Lincoln writes to Secretary of the Navy William B. Preston and objects to the impending appointment of Justin Butterfield, of Chicago, to the Commissioner of the General Land Office post. Lincoln seeks the office for himself and he notes Butterfield's minimal efforts to help elect President Zachary Taylor. Lincoln writes, "[W]hen you and I were almost sweating blood to have Genl. Taylor nominated, this same man was ridiculing the idea . . . and when Gen: T. was nominated, if [Butterfield] went out of the city of Chicago to aid in his election, it is more than I ever heard, or believe. . . . If there is one man in this state who desires B's appointment to any thing, I declare I have not heard of him." Abraham Lincoln to William B. Preston, 16 May 1849, CW, 2:48-49; Thomas F. Schwartz, "An Egregious Political Blunder: Justin Butterfield, Lincoln, and Illinois Whiggery," Papers of the Abraham Lincoln Association 8 (1986): 9-19.

Lincoln writes to Secretary of State John M. Clayton and recommends Ethelbert P. Oliphant, who seeks a diplomatic post. Lincoln writes, "Oliphant, of Union Town, Pa. is a candidate for the appointment of Charge to Denmark." Lincoln informs Clayton that Oliphant, with whom Lincoln served in the Black Hawk War, once lived in Springfield. Lincoln closes, "His success would afford me sincere satisfaction." Ethelbert P. Oliphant to Abraham Lincoln, 8 May 1849, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; Abraham Lincoln to John M. Clayton, 16 May 1849, CW, 2:48; Ethelbert P. Oliphant to Abraham Lincoln, 28 July 1859, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.