G. J. Wilson to Richard Yates

Geneva Ill Dec 17. 1864

Dear Governor.

At the suggestion of Mr Mayborne I have during the past week made a short excursion, and visited Fuller, Lansing and others.

It would be doing you no kindness to conceal the fact that there are more elements of opposition to your election, especially among the politicians than I was aware of. With as little intimacy as has existed between you & myself it may seem like a want of delicacy on my part to refer to the main, and I may say to the only objection urged against you, but I am sure you will appreciate my motives for doing so. Rest assured that my sole desire is to contribute what I can towards placing you in the position which I still beleive nine tenths of the people spontaneously accord to you. Premising thus much, I will say that your opponents are untiring in circulating stories of your dissipated habits and endeavoring to create the impression that it would be unsafe to place you in the Senate. These reports carry all the more weight among the masses, coming as they do from men who profess to be personally your warm friends.

Nor can the fact be ignored that we have

in these northern counties a population which if once made to believe that your career in Washington would be similar to Richardson's in respect to intemperance they would oppose your election, however much they might otherwise desire it.

Now I have said to the people two things, first that the stories in relation to your drinking in time past have been greatly exaggerated -- that I have met you frequently during the last three years and never saw you the worse for liquor; and secondly that I have the best reason for beleiving that in the time to come your course will be all that can be desired -- that I am so well satisfied of this that I can conscientiously and urgently advise your election. And above all that these reports in most cases are circulated by men who are actuated by sinister motives, and care little whether the stories are true or false.

I passed the night at Fuller's and we had an unreserved talk. I have no doubt of his friendship for you, and my strong impression is that he will go for you. In relation to Lansing I have my fears. I had a long interview with him, during which I kept constantly before him the unanimity of the people in his district in your favor, and the duty of a member of the legislature to carry out the wishes of his constituents. He did not say

he should be against you, and expressed his warm personal friendship, but he thinks the centre of the State has had everything and that the north has been neglected. And I suspect that there are other considerations in the case to which it would do no good to refer.

Dr. Sedgwick of DuPage to my surprise made up his mind that he could not vote for you and beleiving that his people were for you has resigned his seat. If an election can be held in time a Yates man will be chosen. I saw Childs yesterday and he is warmly for you. He will probably take Sedgwick s place. You can judge whether it is best to delay the nomination of Senator a few days. Have you ordered an election in DuPage? Our Senator & member (Allen & Mann) are both for you. Brown of Winnebago desires to go for you but is hesitating as to his duty. I am told he will not go for Washburne. It is thought by some that they will steal away the entire Chicago delegation, but how they are to get such men as Eastman I am a little curious to know. It seems they have Ward.

Now I have one suggestion of my own to make, and another proposed by two or three of your best friends here. Allen is in favor of going at once into the election and perhaps it may be best, but my idea is that if upon

looking over the ground you shall find that there is any doubt about the result, it would be well to postpone the caucus a few days thus giving you an opportunity to mingle freely among the members & by your conduct and personal appearance give the lie to the stories that are being circulated.

The other suggestion, made by Mayborne & Childs is one which I confess did not at first impress me favorably. They propose that in cause the issue is doubtful, you should pledge yourself that in the event of your election you would resign your seat should you disappoint the expectation of your friends by falling into habits of intemperance. This proposition struck me as a little degrading and of doubtful utility. But they seemed quite confident it might save a few votes and that under the circumstances there would be no impropriety in your giving such a pledge.

Excuse the length of this letter, and do not hesitate to command my services in any way in which you may think they will tend to aid in your success. Please treat this as strictly private & confidential.

Faithfully Your Friend

J. G. Wilson

Wilson J. G. -

Geneva Ill Dec 17th 1864.

He has made a short excursion and visited Fuller, Lansing and others --

"Senatorial"