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544. Alexander Campbell to Jesse W. Weik.

La Salle May 18th 1888

My dear sir

I was greatly pleased to receive your letter of 8th inst as it afforded me the opportunity of Explaining what you had reason for regarding as gross negligence if not some thing worse on part which I assure you was not the Case as I regard promises of that Kind as binding as business Engagements

Besides I was more particularly diserous of Complying with your request believing you to be a friend and admirers of the great and good Lincoln. It was not for some time after receiving your first letter that I Could procure a photograph of Mr L's letter and in the mean time your letter got mislaid or lost and I had forgotten your address so it was out of my power to fulfil my my promise Again I had the misfortune to have my right wrist broken some 10 or 12 weeks ago which prevented me using my pen until some three weeks past. soon thereafter the miserable weather we are still having set in, This brought on a severe attack of rheumatism which has rendered my hand nearly as helpless as the fracture in the first instance. It is with great difficulty that I can use my pen now. I have delayed answering your last letter for some days hoping for a Change in the weather that would relieve my rheumatism and enable me explain how and why the letter was made public The understanding between between Mr Lincoln and myself at the time was that the matter was to be considered strictly private and it so remained until the National Banking System was brought forward to supercede the legal-tenders (or Greenback) which I then believed and still believe would prove highly detrimental if not fatal to the interest of the government and people and so told the President. It was at this time that that Mr Lincoln told of this matter. You will notice

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that the letter of which the enclosed photograph is a copy is dated June 25th 1858. When the debates between Mr Lincoln and Senator Douglas. took place, but it was in Fremont Campaign that I authorized him to draw on me for the five hundred dollars. But as an a clear and inteligent Explanation of the Circumstances Connected with the affair would require more labor than would be possible for to bestow upon it at this time I have concluded to send you the letter and to give you the Explanation when I have recovered the use of my hand

I have taken the liberty of sending you a photograph of myself with some of my of my views on finance and Currency Hoping that what I have been able to say in reference may be satisfactory for the present

I am very truly yours
A Campbell

Library of Congress: Herndon-Weik Collection. Manuscript Division. Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. 4633 — 34

nts

Notes.

1. CW 2:473.