Wilson, Douglas L., ed.; Davis, Rodney O., ed.; Holland, Josiah G. 'Josiah G. Holland to William H. Herndon' in 'Herndon's Informants: Letters, Interviews, and Statements About Abraham Lincoln' . Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1998. [format: book], [genre: letter]. Permission: University of Illinois Press
Persistent link to this document: http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/file.php?file=herndon568b.html

Springfield, Aug 19, 1867

Dear Mr Herndon: —

In rummaging my drawers, this page comes to light. It answers a question you put to me some weeks since. It is in the hand writing of U. F. Linder of Chicago. There were other details of the matter that I obtained either from Mr Linder's lips,

for I had a long talk with him of which I took notes, or from some other source. How are you getting on with your work?

Yours Truly
J. G. Holland

"All I am or shall ever hope to be I owe to my loving angel mother, God bless her!"

"Where did this vast body of water come from?"

"Gentlemen let us not disgrace the age and country in which we live. This is a land where freedom of speech is guaranteed. Mr Baker has a right to speak and ought to be permitted to do so. None shall take him from the stand while I am here if I can prevent it"

"Oh how hard to die and not be able to leave the world any better for one's little life in it."

"By G__ I'll have that negro back soon, or I'll have a twenty years agitation in Illinois until the Governor does have a legal and constitutional right to do something in the premises." ^[1]

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