Lincoln writes to John C. Bagby, of Rushville, Illinois, who is running as a Republican for a seat in the Illinois Senate. Lincoln notes that he has heard that Bagby is "discouraged" about his chances of winning. Lincoln offers Bagby some encouragement: "That wont do. You must be elected." Lincoln advises Bagby to let the "committee at Chicago" know "the amount and nature of the help you can make available, and I expect they will furnish it." Lincoln admonishes Bagby not to "say 'if I can'," but, instead to "say 'I will.'" Newton Bateman and Paul Selby, eds., Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Schuyler County (Chicago: Munsell Publishing, 1908), 31; The Schuyler Citizen (Rushville, IL), 8 September 1858, 2:1; Abraham Lincoln to John C. Bagby, 6 September 1858, CW, 3:90.

Crowds of people gathered to hear Lincoln speak in Monticello, march to meet him "on the Bement road one mile." There they encounter Lincoln along with "a delegation of 300 persons who had come from Decatur by a special train." The marchers then proceed "through town to an adjacent grove." After eating a dinner there, Lincoln speaks to a crowd of approximately 3,000 "for nearly three hours." A newspaper reports on Lincoln's comments about the growing popularity of the Republican party: "Two years ago the American party was against us here, and...his procession consisted of one man carrying a large flag, and himself and his audience consisted of 30 persons. But all is changed now. The Americans...Whigs and Republicans are firmly united." Chicago Daily Press and Tribune (IL), 9 September 1858, 1:2.