that
profession is all---action nothing. This is so much
the case, that men have become bold and hardened
iniquity---and what once they looked upon as high hand
misdemeanors in others they can now practise themselves
without any compunction of conscience.
I should be very much pleased to form an acquaintance
with you by a personal interview did my circumstances
allow it---and it could be done without intruding
on your time & attention; but the former (at least)
forbids the indulgences. Few are so favored with
regard to candidates for the higher offices. I have
felt a desire to avail myself of this means of expression
to you a few thoughts in modest friendship & a sincere
desire for your election.
I have been for some twenty five years a strong
Abolitionist, and have cooperated with them---so far
as I judged was not contrary to the Constitutional Law
of the County, and in accordance with the revealed word
of God. The latter I am fully decided gives no support

nor countenance to American slavery---and that vain is
the attempt to show it:--- and that if its principles were
carried out in practice the institution could no more
exist on earth than in heaven. That all arguments
drawn from the Old Testament scriptures to support it are
fallacious & empty, as those scriptures on examination are
found to have application or reference to no other human
servitude than that under the Mosaic dispensation.
It has if possible still less support from the broad
mantle of universal love emanating from the Gospel.
And as for its drawing support from the Constitutional
law, it is only by a forced one-sided Construction of it
that it is ever attempted to be shown.
Lysander Spooner, Theodore Weld, Wm Goodell---
and other Champions of Liberty have settled this question to
the satisfaction of the jury of the world. The fact is, the
majority of the Free Statesman have so long been accustomed
to look at the Constitution in the interest and light (darkness)
of Southern Chattelilism--for party purposes--and have so long
rejected the true light and interpretation, that it is like
a work of new creation to convince them and bring them over
to the true faith & practice. We have been altogether too
yielding & subservient in our intercourse with the South to their
demands---and they have taken the advantage of our weakness---
and now bid us defiance---to help ourselves if we can, ####
We have now only to blame ourselves for want of forethought
and descision.
The Liberty party was early organized, took the alarm,
and was brought into the field---in season to have rescued the
nation from the thraldom, disgrace & curse of American
slavery. But it was weak for want of numbers---and had to
contend against fearful odds. The two belligerent parties---
whig & democratic were already in the field---set to destroy it

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arrayed in defiance of the Southern institution---their idol god.
Thus they gave a new new honor & impetus to that oligarchy---while
they disorganized & trode under foot the infant party in its
aspirations & struggle to save the country. Had the whig
party fallen in with it on its Commencement the country would
[ere] this have been in a peaceful & prosperous condition.
But..."Charity suffereth long." At last the Republican party was
formed and found to embrace all the essential elements of
the new party--which by the end of the democratic party it
had destroyed.
Now comes a new trial. The Republican party
embracing as it does the principles held forth by the Liberty
party, those who belonged to the Liberty party will of course
fall in with the Republican party to achieve the great
object which was so dear to them in the days of their virginity.
The democratic party now being broken we have a
chance for success. Let us improve it!
Yours to reclaim and save the Country.
David Wellman Jr.