Joseph Medill to Richard Yates

Confidential Daily Tribune Railroad, Commercial and General Printing Office. Chicago, Dec 14 1864

Gov Yates

Dr Sir, I am obliged to go to Washington in behalf of the press of the State to indeavor to get Congress to repeal the duty on paper which is so oppressive on us all I consented to go partly for the reason I told you, partly at the urgent request of my associates & the newspaper association. I must start tomorrow without fail. I may be back before the senatorial question is settled.

your letter gives me great relief of mind. I am now sorry that I had not canvassed this question with you before. But I never could bring myself to write to you plainly on so very delicate and personal a subject and would not have said what I did, had not you opened the topic so unreservedly. I must say in justice to your opponents that I never heard either of them speak disrespectfully of you or make any charge of inebriation. All that W. said to me was that the North and of the State was entitled to the senatorship.

2

Daily Tribune Railroad, Commercial and General Printing Office. Chicago, 186

as it was Douglas' vacancy, and that it would be gratifying to him to get it &c. I told him plainly that I thought you had the inside track. My private opinion is, that W. is playing for Trumbull's place – that he will take his chances now; but if he fails, he will have his name so prominently connected with the senatorship as to be an available candidate two years hence. I think that Palmer is really more formidable than W. this winter.

As to the action of the State Convention, what I stated was the prevailing opinion among all whom I heard talking of it. The private arrangement you speak of, I knew not of. I recollect however that a resolution was handed into the committee on Resolutions, and unanimously [laid over?]. It recommended you for Senator.

Mr. Bross & myself yesterday instructed Mr. White to preserve neutrality on the senatorship, in the columns of the Tribune – this was before your letter came to hand. We must however insert an item from a Carlinville paper in favor of Palmer, having copied articles from the St Louis Dem for you and from a Rockford paper for W. The position of the Tribune as between the candidates was fully [described?] in our editorial this morning & I think no one can take offense at it.

Yours truly J. Medill

Senatorial

Medill J. Tribune Chicago Dec 14th 64

Is obliged to go to Washington to get Congress to repeal duty on paper Will try to preserve neutrality in Tribune