Lincoln writes to William H. Carlin of Quincy, Illinois, and informs Carlin that he is collecting copies of speeches from the recent campaign season. Lincoln explains, "I am making up a Scrap-book...and if any of your speeches were printed, I would be glad to have a copy of the one you consider the best." Carlin, a Democratic state senator representing Adams County, ran in November for re-election as a member of the National Democrat party. Carlin had spoken out against Stephen A. Douglas, Lincoln's opponent in the U.S. Senate race, and Lincoln backed Carlin in the three-way race for the Illinois Senate seat. Carlin came in third in the race. Democrat Austin Brooks won the seat, and Republican John Tillson came in second. Abraham Lincoln to William H. Carlin, 24 December 1858, Brown University Library, Providence, RI; Journal of the Senate of the Nineteenth General Assembly of the State of Illinois (Springfield: Lanphier & Walker, 1855), 3-4; Quincy Daily Whig and Republican (IL), 15 October 1858, 2:2; Quincy Daily Whig and Republican (IL), 12 October 1858, 2:3; The Daily Quincy Herald (IL), 19 October 1858, 2:3; The Daily Quincy Herald (IL), 4 November 1858, 3:1.