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Abraham Lincoln's "Moral Character" Fantastic Letter in Which Congregationalist Ministers Discuss Candidate
Abraham Lincoln's "Moral Character" Fantastic Letter in Which Congregationalist Ministers Discuss Candidate
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Abraham Lincoln's "Moral Character" Fantastic Letter in Which Congregationalist Ministers Discuss Candidate

This fascinating letter reports an interview with candidate Abraham Lincoln by Rev. Albert Hale, the pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church in Springfield. Hale and Theron Baldwin, the author of this letter, were classmates at Yale College. Hale reported to Baldwin that Lincoln compared himself to the Apostle Peter in his desire to remain firm in his stand against the spread of slavery but recognized he was "liable to infirmity & may fall." At a second interview at which Hale was present, Lincoln assured a wealthy interviewer that he never drank alcohol or used tobacco. Hale concluded that Lincoln's "moral character" was "without reproach or blemish" and that he was "uncorrupted if not incorruptible."

Hale himself compared Lincoln to his perennial political opponent and Democratic nominee for president Stephen A. Douglas. While Douglas was "great in tricks," Hale observed, Lincoln was great in "uprightness."

Baldwin gave additional excerpts from Hale's letter to Joshua Leavitt (1794-1873), who was one of the editors of The Independent, a weekly Congregationalist magazine in New York, which published them on June 28. A few days earlier, Baldwin wrote this letter to his friend Rev. Leonard Bacon and included some private excerpts that were "not for the public."

[ABRAHAM LINCOLN.] Theron Baldwin, Autograph Letter Signed, to Leonard Bacon, June 25, 1860, New York, New York. 4 pp., 5" x 8". Light, interment smudging; penciled reference note on last page.

Complete Transcript
New York June 25 1860
Rev L. Bacon D.D.
Dear Sir
When I was last in New Haven you inquired in regard to the moral character of Abraham Lincoln & had the impression that he attended the Rev A. Hale's church. Soon after that I wrote Br Hale & spoke to him of your inquiry & he has written me in reply with permission to make his testimony public. This morning I ha[n]ded over extracts from his letter to Dr. Leavitt for the Independent which he was very glad to get. Some details of a personal interview I did not give as they were not for the public – at least as given in such an interview. In one of these he said, "I have made no pledges & intend to ^the Lord helping me I shall^ make none[."] Bro H. says, "as I rose to go I gave him my hand he held on & said, ‘Mr. Hale I have read my Bible some, tho not half as much as I aught & I have always regarded Peter as sincere when he said he would never deny his Master, yet he did deny Him. Now I think I shall keep my word & maintain the stand I have taken, but then I must remember I am liable to infirmity & may fall[.']"
Br H. says, "There is a striking difference between Lincoln & Douglas. Douglas is great in tricks, Lincoln in uprightness"
One other extract—"Only a few days since I was visited by a wealthy man – a millionaire from a distance & he wished to see Mr Lincoln He must question the candidate So I went with him & he had two several & important questions which in my presence he put to Mr. L. 1. ‘Do you drink'? "No"! was the instant reply. 2. "Do you use tobacco"? "No never, in any form – chewing, smoking or snuffing." So report him to Rev Trask the General in Chief of the forces of Anti-Tobacco & let all the world know he is a clean man – free from the impurities & stench of the vile weed"
The extracts which I have furnished for the Independent I think will do good. Br Hale promises his moral character as "without reproach or blemish" & the man "uncorrupted if not incorruptible."
One of your sons preached yesterday I understand in the to be Congregational Church in Orange NJ & to the great acceptance of the people.
Respectfully / & truly yours
Theron Baldwin

