H. C. Burchard to Richard Yates

Freeport Ill. Dec 17th 1864

Hon. Richard Yates

Dear Sir

Your letter of the 13th inst in regard to United States Senator to be elected by the Illinois Legislature at its morning session is before me and its suggestions have been considered with care. Your frankness is indeed appreciated by me and invited an equal frankness in return I had hoped no other candidate would be proposed than yourself and supposed that none of the gentlemen named by you would consent to be placed in nomination against you. Until about the time of the meeting at the Fremont to which you refer I understood from some of Mr Washburnes particular friends that he was not a candidate. His friends say that a majority of the Union members of the Legislature though not United on any one Candidate are opposed to your election and say that they prefer Mr Washburne should be the successful man. So do I if you can not succeed

He has been our Congressman for 12 years and we know his capacity, energy, and Executive ability. He is our neighbor, and in our Senatorial and Judicial District. Many, if not all, of my political and personal friends here, are his friends and sworn admirers. Would it not seem strange if I should withhold from him the unanimous vote of his District? Yet though not inclined to oppose Mr Washburne I hope to see you elected. Your early outspoken convictions on the great questions that for more than twenty years have agitated the country accord with the sentiments I have entertained from boy hood, your faithful adherence to them alike when popular and unpopular deserve recompense and guarantee fidelity to the principles of Liberty and Justice in determining the Legislation which will be required for a reconstructed Union when the Rebellion is ended. I do not symathise with the efforts or arguments used to defeat you. I have been pained to hear of the defection of some whom

I had supposed to be your reliable friends. I have regretted to see men use your name and influence, to promote their own purposes, who did so, pleased that it created ill feeling and injured you. I distrusted the sincerity of the friendship of some, whose indiscretion, if nothing worse, asked your further indorsement in favor of one of the candidates for the Supreme Bench in this Grand Division, I pointed out to friends who had your confidence and should have made your interests paramount, that the nomination of candidates on the state ticket from the localities in the part of the State they desired would induce the combination you say has been made, and was the result most desired by the opposition to you. It is felt as a matter of injustice and complaint in the 2nd & 3d Congressional Districts, that though they give over one sixth of the total Republican vote of the State, except the worthless office of State Treasurer, they have never been permitted to have a candidate on the state Ticket. Yet though appreciating this grievance, I do not think, and have so intimated to Mr Washburnes friends here, that I shall vote for him if you can be elected. Can it

be effected I have made inquiries personal and indirect as to the standing and predilection of members in this vicinity and in the hopes it may aid you give you the result so far as I believe their preferences are now.

J. D. Platt Jo Davies Washburne

E N Dame Carroll "

O W Bryant Lee "

S Smith Whiteside Doubtful Yates or Washburne

D. J. Pinkney Ogle " Washburne or Palmer

Jim Brown Wennbago Yates

A. C. Fuller Boone Washburne

J. V. Randall DeKalb "

Joslyn McHenry Yates probably

E. B. Payne Lake Washburne

C Lansing "

J D Ward "

A. W Mack "

D Richards "

Alexander McCoy Peoria " or Palmer Probably latter

It is claimed that Chicago members of the House will be 4 to 8 or 5-10 2 against you That besides the influence of the opposing candidates in the Southern and Central parts of the state that the members of Congress elect from other Districts particularly 4th are against you - I desire you to make no use of these names or this information except for your own private reference. I have candidly stated to you my opinions and feelings, am unpledged and untrammeled and shall remain so and act on this question as shall appear to be for the best interests of the State. It was not made a question here either in the nomination or election of members. It will be well for you to look after some of the names I have mentioned I have heard of the feelings of other members but not with the positiveness that these are claimed. Though I have written nothing that I am ashamed toward yet I prefer that you consider this letter confidential

I am with great respect, Yours H. C. Burchard

Burchard Hon H C

Freeport Dec 17 65 [written above 64]

Senatorial