Samuel Halleth to Richard Yates

New York My 7th 1863 To His Excellency Richard Yates Governor of the State of Illinois

Sir:

We take the liberty of sending you copies of letters addressed to us by Genl John C. Fremont, Gen. Cassius and Hon. Horace [illegible] on the subject of the Pacific Railroad. Your attention is respectfully but earnestly invited to their perusal, and an expression of your own views solicited.

We are engaged in a work having for its object the construction of that road. To secure this end, by increasing the confidence of capitalists, we believe it only necessary to acquaint them with the well-considered opinions of our eminent men. The interest of the country is already awakened, and the Government has manifested a wise desire for its early completion, by making a generous donation of public lands and a liberal proffer of national credit. Money is [beginning?] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] we are again beginning to beat with the vigor of exuberant health. The possibility of a foreign war, which shall close to us the Illinoisan routes to pour Pacific States, creates a national argument impossible to resist, and calls for the zealous co-operation of Statesmen, even more imperatively that the urgent demands of trade claim the support of Capitalists. However magnificent may be our prophetic visions of Asian commerce, flowing in fertilizing streams across our continent, and of tides of European emigration scattering the productive wealth of free labor over our prairies, and through our mountain Parks, capable of yielding to the touches of industry, the richest fruits of mineral and pastoral enterprise - yet it is of infinitely greater present moment to contemplate the contingency of such a war as many make a Pacific Railroad the only rout by which Armies of the Republic [illegible] [illegible] be moved in [influence?] from one extremity to another of its vast exterior.

We [venture?], therefore, to hope that an undertaking which enlists the sympathy of the Government, and which, on public grounds, has been authorized to draw Fifty Millions of Dollars from the National Treasury, may not be thought unworthy to receive the cordial support of Statesman occupying your distinguished position. It is our intention to circulate the series of letters we shall receive, not only in America, but Europe; and hoping soon to be able to add to this series one from yourself, we have the honor to subscribe ourselves.

Your obedient Servants,

Samuel Halleth

Samuel Halleth & Co New York May 7 1863 ________________ Encloses copies of letters from Gel Fremont CM Clay on the subject of the Pacific Rail Road and wish an [expression?] of the Governors views on that subject - they are engaged in a work having for its object the construction of that road.

___________ Rcd ExO May 11th 1863