In the wake of Abraham Lincoln's nomination, May 16, 1860, as the Republican presidential nominee, Deitzler writes from Lawrence that Mark W. Delahay had gone to Springfield, Illinois, on behalf of "our Gen'l J. H. Lane," and the latter was going East soon, "to howl frightfully against Democracy & in favor of 'Old Abe' & so secure, if possible, the confidence of that good man." Deitzler is worried about the new administration, if it is to be controlled by the likes of Lane and Delahay. On another subject, in behalf of a friend, Deitzler asks about the new territorial divorce law and Wood's availability to handle such a case "in a quiet way."