Richard Yates to Amos Tuck

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Title

Richard Yates to Amos Tuck

Description

Gov. Richard Yates writes to Amos Tuck on State of Illinois Executive letterhead regarding Copperheads and noting: "in every part of our state they are organizing armed with rifles & revolvers - assassinations, shootings, etc. are not infrequent prejudiced against New England."

Creator

Yates, Richard

Publisher

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

Date

1863-08-19

Format

pdf

Language

en

Identifier

300326
T1863.08.19-MISC

Transcription

Springfield Aug 19th 1863

Hon. Amos Tuck

My Dear Sir.

I thank you for your very kind letter, and though you very much over rate my services, I feel much better to have it this way, than to have them underrated as they are by mean partizans and the enemies of the country. Allow me to say in return that if not so prominently before the public in the raising of men and means for the war as I have necessarily been, I have not the least doubt you have more ably and efficiently aided the Government in your department than I have in mine. You are able to bring to the public service a riper experience a clearer judgement and an effective statesmanship which one of my impulsive nature can never hope to attain.

The signs of the times are not pleasant here. I had hoped that our recent victories would have overawed the copperheads but they served rather to show them that the political ascendancy, for which they were striving, was rapidly passing out their hands and they are now deliberately debating whether they had not better embroil the free states in revolution than not get the control of the Government. In every part of our state they are organizing-attend their public meetings, in some parts, in squads of from one to five hundred armed with rifles and revolvers-assassinations, shootings [etc?] are not unfrequent. Demagogues appeal to every prejudice, the most hateful and meanest of all is the prejudice against N. England. I believe all will come out right, but the country is yet to pass through unexpected trials and to see horrors it has not yet seen.

My love and that of [illegible] Mrs Tuck

Your friend Richd. Yates

Status

Complete

Percent Completed

100

Weight

20

Original Format

paper and ink
2 p
25 x 20 cm

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