Thomas Champion to Allen Tomlin

Warren Dec 15th 1864

Friend Tomlin

Owing to the lateness of Friend Smalls "dinner" it was impossible for me to meet you at his office at 3 P.M. as per agreement I very much regretted it as I wanted to have some further conversation with you

In regard to the Senatorship I will say I have Seen and had a long talk with Judge Platt and I can say there is but one objection that he has to Gov Yates viz his drinking he is prepossessed in his favor does not like Washburne and will vote for Yates if Yates or his friends can pledge him

to anything like a life of sobriety I suggested to Platt that it might possibly benefit me somewhat if he would vote for Yates and he assured me he would if he could be anyway satisfied on the above question. I think he will vote for him anyway, but have stated to you just the facts of our conversation

I regret very much that I did not see you again on Tuesday. Please write me and oblige.

Your True Friend

& Obt Servt

Thos E. Champion

Galena Dec 16th 1864

Dear Yates,

You will see by the foregoing how the virus has spread, & how all prevailing is the belief as to unworthiness of your habits; Now you certainly cannot be so unkind or obtuse in your moral & friendly feelings toward either yourself or me as to misconstrue my anxiety; for your real welfare & prosperity, as to attribute my zeal to improper objects or motives; for Surely you know I neither desire or expect any favor or influence from you in the attainment of any of my cherished objects as there is such a total antagonism in all our aims & ambitions & yet with all this difference in our estimate of life, its uses & abuses & the great resultant problem that our existence here inevitability must solve; you know not & probably never will know with what a deep & longing tenderness of love & solicitude I follow you in your Career in life & how intense is the desire

& anxious The prayer that you may in everything prove worthy of all the trust & confidence reposed in you by the noble & generous masses of the people of this non-pareil of States; & by reading the letter of the brave Col Champion of the 96th you will readily see that others of prominence & worth & pristine in all the walks of life entertain feelings of more than mere personal or ordinary friendship. This type of feeling you will at once perceive has an origin deeper & more abiding than the present - it is reaching into the swift coming future & they say by this anxiety on their part, they wish to leave a record void of offence to the mighty issues of the present & future - in all this acts & responsibilities & I ask you are they not clearly right - did they act otherwise would they not be, not only derelict in duty but highly criminal; You once said to me in one of your most highly esteemed letters - that your Nature was an essentially religious one - I have long known that to be true - not only of you but also of every intelligent Creature God has brought into being - He leaves the imprint of his own state & eternity of existence as the normal evidence

in our Souls of His paternity & our Sonship to him - It would be more than passing strange if this were not so; This then being the bent & inclination of the God principle within you - why I ask in all seriousness do you not follow its voice & teachings; aye but me thinks I hear you say - I should have to cease doing this or that & in that event I could never be a successful politician - but would it not be better to deserve success & not succeed - than not to deserve the successful; to my mind it is much better to suffer wrong than to do wrong - You can see by the tenor of the Cols letter & the state of mind & disposition it exhibits in judge Platt the State of feeling there is abroad at least in the Northern part of the State as to the habits of her agents & factors - The character of a people are known by the character of her employees - I rejoice at the dawning of such a sensitiveness; it betokens a more hopeful & healthy state of morals in the public mind & your true friends

who are most zealously affected for your lasting & enduring fame; would have all 'onlys' & 'buts' removed from all connection with it, & when we speak of you do so without qualification: Only think of the effect & influence the fact of Judge Platt's leading off would have - right from the Aspirant W's own County - it would have a moral as well as political effect that would at once settle all controversy in the North - there would scarcely be a shadow of opposition to you & it would be such a blow on poor W as to crush him in the future - I send you this letter that you may have an internal view & knowledge of the true condition of affairs 'up North' if these rumors & reports are not true - why not come up here before the 1st Prox & give a lecture for some Patriotic purpose - you shall have a large call & also a large attendance this would be the most desirable I think You must keep this letter & its contents a profound secret - for neither of them know dream that you will ever see it or know of its whereabouts - I though deem it only of an act of justice that you should know of it - please return it soon - I may write again soon - write at once Your friend

Allen Tomlin

Tomlin Allen

Galena Dec, 16th 64

Encloses a letter from Col Champion - stating that Platt will go for you if he hears of your pledging a life of sobriety in future

He enjoines upon you the necessity of living a temperate & moral life - Follow the God principles of your nature &c &c.