Lincoln fought a rear-guard action to prevent the balkanization of Sangamon County. In September 1838, the Sangamo Journal had run a letter, probably by Lincoln, accusing division proponents of “selfishness—A desire to make money, or to obtain the little offices in the new counties.” The author was particularly harsh in criticizing John Taylor: “Old Sangamon must be cut to pieces to accommodate Col. Taylor. He once endeavored to destroy her through the instrumentality of Illiopolis. He now aims to produce the same result by making use of Petersburg.” The letter maintained that Aaron Vandever of Lick Creek wanted a division so that he could win election to the General Assembly, something he could not do in Sangamon County. “In any of the proposed divisions of Sangamon the mass of the people would not be accommodated so far as county business is concerned, as well as they are now.”
Source: Abraham Lincoln ∶ A Life ▫𓂃
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