John S. Thompson to Richard Yates

[Aledo] Ill. Mar 4. 1865

Hon. Richd Yates

Dear Sir:- I beg to trouble you to do me a favor.

I have often- too often perhaps- written to you for favors in behalf

of my friends; but the fact that I have never yet been fortunate

enough to secure anything for any of them, leads me to ask

again, in the hope that your present position may enable you

to do what you have not been enable heretofore to do.

I ask nothing for myself. While a good appointment

would by no means be unacceptable to me, I would not, for

anything within the gift of the administration, use the means

and appliances necessary to procure it. I [therefore?] leave

the [farm?] of 'Uncle Abe' so far as I am concerned to be bought

and obtained by those who feel differently inclined.

My experience in such matters, altho quite limited, has disgusted

me with politics & a very large majority of politicians.

The Senatorial Contest and the [Curse?] of our last Legislature's

burning shame and disgrace to any people, and [fitly?] prove

what opposition may be organized to the clear choice of the people

and what measure may be carried through however repugnant

to [justice?] by the power and influence of money. To an [unsophis-

ticated?] young man like myself, the power of money is truly

marvellous!

But what of our country! Are we to be sunk beneath the

[Corruption?] of the times! Are new [Contimcally?} to rule over us who

have no fear of God or the public conscience? The calm judgment

of any good man is that unless we are thoroughly [purged?] as a people

and [purified?] as a government, then the blood and treasure of the

people in this Contest for the salvation of the nation, [were?] utterly vain.

But I did not [intend?] to run off into a lecture

and will return to the subject, & I beg you to excuse me.

My immediate object in writing to you is to secure for

a very particular friend of yours and mine an appointment as a

Clerk in some one of the Departments at Washington.

He is a man of ability, thouroughly devoted to his friends and

proposes if he can get a situation of that kind, to devote his

leisure hours in corresponding for the Union paper in this

District & perhaps for one of the St. Louis Journals.

I can recommend him not only for his ability as

a speaker & writer but for his integrity. He is an

original Union man & [rnderd?]effective service in the last

campaign.

Should you be able to secure a position for him, he

Could be of service to you & would undoubtedly cheerfully

do it.

He studied here in my office; but the [business?] in the

[profession?] is dull and he is desirous of spending a few

years at the Capital.

C. W. Searls is the man and his address is at this place.

Hoping soon to hear favorably from you.

I remain your friend & obt. ser

John S. Thompson