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Confidential
Office of the Daily Tribune,
J. Medill.
Chicago, March 1 1862
Dr Sir
It seems that Illinois will be entitled to fourteen M.C's. Hence a new apportionment must be made But we deny utterly the authority of the Convention to apportion. If the legislature be called together the vacancies existing places the control in the hands of the “Egyptians”. Permit me to make a suggestion: the election on the ratification of the Constitution is likely to call out a verry large vote. Now I propose for your consideration
that the vacancies in the legislature be filled on that day. Our chance of filling them with Republicans – that is the districts we carried in '60 will be promoted by a full vote – though we shall loose by the absence of the soldiers. Three fourths of all the volunteers from 40 Northern Counties are Republicans. In the Peoria and Stark district the chances are perhaps against us – but Ingersoll's Cavalry which has just left are said to be mostly Democrats, and mostly from Peoria and Fulton.
If the Constitution be ratified we loose nothing
by filling the vacancies But if it be voted down which I think it will be, and we secure either House a fair Congressional apportionment will be the result You can then call an “extra session,” confining of course the scope of the legislature to that and such other specific duties as you may determine.
Do you know whether Republican postmasters have been appointed in the Central and Southern counties? If they have not been they ought to be. And there should be a list of the names and offices of all the Republicans P.M's in the State
It may be necessary to to send out circulars to be distributed among the opponents of the Egyptian Constitution, and it would be important to know who could be depended upon to aid in their distribution. It will devolve upon the politicians at Springfield to look after these matters. I am not a member of the State Central Com. and the chairman is in [Prussia?] Others must take hold.
Yours Truly
J. Medill
R. Yates
Governor