S. A. Merrell to Richard Yates

Jan. 19.

Hon Richard Yates

Dear Sir

After tendering

you my best wishes for your health and

congratulations for the happy and successful

termination of your career as Governor,

and for the well-earned tribute, which

the people of the State, by an almost

unanimous voice, have conferred

upon you, as a fitting mark of the

high appreciation they have of the

distinguished services you have

rendered to them and to the country

during your Gubernatorial term of

office. Allow me the favor of

soliciting your influence on

returning to Washington in securing

a position in some one of our

foreign legations for the next few

years. I should of course, if

allowed a preference, choose an

"independent command," either as

consul or as the head of one of the

Union legations.

I have the great pleasure

to recall to mind the receipt of

a letter from you ten years ago, when you

were in Congress, which was written in reply

to one I wrote you, just after leaving

Al. Ma., asking a similar favor.

You informed me then, that as

our party was not in power, you supposed

but little could be done in that direction,

but would do for me whatever could

be done.

Since then however the role has

changed. Then you were simply [NC?]

with only the lean majority of a single

Congressional District at your back

and with a corrupt, powerful and

arrogant administration and party

against you. The Republican party

so-called, which was rather the popular

expression of a great social and political

revolution, than a political party, and

destined to break up and destroy all the

old existing forms of political organization,

though strong in principle and in hope,

was yet feeble in its influence in official

quarters. But with the outbreak of the

war and the ultimate ascendency of those

great principles with which you have

identified your political life, you

have risen to a position of wide

and commanding influence, not in a

mere party, but in the midst of a

brave and generous people, "redeemed

regenerated and disenthralled." - The

honored representative of a great state,

and high in the confidence of a

just and powerful administration

and an appreciating country.

Principia triumphaverunt et tu triumphavisti in illis.

Your administration has become a

part of the imperishable records of the

country and of the history of progressive

free principles throughout the world.

My reasons for asking this

favor of you are, the [having?] an

opportunity I have long coveted, and

more means, to procure a suitable

library etc., with perhaps a short period

for observation and study, though

I am aware that part of it would

depend mainly on where I might

have the good luck to go, if you

should finally decide to send me

anywhere.

I would call on you personally

and tender my respects to you, but

two difficulties interpose, my own

professional duties as physician

and the fact that were I to call

on you in person, I might come in at a time

when you might have no time to attend

to me. This [dumb?] messenger, however,

can wait, if necessary.

Should you desire any references

in the matter, I will refer you to Dr.

[N.K.?] Jones of Jacksonville, Prof [Bateman?]

or any of our old college Professors and

will procure such credentials from

them as you may ask provided

you should ask any.

I have, however, mainly referred

this matter to Judge [Moses?] of this

place, who will present the matter

more fully to your consideration.

Trusting that the subject of this

communication may meet with

your favorable attention and

that I may have the pleasure of

a note from you at an early

day, I remain with sentiments

of profound respect.

Yours very truly

S A Merrell

Winchester, Ills

January 19/1865

Hon Ex-Gov Yates

Jacksonville

Illinois

Springfield Jan'y 30th 1865

J.B. Wheeler, Esq.

Chicago. Ills

Merrell S A

Winchester Jany19/65

Wants you to help him

obtain a consular appointment