A. H. Morford to Richard Yates

Equality Illinois

May 16th/61

Dear Governor Yates: - Since I last wrote to you many strange things have happened. In the first place our country is assailed by partisans, persons who wish to gratify their own ambition. They strove to compromise with traitors, thus acknowledging the act, and at the same time giving them another far better chance than ever to cut our throats. But how was this answered by the rebels? War! and preparations for war.

Yes they have been indulged in to so great an extent that they imagine they can take Philadelphia and Washington. But thank God, they did commit an act

which disabused the public mind, that this was a mere war upon Republicans. The "Northern heart is fired" and nobly have Republicans recd men into their embrace and forgotten party ties in order that we might sustain our proud Union or rather Government, who at other times would be considered too low for their company. But a change came over Egypt as if by magic, and our part of the state seems to be a unit for the Government There are three or four counties near the R.R. that have been divided but I think that they will be all right shortly. In all the counties bordering upon the Ohio River the people are right at this time. To be sure there are a few such men as Bill Green of Massac that

would willingly blast all our hopes but they have lost all the confidence the people have reposed in them. Elder from this district is another say-nothing in this hour of peril.

But we must say the patriotic sons of Egypt deserve credit for their willingness to fight for our Flag and put down rebels. They did not respond as quickly as in other portions of the state, for they had no means of communication by which they could respond; and then again the country is sparsely settled.

The Bill that Green engineered through the legislature has injured me very much and also many other strong Republican schoolteachers I did not think it would pass, so I made no objection. Suspending tax payment has fallen heavily in Egypt. Your Message is well

recd as a general thing, but something has just occurred which will tend to injure our cause, here. The particulars I give on another sheet. I am fully convinced that your patriotism will be felt long after the present dificulties have been passed in placing Illinois where she ought to be. Write soon.

Your Friend and Fellow Citizen fast-bound upon "Liberty and Country"

The Union now and evermore

A H Morford

Equality Gallatin Co Ills

A. H. Morford

Private & Military