Washington, October 24, 1860. Hon. John B. Floyd, Secretary of War: Sir : Being about to furnish the President with some statistics in reference to the unprecedented drought which has afflicted Kansas Territory for more than fourteen months, I have to request that you will favor me with replies to the following queries, viz: 1st. [...]

Linton Stephens to his brother, Alexander H. Stephens JACKSON, TENN., SUNDAY, October 21, 1860. DEAR BROTHER—You may be surprised to learn that I am in Tennessee, but you have possibly heard already that I had gone to Illinois. I got Judge Wright and Bob Sims both to fill my place in Murray, and started from [...]

Washington D.C. Octr. 16, 1860 To James Buchanan President of the U.S.A. Sir: Having just returned from the Territory of Kansas, where I have been an eyewitness to the deplorable and starving condition of that scorched and famine stricken land, I come to implore of the Executive as an act of clemency in behalf of [...]

Westfield, Chatauqua Co. NY Oct 15, 1860 Hon. A. B. Lincoln Dear Sir,. My father has just home from the fair and brought home your picture and Mr. Hamlin’s.   I am a little girl only eleven years old, but want you should be President of the United States very much so I hope you [...]

Alexander H. Stephens to J. Henly Smith. Crawfordville [Ga.], Oct. 13th, 1860. Dear Smith, I got back from Hancock court this evening and found your letter of the 8th Inst. The news of the elections in Pa., Ohio and Indiana reached me at Sparta. I was not much disappointed though greatly saddened by the result. [...]

RICHMOND, VA., October 7, 1860. DEAR COLONEL COLT:—I am sorry to say it will not be possible for the Prince of Wales to accept your kind invitation. After leaving New York we propose to proceed to Albany before going to Boston, so that we shall not be able to visit Hartford. Had arrangements permitted it, [...]

Crawfordville [Ga.]; Sept. 30th, 1860. Dear Smith. I have just got back from my up-country trip—am to go to Warren court tomorrow—health somewhat improved, would have been more so but for speechmaking that I could not get round. I spoke at Atlanta, Marietta, Floyd Spring and Dalton. There is quite a strong feeling springing up [...]

Crawfordville, [Ga.], Sept. 16th, 1860. Dear Smith, This is Sunday as you see from the date. Yesterday I wrote you a long letter. Last night I got the third and last slip from the Constitution in review of my Augusta speech. I notice nothing in any of these pieces that I feel any desire to [...]

Crawfordville [Ga.], Sept. 15th, 1860. Dear Smith, The second slip from the Constitution was received last night. I still see in this review not one thing that I desire to answer or see answered. As to the remarks and comments of the writer on my candour, etc., of course that is a matter beyond the [...]

Crawfordville [Ga.], Sept. 12th, 1860. Dear Smith, Your letter of the 8th inst. enclosing editorial of the Constitution was received last night. I wrote to you a few days ago. In that letter I believe I told you I expected this week to go to the mountain country with a view of recruiting strength, health, [...]

Crawfordville [Ga.], Sept. 10th, 1860. Dear Smith, I am now at home—returned or got here from Appling Court Friday last, but have been too unwell to do any business … or answer letters since. … I went through my business at our court, made a political speech and then went to Augusta where I again [...]

Crawfordville [Ga.], Sept. 6th, 1860. Dear Smith, I wrote you from this place last Sunday. I am again at home. Got back from Warren Court yesterday and am to start tomorrow to Hancock. I am improving daily in health and strength. I hope by tomorrow to get a letter from you. I have received but [...]

Crawfordville [Ga.], Aug. 30th, 1860. Dear Smith, . . . Douglas is gaining very rapidly just at this time in Ga., from all I can hear. But of course there is no prospect of his getting the vote of the state. If he gets 20,000 votes it will be a wonderful success, with all the [...]

Crawfordville [Ga.], Aug. 25th, 1860. Dear Smith, I have been absent two weeks—went over to Sparta where I could be more completely retired and at rest—got back health—found your letter of the 18th inst., etc. I have promised to make a speech next week in Augusta. This was in response to a call from some [...]

  Crawfordville [Ga.], Aug. 8th, 1860. Dear Smith, Yours of the 1st inst. was received some days ago but I have not been in much condition to write with much ease to myself since. About ten or twelve days ago I got a fall as I was going out of the door which gave me [...]

Elberton Geo., 8th August, 1860. Dear Sir: Your letter of the 31st ult. was received last Monday. It was not deemed by me obtrusive. It is true I did not ask for explanations but surely I never said I did not want them. Your conclusion that I did not desire explantions because I did not [...]

Madison Springs, Geo., 30th July, 1860. Dear Sir: In justice to myself I ask leave to occupy your attention with a brief letter. I am informed that in the argument of the state case which went up from Hancock[i] to the Supreme Court at Athens you compared me to the late Judge Kenan and related [...]

Crawfordville [Ga.], July 24th, 1860. Dear Smith, Your letter of the 20th inst. came to hand last night. It gave me some trouble on your account. When I saw as I did the extensive circulation that was given to your letters and the marked impression that they were making on the public mind everywhere, I [...]

Dear Tom : . . . The fact that Congress did not admit Kansas must be a disappointment to you all, but the certainty of her giving a Republican vote was too much for a Democratic Congress, with the almost certainty of the election going into the House. Down here no one thinks of Lincoln. [...]

Crawfordville [Ga.], July 15th, I860. Dear Smith, I have but a moment to acknowledge receipt of two letters from you—the dates I forget. I am about to start in a few moments for Augusta where I am to be at court tomorrow. I am glad you corrected the lying report that I was going to [...]

Crawfordville [Ga.], July 10th, 1860. Dear Smith, Your letter of the 6th inst. was received last night. The paper came by the same mail. The point in your historical narrative I referred to was in part corrected by yourself. The word have instead of protect covered the idea. Besides this, one other. My opposition to [...]

by Henry David Thoreau Read at Brown commemoration in North Elba, New York, July 4, 1860. John Brown’s career for the last six weeks of his life was meteor-like, flashing through the darkness in which we live. I know of nothing so miraculous in our history. If any person, in a lecture or conversation at [...]

Crawfordville [Ga.], July 4th, 1860. . . . No news politically—two tickets I suppose will be run in Ga. I shall take no active part—can do no good. The Legislature will have to choose electors if the Democratic party is split to any considerable extent, as it probably may be. The Breck. and Lane ticket [...]

Crawfordville [Ga.], July 2d, 1860. Dear Smith, Your letter was received two days ago and I delayed answering it until I should get the paper containing the communication referred to in it. This came to hand last night. I read it with interest and was highly pleased with the general tone and style. You present [...]