George S. Phillips to Richard Yates

Private.

Chicago -

Reeds Temple of Music

Feb.20/64

To His Excellency,

The Governor Yates,

of Illinois.

My dear friend,

I did not receive your

letter inviting me to Springfield etc

until some ten more more days, after

date. I replied to it at once -

and told you, that altho I had been

sick for a month, I thought I should

be strong enough to do myself the honor

of becoming your guest, by Monday, or

Tuesday next. Through Mr [name] - or

some of his people - I have this moment

received another letter from you

extending your kind invitation.

In the mean while, however, there

occurred a vacency in the Editorial

Management of the Ch. Journal - and

it has been finally arranged that

I shall fill it - the stipulation being

that I Enter upon my duties on Monday

next - 29th inst.

I had many doubts in my mind

as to whether I could in honor, accept

this post, pending the negociations between

us. But the fact that my exchequer

is low - that I have had no employment

for two months - that sickness has entailed

2/

a good deal of extra expense upon me

leaving me well nigh stranded, and

at the mercy of a pitiless sea

of troubles - weighed with me

so powerfully, that I felt it was my duty to

my family take the half loaf,

better than no loaf!

In some respects, I am personally,

sorry, and in others glad, that this office

has befallen me. Some how, or other,

"but wherefore, I know not", as Hamlet

says, I have a most sincere attachment

& friendship for you - not only as

Governor Yates - our Chief Magistrate -

but as Richard Yats, our Chief Man!

And if I could have been near you,

during the next twelve months, I honestly

think & believe, that I could have

rendered you much good service. The more

so, because I should have worked cheerfully

for you, for love, and not for pay;

nor would you ever have been wronged

or sold by me, as I fear you have

been, by those whom, probably, you

most confidently trusted. I am no

politician; and could never have become such,

unless to serve some noble heart whom

I loved; and for [them?], I must hide

myself in darkness, so that I might not appear

in a habitat, which did not belong to

my roots & nature.

But perhaps, in my own field

of Enterprise - if, like most other things,

it does not turn out an abortion, and leave

me in the cold - I may be able to

help your work with my pen in any direction

to which I may find you turning; and in

3/

that case, you may be sure, that the

true fellow will be in your interests, whom

neither money, nor office, "nor any other

creature," could buy from him allegiance.

Now, my dear friend, I hope you

will not think that I have done wrong

in closing so suddenly, with the Journal

folks, when I was more than half in

your hands already. But did you ever

know what it was to be troubled

with the disease of impecuniosity?

Dost thou know the value of a dollar?

- the sweetness of hard earned bread,

when a man is hungry, and when the sweat

of a days work hardly gave me Enough to

eat? If I perceive any thing like this

has been [illegible] - thou wilt not marvel

that a man who had nothing to do

and whose private fortune on which to live - enough

in England - is but the half of the wages

of an American Mechanic - should seize

upon the first honorable employment

which might chance to offer.

At any rate I will sincerely ask you

to forgive me, if in my eagerness to earn

my salt, I have in any way, thwarted

your designs - which I heartily hope I have

not. And indeed, if after sufficient

trial I find this Journal is not

my true El Dorado in the West; and

you have any post for me, where I can

be with you, and genuinely serve you, I

should like that better than any thing else;

and I beseech you, if you care for true

service, and not for lip service, to bethink

you whether some such arrangement could not

be finally effected between us. Don't think

4/ Me conceited, or forward, my dear

friend, in making this suggestion. It is some

of your own so called friends who have

pricked me to it, by their falsehood

and double dealing in respect to you.

At any rate, and under any

circumstances, I am yours devoutly.

As to the biography, if you

will be so good as furnish me with

the papers, and get them properly headed,

dated, and numbered as to the pages

I will, as soon as possible, work them

up into form, and make of them

a personal record, which can hardly

fail to catch the ears & hearts of

your constituents, and of those who love

you in the West and East. I cannot

now come to Springfield on Monday

because I must begin with the Journal

on that day; nor am I strong enough

to venture upon so long a journey, without taking

a day or two's rest between going

& returning. These days I cannot now

spare - and yet I ought to see you for

a few hours. Could you not arrange this

- that is, if your anticipated journey

should bring you to Chicago?

I shall want all the Speeches,

Essays, Lectures etc. along with

any State papers by you - which you

may think it wise & proper to publish.

And a short note should be appended

to each speech, lecture, Essay & political

paper, giving the dates of delivery, and

the history of the occasion.

All this will be absolutely necessary;

5/ And it shall go hard, but I will

produce a book not unworthy of

our beloved Governor.

Please write me - if only one line -

in reply. Set my mind at ease as to

what I have done in the Journal matter

- and if you think I have not acted

(considering what you proposed to obtain for

me) as I ought to have done - point out

the remedy and I will right the

unwitting wrong.

I am always yours, most truly,

Geo. S. Phillips

Private

Phillips Geo. S.

Chicago Feby 26 1864

Has accepted of position

with the Chicago Journal

cannot comply with Gov

request Friendly letter."

Biography" &c

Executive Office Lily 2764