C. W. Waite to Richard Yates

Private

Executive Department,

City of Jefferson Jan. 9, 1865.

Dear Governor:

Of course, cingratulations are nothing new to you at this time. Warm hearts will flow out toward you, in expressions of the most unqualified satisfaction and delight at your victory - a victory achieved over, first conservatism, second, corruption, third, slander. The People recognize your triumph as theirs rather than yours. Every honest man was for you - every knave was against you - at least, so far as the issue was understood. There were men who were against you that did not know why - men who followed the lead of others. But I positively know no Illinoisan whose personal interest has not been affected, that

has been intelligently against you. And out of Illinois, everybody is for you.

I have now simply to suggest to you that if the plan I suggested had been carried out - I refer to the plan in regard to a second Northern candidate - your competition could not have been enabled to make the fight he did. I strangled, at your request, the infant ideas, but wish it had been acted upon.

Mr. Washburn's card, published on leaving Springfield, has been commented upon with great discredit to him.

Among the members of the Missouri Legislature, Dick Yates is as great a favorite as their own Governor.

I am permitted by Governor Fletcher to convey to you his warmest

congratulations over your election.

God bless you, Governor! Although, in leaving my old State of Illinois and becoming a citizen of Missouri, I cease to have any other than a patriotic interest in the politics of the grand old Prairie State, yet I have been anxious that you should triumph over the infernal combination against you - intensely anxious. I am fearful there was considerable spiritus frumenti punished here on the evening of your election.

One word, and I close. Richard Yates, you were the choice for Vice President of more people, last summer, than you had any conception of. Four years from now you can have that nomination if you have the nerve to grasp it.

Have you read Gov. Fletcher's

message? He read yours, strange as it may seem.

Truly your friend

C. W. Waite,

Lt. Col & A. D. C.

(Military Secretary to Gov Fletcher)

C W Waite

Jefferson City Mo

To

Gov Yates

Congratulations upon your Election to US Senate

Thinks you can be Vice President next term

wrote Aug 28th as below noted

Write Col Waite to know whether he expects to spend any time in Washington - that I received and most highly appreciated his letter of congratulations and intended to have replied to it - but the severe pressure of business engagements prevented me from taking up package of friendly letters in which yours was included

If I can serve you in any way it will afford me a real pleasure to do so.

Waite

Private Sec. Gov. Fletcher

Jefferson City

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