S. L. Spink to Richard Yates

State of Illinois

Sangamon Co.

SS

The affiant S. L. Spink deposes and says that he is a member of the House of Representatives of the State of Illinois in the 24th General Assembly from the 39th Representative district; that on the 4th day of January 1865 about one hour before the assembling of the legislative caucus for the nomination of a candidate for United States Senator, he, the said S. L. Spink, met Hon. E. B. Washburne at his rooms at the St. Nicholas Hotel in the City of Springfield, by the request of said Washburne, and that said Washburne then and there exhibited a list, as he claimed, of the names of the friends of Gov. Yates for the position of United States Senator, numbering thirty three, (33,) being a majority of two of the whole number of Union senators and Representatives in the 24th General Assembly; that

(over)

said Washburne then informed affiant that it may in his power to prevent the election or nomination of Gov. Yates, that as the vote was to be by ballot nobody would be the wiser, and that if he, affiant would vote for him, Washburne, instead of Yates he, the said affiant, should have the position of United States Judge in one of the territories, or Paymaster, Quartermaster or Commissary in the army, as he might elect and that the appointment should be made by the time of the close of the present session of the legislature; that there should be no mistake in this matter, giving affiant to understand that he, Washburne, had control of the patronage of the General Government for the purpose of securing his election to the position of United States Senator; and further affiant saith not.

S. L. Spink

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 7th day of January A.D. 1865

L. B. Adams

Notary Public