Wilson, Douglas L., ed.; Davis, Rodney O., ed.; Jayne, William. 'William Jayne (William H. Herndon Interview)' in 'Herndon's Informants: Letters, Interviews, and Statements About Abraham Lincoln' . Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1998. [format: book], [genre: interview]. Permission: University of Illinois Press
Persistent link to this document: http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/file.php?file=herndon266b.html

August 15th 1866 ^[1]

Wm Jayne —

I took the names of Judge Logan & Abrm Lincoln to the Sangamon Journal Office and had them published as candidates for the H.R of the Ills Legislature — This was in the Mo of _________ 1854. Mrs Lincoln saw Francis the Editor and had Lincolns name taken out. Lincoln was absent. When L. came home I went to see him in order to get him to consent to run. This was at his house: he was then the saddest man I Ever Saw — the gloomiest: he walked up and down the floor — almost crying and to all my persuasions to let his name stand in the papers — he said "No — I can't — you don't Know all — I Say you don't begin to Know one half and that's Enough". I did however go and have his name re-instated and there it stood. He and Logan were Elected by about 600 majority — see Journal

Lincoln resigned his seat, finding out that the Republicans — the Anti Nebraska men had Carried the Legislature. N M. Broadwell ran as whig — Anti Nebraska man — was badly beaten — . The People of Sangamon County was down on Lincoln — hated him — Had Lincoln Kept his seat he would have been the Senator at that time. McDaniel, who beat Broadwell was a Democrat of the Douglas School.

Butler Hon Wm Butler — Secry of the Treasurer of this State — who clothed and boarded Lincoln for years — paid his debts — L's — debts & obligations, because L would not give him Butler in 1848 the land office swore he would be revenged on Lincoln. Butler pretended however to be L's friend. He was for Trumbull — got into Lincolns good graces — in Lincolns camp — heard all and revealed to Trumbull & his camp. Judd & Palmer in the Legislature heard all and Stuck to Trumbull, Knowing what L's plans were &c. Trumbull was Elected — they were good friends — had no fuss — no words or misunderstanding — Matheny to the Contrary notwithstanding — his whole story was a lie — Judge Logan pretended as I think to be a friend of Lincoln but I have a notion that he was not, but was for Trumbull, my brother in Law —

When I was a boy Mrs Lincoln and Mrs Trumbull, both girls at that time got me to drop the Satiracle poetry against Shields ^[2] — Gen Jas Shields — which in part caused the challeng by Shields —

I saw Judd at the late Republican Convention (Aug 1866) and he and I got to speaking about Lincoln's Speech in 1858. After the Speech was delivered & printed Judd met Lincoln one day and said to Lincoln — "Well Lincoln had I seen that Speech I would have made you Strike out that house divided part" — "You would — would you Judd — " I guess you wouldn't — replied Lincoln

Library of Congress: Herndon-Weik Collection. Manuscript Division. Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. 2599 — 2600; Huntington Library: LN2408, 2:179 — 81

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