George H. Harlow to Richard Yates

Union League of America.

Office of the Secretary of the Illinois State Council.

Pekin, Aug 1st 1864

His Excellency Gov Richd Yates

Dear Sir,

Your esteemed and friendly favor of 8th ult has been to hand for many days; but its contents requiring Some inquiry & I have defered my answer until now. Our County will Send to the Legislature (nominate one at least) a firm "Yates Man" One who will do all in his power to Secure your election to the U. S. Senate, at last I have Such a man in my eye who I know will see right and I have no doubt of his nomination.

This Senatorial Dist will also send a State Senator who will (as far as I can influence him) be warmly in your favor. J P Reynolds has been talked of but he rather declines the honor. Our next best man is G W Minier well known in the Dist, a warm friend of mine

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and of yourself also. He will vote for you all the time.

Can he carry our County and Senatorial District? With the aid of our Soldiers votes I have no doubt of it; but if we fail to make any arrangements for that purpose, I doubt the result. Every Union Man in our County will do his duty this fall. The Leaguers are wide-awake and mean work. Not one effort will be Spared to bring Old Tazewell fairly Squarely & firmly on the right track. To do this requires the aid and assistance of Outsiders who will Stump our County &c &c and the vote of our Soldiers must be had to make assurance doubly Sure. For the past 2 1/2 years I have done all I could privatly and officially in the League and outside for you and in your behalf as a probbable candidate for Senator not because

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I would thereby make a better friend in you; but because I am so proud of our Governor Dick Yates and the proud and glorious record he has and is making. I believed and do now believe that you would fill that proud position with more than usual credit to yourself and honor to Illinois; for those reasons you have been and are now my choice and I believe the chances of 9/10 of the Members of the U L A. aye; I doubt not if the League Should be empowered to choose the Senator. Dick Yates would be the unanimous choice

I have heard of one or two other gentlemen Spoken of in this connexion, but as yet with little prospect of Success. How well their friends may "lay the ropes" I know not. but as far as I can learn through my Correspondents, You

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will be U S Senator from Illinois for the next Six Years

You Speak of my annual report to the G. Council and thank me for my notices of you. Of course I am gratified that I have Said anything that will benefit you. but I assure you Governor, I did no more than a Simple act of justice to you, and I only regret I could not have done more, for to your kind and encouraging words to me about 2 years ago does the ULA and the cause of our beloved Country owe a debt of lasting gratitude

I am at home (Pekin) for the purpose of attending our County Convention which will be held in Tremont the 10th inst. My name will be before the Convention as a candidate for the nomination of Circuit Clerk the Office I now hold in this County.

I will be in Springfield about

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12th or 15th and will be pleased to have an interview with you

With Kind Regards,

I am, Very truly Yours,

Geo. H. Harlow

File Senatorial

Harlow George H.

Pekin Ills, August 1 64

Has received Governors letter. His Senatorial Dist will send a State Senator who will be warmly in his favor, their best man is G W Minier well known in the Dist

With the aid of soldiers votes has no doubt of carrying District, every man in the County will do his duty this fall. He has done all he could for Governor for the past two years as probable candidate for Senate not that he wanted to make a better friend of you, but because he was proud of Dick Yates and if the League should be empowered to choose the Senator Dick Yates would

be the unanimous choice. How well other men may "lay the ropes" he is satisfied Gov will be Senator for next six years. Will be in S. about 12th or 15th and will be pleased to have an interview with Gov.