Mark M. Aiken to Richard Yates

Peoria April 19, 1864

To his Excellency Richard Yates,

Sir,

Your letter addressed to myself as one of the signers of the recommendation to the Executive of this state not to order an Election to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of the Hon. Owen Lovejoy was duly received and I have handed it to those who were at Princeton on the first day of April from Peoria.

When we signed the petition it was under the supposition that Congress would adjourn say about the first days of june, and your reasoning is very patriotice and sagacious and looking into the contingencies which may arise posiblly one looked for for a union vote. This vote from the fifth congressional district we hope to send some one but none of the [illegible] afore [ilegible] of the Lamented Lovejoy.

Having said we did not intend to dictate to the Executive but glad we have a faithful man who will be awed by no dictators or cowed by no cliques, we had some local feeling by our local paper calling the signers as a "set of old fogies who assembled at Lovejoy's funeral and fixed the succession among themselves" So far from that as soon as I signed the paper never met with them unless they were in the church where the funeral services were held. To you it it may not be of interest but to us who signed the paper it was unkind if not insulting and so many of us here [hinted?] the assault. In conclusion allow me to remain yours to command.

Very respectfully

Mark M. Aiken

Aiken, Mark M. Peoria, Ills April 19, 1864

Asks receipt of letter addressed to him as one of the Signers of the recommendation not to have the vacancy caused by the demise of Hon O. Loevjoy filled at this time ---

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