Abraham Lincoln ALS - November 3, 1859...

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Abraham Lincoln ALS - November 3, 1859 Autograph letter signed ("A. Lincoln"), 1 page (5 x 7.9 in.; 127 x 201 mm.), Springfield, 3 November 1859, written to P. Quinn Harrison, whom Lincoln defended in his last murder trial. Faint text in areas, but legible; general soiling; archival reinforcement at folds; infilled at lower left corner. Abraham Lincoln appeals to Peachy Quinn Harrison, whom Lincoln defended in his last murder trial earlier in 1859, asking for his support in getting Republican John M. Palmer elected to Congress. "A young man, before the enemy has learned to watch him, can do more than any other. Pitch in and try." Lincoln writes in full: Dear Sir: I have [no] reason to doubt that our friends are doing the best they can about the election. Still, you can do some more, if you will. A young man, before the enemy has learned to watch him, can do more than any other. Pitch in and try. Palmer is good and true, and deserves the best vote we can give him. If you can make your precinct 20 votes better than it was last we probably shall redeem the county. Try - Yours truly A. Lincoln At the end of his 25-year career as a trial lawyer, Lincoln tried one more murder case, defending Peachy Quinn Harrison, the grandson of his old political foe, Rev. Peter Cartwright, "the Backwoods Preacher." It involved a brawl between Quinn and Greek Crafton, resulting in the stabbing death of Crafton. Both were sons of two of the most powerful political families in Springfield, Illinois, and it garnered a tremendous amount of media attention. Lincoln turned in a stellar performance in all aspects of the case, cross-examining brilliantly, arguing points of law with great vehemence, and giving a final argument which was described as a tour de force of logical analysis. Quinn was acquitted of the murder. John M. Palmer was the Republican candidate in a special election to a vacancy in the 36th Congress caused by the death of Thomas L. Harris, but he was defeated by John A. McClernand. He later became a Republican presidential elector in 1860 and was one of the leading people who got his friend Abraham Lincoln nominated for the presidency at the national convention in Chicago.