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St. Louis, Mo.
3. Sept. 1863.
P.O. Box 2908.
To His Excellency
Richard Yates
Governor of Illinois -
Sir,
I enclose you a communication, I have prepared for President Lincoln - it speaks for itself - I may be wrong in addressing it to him, & I do not wish to do wrong I wish it to go to the proper quarter for consideration. I am aware that the most effectual course would be to get it forwarded through your Excellency the Governor of Illinois - There are reasons, why I dont go to the Governor of Missouri - viz - That from the beginning of this [intestine?] strife, I have been a warm admirer of President Lincoln. In all things
he has appeared to me, so honest, and earnest, so straight forward, & single minded, that I have but one feeling in my mind about him - that of the warmest admiration - Now as Governor Gamble has fallen under the rebuke of the President, I would rather not communicate through him -
But apart from that, there are more legitimate reasons than personal only, why I address myself to you - you can testify doubtless to much that I have said about the condition of the Coal Trade in Illinois, and how much the masters are, to a great degree under the dominance of the men - Now this is a state of things that ought not to be - and can I believe, be quietly remedied - and a great means for that is one that I have indicated - I am a practical Colllier myself, and know how to
address and reach these men in England, so as I believe to induce many to come over here - & I should like to engage in it -
I am sure Col. Taylor will allow me to refer to him, as to the correctness of all I have advanced about La Salle - I add a copy of a letter I have addressed him by same post --
Though I have never had the pleasure of meeting you, yet that which I have hard of you, assures me that you want no better introduction to your good offices, than the plain merits of a good case - and it is with pleasure and confidence, that I submit this to you for your guidance and countenance.
I have little doubt also, that whilst steadily pursuing the object I have marked out for myself, viz the prevailing on miners &