Lincoln writes confidentially to William Schouler: "In these days of Cabinet making, we out West are awake as well as others." He asks Schouler to insert in his paper, with or without comment, as he sees fit, article from "Illinois Journal" proposing E. D. Baker for cabinet. West "is not only entitled to, but is in need of, one member of the cabinet." Abraham Lincoln to William Schouler, 2 February 1849, CW, 2:25.