William H. Pierce to Richard Yates

With W. H. Pierce letter 2/8/65 W H Pierce PM Monmouth Illinois Feb 26th /65

Dear Judge Harding leaves to morrow morning for Washington armed with the, "Poll. Books" of election for P. M. designing (as I am informed) to make a personal call upon the President and ask him to receive that as expressing of the will of our people in reference to their choice and to appoint Turnbull at the end of my four years. This is claimed to be magnanimous on his part not to disturb me until July In their public meeting. Glenn "engineered and drew up & had preface, a set of "Resolutions" one of which was that the time would soon arrive at which a Post Master was to be appointed in the old "democratic doctrine" of "rotation in office" we the citizens recommend that an election be held on the 11th was to vote for a suitable person to be recommended to the President for appointment &c. Now I suggested to Harding that he would make a bad record for himself if the advocated the "rotation" policy as he undoubtedly would desire to be returned to Congress the second term &c and he readily acknowledged the force of it and said I need have no fear of his asking for my removal. I however much prefer to fortify myself .against all he might do against me. I shall tomorrow

forward to the Post Master Gen my remonstrance which the names of mine tenths of our business men of the city particularly designating their vocation opposite their names written by themselves & asking that it be placed on file at the department for future reference. I shall also send some letters of commendation and in addition to this, I think the matter would be made doubly sure if you would write a letter to Gov Yates asking him to make a personal call upon the President, and secure my appointment for another term, and get a confirmation of it at the extra call of the Senate. This would end the matter at once Gov Yates is fully aware that I held Jas H. Martin, our Rep "level" to vote for him for U.S. Senator and I doubt not would cheerfully do all he could for me. Pitt Kellogg knows what I have stated to be true about Martin and could so state to the Gov. I regret exceedingly to give you so much trouble and annoyance on my account and I hope you will pardon me for it but you know I am both ambitious and nervous and don't want to be outdone by Harding. I know he was treacherous to Gov Gates, and I have every reason to believe he will be to me. He is playing janus faced all over the district

and if ever he should again offer for re-election he will find "pardon" a hard road to travel. His course alone towards Gov Gates has given him condemnation all over the district. But for his recommending the "elective " mode of choosing a Post Master in this place, I would have had no trouble. It was said to me last fall that he promised some of the "rank & file" of the "abolitionist" that he would have me turned out of the P.O & I charged it upon him at the time but he strongly denied it. I now believe he said it. But enough of this. Whatever seems best in your judgment to be done in the premises- please do-, and whatever the result may be I will therewith be content. As ever truly your friend W.H. Pierce Hon N. Kellogg

Dear Yates Read this and if you can help Pierce and beat Harding - Pierce is a good fellow Harding is a "cadd"

                                                                                                                          Kellogg