William B. Plato to Richard Yates

Geneva Ills March 16. 1861

Gov. Yates

Dear sir. a strong sense of duty impels me to warn you against the appointment of an applicant from this county for Comr of the Penitentiary. I understand that he is strongly and respectably endorsed by some of your old acquaintances and friends my acquaintance with you is of such general character only, that I do not feel at liberty to be very explicit in what I say and even in writing this I am aware that I run the hazard of exposing myself to the bitter enmity of some of my old personal and political friends if it should be known that I had in the least interfered against his appointment. the reasons why I could not justify myself to them would be too lengthy to trouble you with, but what should I do, If a man calls on me to obtain my influence with the Governor, to procure him an appointment that confers on him the power of disposing of large sums of the peoples money, and as an inducement offer to share with me the compensation if he succeeds, and when I know the compensation fixed by law can be no object to an honest competent man, can I allow him or his

friends to impose upon our Governor without any warning from me. it seems to me I can not. I am aware that such an offer is no compliment to me, but I dont mind that. in these degenerate days of office selling, men have queer notions of honesty and propriety and it may be after all that my own notions are antiquated, and if so you will oblige me by putting this letter into the file and forgetting you have received it, but if you should happen to think as I do, that a man that is willing to buy a place in the manner indicated would not be overscrupulous about dividing the peoples money, if an occasion should offer them "I shall have done by you as I would that you should do unto me in like circumstances" - it may be, and probably is quite unnecessary, for me to say that this is designed for your eyes alone.

Trusting that you will excuse me for what may be deemed unnecessary intermeddling

I remain Your Friend truly

W. B. Plato

Hon W. B. Plato

Private