Wilson, Douglas L., ed.; Davis, Rodney O., ed.; Davis, David. 'David Davis (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=herndon346.html

Lincolns thoughs but I Kew nothing. Lincoln never confided to me anything. He never told me a word on reconstruction — Lincoln would never have split with Congress: he would have fought it out on his own fronts — Johnson was a low down — a demagogue &c. Seward was a Kind tender Man: he said to Johnson on this question of reconstruction — I'll Stand by you. Seward thought that the South had done Enough — namely repudiate the rebel debt — pass the amendment and repudiate the Southern debt. All looks dark now to me: hate hate. hate — &c —

I was at the City of Springfield about the time of Lincolns & Trumbulls Election. I got some Abolitionists to go for Lincoln. Told Lincoln to watch Jo Gillespie and Bill Butler. Lincoln earnestly urged his friends to go for Trumbull (see Sam Parks)

1840 —

Lincoln was around Every where discussing politics: he & Douglas around Douglas & Lincoln went in 1840 all around the Circuit with Treat, & Spoke in the afternoon —

The Arch Williams Story.
The Orm & Dutch Story. — I wanted Orm appointed — Lincoln saw me Coming — Said — There's Davis he bothers one nearly to death — I applied for Orm. Lincoln said he would appoint him — said the list Contained Orms name — asked Lincoln to let me see it: he said Davis you have no faith. I said Lincoln I am a cautious man and want to see for my self. Let me see your list. I read it and and saw they were out They were out. Told Lincoln so — and Said By G — d I'd go and see who did it & Knife him — He sent it over and had it Corrected —

Patterson trial ^[3] — fort Sumpter times — in Champaign — Patterson had killed a man: he had lots of friends & money — Lincoln & Sweat ^[4] defended him. Ficklin & Lamon for People — After hearing the testimony Lincoln said he — the man was guilty — Swett you defend him. I can't — They got a fee of five hundred or a thousand dollars — .

The Woman case — in Champaign — the Seduction case Lincoln got to believe that the witnesses were false — A young man was put on the Stand who

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