R. C. Rutherford to Richard Yates

Springfield March 28th 1862.

To his Excellency Gov. Yates

Sir.

I have learned from my brother of your purpose to make an effort to obtain for him a position in the Government service. Permit me to say that nothing could be more gratifying to me than your success in this endeavour; and also to ask, for his sake - which I can do without stammering or hot flashes in the cheek - that you give this matter such a place in your memory that the pressure of more important ones will not crowd it out. I can but beleive that the prompter of this kindness to him was an appreciation of his merit, which I feel confident will grow with you as he has opportunity to make more manifest his accuracy and fidelity in business and his gratitude to one who has once befriended him. I am

sorry that I cannot show you how much I shall be rejoiced with his good fortune by having something to sacrifice in his behalf. But if I had been so fortunate as to have served you and the public as to have created claim to your consideration, you could in no way so gratefully and completely cancel them as by bestowing a benefit upon him. I once besought you on my own account. You frankly put me aside for your brother, and I am one of the number who approve and honor that action, for I hear his worthiness confirmed by other mouths than yours. In these stormy times you have done much to command the admiration and gratitude of your countryman, but nothing that raises you so high in my estimation as the moral courage which braves the public fling for the sake of justice to your brother.

I am, Sir, very respectfully

Your obdt. svt.

R. C. Rutherford.

R. C. Rutherford

Springd Mch 28

In behalf of his brother.

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