Lincoln and Browning have "free talk about the Presidency." Browning favors Bates of Missouri. Lincoln admits that Bates may be strongest candidate in Illinois, that Bates can get votes "even in this County that he cannot get." Perhaps when convention meets he may think Bates's nomination "the very best thing that can be done." Browning, Diary.

Lincoln writes to Henry E. Dummer of Beardstown on law case. Abraham Lincoln to Henry E. Dummer, 8 February 1860, CW, 3:517.