Historical Background
Extracts from Albert Hale's letter to Theron Baldwin were published in The Independent in its issue of June 28, 1860:
"We are happy to lay before our readers testimony of the personal character of that gentleman which is entitled to the highest confidence. We are permitted to make the following extracts from a letter written to a friend in this city by Rev. A. Hale, pastor of a Presbyterian church in Springfield, Ill., and in reply to inquiries respecting the private character of Abraham Lincoln. These extracts speak for themselves.
"‘Mr. Lincoln is not an attendant on my preaching. His wife is a member of the First Presbyterian church, and when he is in the city, he pretty regularly attends there on the Sabbath. I understand he once taught a Sabbath-school, but not in this place. From the frequency and readiness with which he is accustomed to quote from the Bible, and the use he makes of such quotations, it is clear that he has read the Bible and pondered its contents. I wish I could say that he is born of God.
"‘His moral character stands among us here without reproach or blemish. I have known him for twenty years, and latterly, as circumstances have made him prominent, I have become well acquainted with him—have watched his course and the tide of public opinion in these parts, both among his friends and his foes. My residence here at the capital, where the streams of political corruption from all parts of the state meet, has made me sufficiently distrustful of the integrity and virtue of public men. If not "all men," at least all public men, have seemed to be "liars." Abraham Lincoln has been here all the time, and consulting and consulted by all classes, all parties, and on all subjects of public interest, with men of every degree of influence, and every degree of corruption—and yet I have never heard even an enemy accuse him of intentional dishonesty and corruption.
"‘He has stood before the community here the man of uncorrupted if not incorruptible integrity. And to be able to say that of any man who has mingled as freely with Illinois politics and politicians as Mr. L. has, is glory enough for one man. To call him "Honest Old Abe" is not to my taste, but no words can more correctly express the common opinion of him where he is well known. He has never been in the habit of drinking, and has lectured against it once in our meeting-house.
"‘In answer to inquiries recently made in respect to pledges, "his reply in substance was, that he had made no pledge of office, honor, or patronage in any way to any man or party, on the condition of his election to the Presidency, and he was most happy that very little of the kind had been sought."
"‘The prospect in this state is that he will be triumphantly elected. The Fillmore element that defeated the Republicans in 1856 are now very generally indicating their preference for Lincoln. The same is true of Indiana. So confident are Lincoln men of a glorious victory, that it is no uncommon thing to hear it said, "We hope the Baltimore Convention will put Mr. Douglas on the track." It is well understood that his nomination would be the only one likely to waken the life of the Democracy in Illinois, and the Republicans feel entirely able to fight and conquer him.'"

Theron Baldwin (1801-1870) was born in Connecticut and graduated from Yale College in 1827. He then joined the theological department and was ordained in 1829. He organized a society for the evangelization of the Mississippi Valley and beyond and planned a seminary for Illinois. Together with Rev. J. M. Sturtevant and other ministers as part of the "Yale Band," he founded Illinois College in Jacksonville in 1829. Baldwin organized the first Sunday School Union in Jacksonville and served as its secretary. In 1831, the Illinois College trustees selected Baldwin as an agent to solicit funds for the college in the East. After service with the American Home Missionary Society, he served as principal of the Monticello Female Academy in Godfrey, Illinois, from 1838 to 1843. For the remainder of his life, he supported education in the new states. He died in Orange, New Jersey.

Leonard Bacon (1802-1881) was born in Detroit, Michigan, to a missionary among the Native Americans and his wife. He graduated from Yale College in 1820 and from the Andover Theological Seminary in 1823. From 1825 until his death, he was pastor of the First Church (Congregational) in New Haven, Connecticut. From 1826 to 1838, he served as editor of the Christian Spectator in New Haven, and in 1848, he and four others founded The Independent, a Congregationalist magazine published in New York City and primarily designed to combat the extension of slavery. He served as one of the editors of The Independent until 1861. From 1866 until his death, he taught at Yale, as professor of didactic theology until 1871 and thereafter as lecturer on church polity and American church history. Four of his six sons became Congregational pastors, including George B. Bacon (1836-1876) in Orange, New Jersey (mentioned in this letter).

Albert Hale (1799-1891) was born in Connecticut and graduated from Yale College in 1827. He spent two years as an agent of the American Tract Society in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. He was licensed to preach in 1830 and pastored a church near Boston. In 1831, as part of the "Yale Band," he went west to Illinois and pastored a church in Bond County until 1839. He then served as pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church in Springfield, Illinois, from 1839 to 1867. He also served as a chaplain to the Illinois state legislature. After he retired, citizens of Springfield supported his salary to minister to the "down and out of the city," giving him the nickname of "Pastor of the Highways and Hedges."

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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