Porter Sheldon to Richard Yates

Rockford Ills

Dec 5th 1864

Hon Richard Yates

Springfield Ills.

Governor,

Your favor Nov 29th came duly to hand, and I immediately made it my business to ascertain what this sudden and systematic effort for Washburn and unceasing cowardly attacks on your private character meant, and I regret to inform you that there is a wide spread effort making here in the northern counties by Washburn that seems successful, to stir up amongst the leading political men an opposition to you, and where he or his friends cannot bring parties over to his support, they seek as a last resort to create a disaffection

toward you in favor of either Genl Palmer or Logan, not careing which.

It is no time my dear Sir, through delicacy to conceal from you the arguments they make use of, trying I am satisfied to change a public sentiment now allmost unanimously for you, so that that public sentiment may not hang like a naked sword over their heads at Springfield and frighten them from their purpose to sacrifice you - but to their arguments: They say to politicians that you have no influence at Washington and cannot help your friends if you should wish to, or had the energy to. and then contrast the benefits of supporting such a man as Washburne who has influence and power and works to the last for his friends, over supporting yourself. To men who are not politicians but concientious men

like Mr Brown the member elect from our county, and to the people at large who cannot see the peculiar beauties of Washburne, they hiss into their ears that you are a drunkard past all hope of reform, talk of the disgrace Ills has already suffered from that cause in her senators, and talk of social vices to which they say you are addicted, untill they hope that through the mist their poisonous breaths surround you with, the people will fail to recognize their "gallant Dick Yates"

I have had a long interview with Mr Lansing brought about in a manner so that he did not mistrust that it was of my seeking, much less that you were in the slightest degree connected with it or that I had ever read a line from you.

Now what I am to say to you of that interview I hardly know, as

Mr Lansing and myself are on the the most intimate & confidential terms in political matters. What he said I managed so that he should volunteer is and it was too much of a confidential character for one to repeat. I can but give you my analysis of Mr Lansings character and you must draw your own conclusions, and even this I hesitate to do, and would not in the interest of any other man in Illinois.

Mr Lansing is preeminently a politician. He always desires to be on the winning side and always will be if he can find out which that side is. Now if I was desirous of obtaining his support for anything, would in the first place try and convince him that I could succeed without his aid or at least was certain to with it. He is a good deal of a worker and likes to have this felt and appreciated. Like most other men, he works for himself and endeavors to think more of his own interests than of those of any friend. He has no attachment for any man that will stand in the way of his own interests. If there is any one thing in general that he aims at, it is that the North West part of the state shall have a more prominent position in our state politics and a more controling influence. I flattered myself that I could make him take an outspoken position in your favor, but I cannot do it without proceeding to schemes with him & which might do more hurt than

good. I can say one thing to you which I did not learn from Mr Lansing and that is the mere fact, that Mr Washburn and Mr L, went together to Genl Fuller this week, what their business was you know as well as I do. Mr L assured me that he had made no promises to Washburne. You can rely upon the support of our member Mr. Brown unless he should be made to believe at Springfield that it would be morraly wrong to support you. I have did my best to disabuse him here in regard to your vilifyers. His sympathies are all with you. He is a Methodist and a very concientious and upright man. I shall try and come to Springfield. Regretting this attempt of politicians to override her at the North the almost unanimous voice of the people and hoping and praying that their schemes may come to nought. I remain

Very Faithfully Yours

Porter Sheldon

Sheldon Hon Porter

Rockford Dec. 5th 1864

Has been making an examination of the proceedings of certain Washburn men against you in that Dist.

They are making strong grounds for attacking you on a moral point of view

Your private character is assailed &c.

Thinks Brown will go right unless he be influenced by the moral argument after coming to Springfield.

Lansing has talked with him and he got from his conversation the idea that he is a man for his own interest. Always on the winning side &c. and the way for you to obtain him is to first make him believe you can succeed without him