This is the second letter, which Lincoln says expresses the same thoughts as the first.
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Dr. Edward Wallace:
Springfield, Ills. May 12. 1860
My dear Sir
Your brother, Dr. W. S. Wallace, shows me a letter of yours, in which you in which you request him to inquire if you may use a letter of mine to you, in which something is said upon the Tariff question. I do not precisely remember what I did say in that letter; but I presume I said nothing substantially different from what I shall say now.
In the days of Henry Clay I was a Henry Clay-tariff-man; and my views have undergone no material change upon that subject. I now think the Tariff question ought not to be agitated in the Chicago convention; but that all should be satisfied on that point, with a presidential candidate, whose antecedents give assurance that he would neither seek to force a tariff-law by Executive influence; nor yet to arrest a reasonable one, by a veto, or otherwise. Just such a candidate I desire shall be put in nomination. I really have no objection to these views being publicly known; but I do wish to thrust no letter before the public now, upon any subject. Save me from the appearance of obtrusion; and I do not care who sees this, or my former letter.
Yours very truly
A. LINCOLN
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I'll follow with the first in a moment.
I give it with no comment.
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Dr. Edward Wallace: Clinton, Oct. 11th. 1859
My dear Sir:
I am here, just now, attending court. Yesterday, before I left Springfield, your brother, Dr. William S. Wallace, showed me a letter of yours, in which you kindly mention my name, inquire for my tariff views; and suggest the propriety of my writing a letter upon the subject.
I was an old Henry Clay tariff whig. In old times I made more speeches on that subject, than on any other. I have not since changed my views. I believe yet, if we could have a moderate, carefully adjusted, protective tariff, so far acquiesed in, as to not be a perpetual subject of political strife, squabbles, charges, and uncertainties, it would be better for us.
Still, it is my opinion that, just now, the revival of that question, will not advance the cause itself, or the man who revives it.
I have not thought much upon the subject recently; but my general impression is, that the necessity for a protective tariff will, ere long, force it's old opponents to take it up; and then it's old friends can join in, and establish it on a more firm and durable basis.
We, the old whigs, have been entirely beaten out on the tariff question; and we shall not be able to re-establish the policy, until the absence of it, shall have demonstrated the necessity for it, in the minds of men heretofore opposed to it.
With this view, I should prefer, to not now, write a public letter upon the subject. I therefo[re] wish this to be considered confidential.
I shall be very glad to receive a letter from you.
Yours truly
A. LINCOLN---
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There you have the evidence of the private letters of any consequence.
I'll get the Pittsburg speech, too, if you want to see it. That and a speech in New Haven are all that exist, containing any significant mention of tariffs, in the several years just before Lincoln's inauguration.
Regards,
Richard F.
There's definately hope, Richard, though it would entail your removal of a self imposed roadblock that you have given all indications of an intent to keep.
I think I will simply post the two letters of Lincoln to Wallace, without commentary, and encourage anyone who wishes to think it out see the evidence himself.
That's fair enough. I'll gladly add some more that he wrote as well.