第4章

InwhatIhavenowsaid，IthinkIcannotbemisunderstood；andtomakemyselfunderstoodistheonlyobjectofthisletter。

Ifitsuitsyoubestnottoanswerthis，farewell。Alonglifeandamerryoneattendyou。But，ifyouconcludetowriteback，speakasplainlyasIdo。Therecanneitherbeharmnordangerinsayingtomeanythingyouthink，justinthemanneryouthinkit。Myrespectstoyoursister。

Yourfriend，LINCOLN

LEGALSUITOFWIDOWv。s。Gen。ADAMS

TOTHEPEOPLE。

"SANGAMONJOURNAL，"SPRINGFIELD，ILL。，Aug。19，1837。

Inaccordancewithourdetermination，asexpressedlastweek，wepresenttothereaderthearticleswhichwerepublishedinhand—

billform，inreferencetothecaseoftheheirsofJosephAndersonvs。JamesAdams。Thesearticlescannowbereaduninfluencedbypersonalorpartyfeeling，andwiththesolemotiveoflearningthetruth。Whenthatisdone，thereadercanpasshisownjudgmentonthemattersatissue。

Weonlyregretinthiscase，thatthepublicationswerenotmadesomeweeksbeforetheelection。Suchacoursemighthavepreventedtheexpressionsofregret，whichhaveoftenbeenheardsince，fromdifferentindividuals，onaccountofthedispositiontheymadeoftheirvotes。

TothePublic：

Itiswellknowntomostofyou，thatthereisexistingatthistimeconsiderableexcitementinregardtoGen。Adams’stitlestocertaintractsofland，andthemannerinwhichheacquiredthem。

AsIunderstand，theGen。chargesthatthewholehasbeengottenupbyaknotoflawyerstoinjurehiselection；andasIamoneoftheknottowhichherefers，andasIhappentobeinpossessionoffactsconnectedwiththematter，Iwill，inasbriefamanneraspossible，makeastatementofthem，togetherwiththemeansbywhichIarrivedattheknow1edgeofthem。

SometimeinMayorJunelast，awidowwoman，bythenameofAnderson，andherson，whoresidesinFultoncounty，cametoSpringfield，forthepurposeastheysaidofsellingatenacrelotofgroundlyingneartown，whichtheyclaimedasthepropertyofthedeceasedhusbandandfather。

Whentheyreachedtowntheyfoundthelandwasc1aimedbyGen。

Adams。JohnT。Stuartandmyselfwereemployedtolookintothematter，andifitwasthoughtwecoulddosowithanyprospectofsuccess，tocommenceasuitfortheland。Iwentimmediatelytotherecorder’sofficetoexamineAdams’stitle，andfoundthatthelandhadbeenenteredbyoneDixon，deededbyDixontoThomas，byThomastooneMiller，andbyMillertoGen。Adams。

Theoldestofthesethreedeedswasabouttenorelevenyearsold，andthelatestmorethanfive，allrecordedatthesametime，andthatwithinlessthanoneyear。ThisIthoughtasuspiciouscircumstance，andIwastherebyinducedtoexaminethedeedsveryclosely，withaviewtothediscoveryofsomedefectbywhichtooverturnthetitle，beingalmostconvincedthenitwasfoundedinfraud。IdiscoveredthatinthedeedfromThomastoMiller，althoughMiller’snamestoodinasortofmarginalnoteontherecordbook，itwasnowhereinthedeeditself。I

toldthefacttoTalbott，therecorder，andproposedtohimthatheshouldgotoGen。Adams’sandgettheoriginaldeed，andcompareitwiththerecord，andtherebyascertainwhetherthedefectwasintheoriginalortherewasmerelyanerrorintherecording。AsTalbottafterwardstoldme，hewenttotheGeneral’s，butnotfindinghimathome，gotthedeedfromhisson，which，whencomparedwiththerecord，provedwhatwehaddiscoveredwasmerelyanerroroftherecorder。AfterMr。

Talbottcorrectedtherecord，bebroughttheoriginaltoouroffice，asIthenthoughtandthinkyet，toshowusthatitwasright。Whenhecameintotheroomhehandedthedeedtome，remarkingthatthefaultwasallhisown。Onopeningit，anotherpaperfelloutofit，whichonexaminationprovedtobeanassignmentofajudgmentintheCircuitCourtofSangamonCountyfromJosephAnderson，thelatehusbandofthewidowabovenamed，toJamesAdams，thejudgmentbeinginfavorofsaidAndersonagainstoneJosephMiller。Knowingthatthisjudgmenthadsomeconnectionwiththelandaffair，Iimmediatelytookacopyofit，whichiswordforword，letterforletterandcrossforcrossasfollows：

"JosephAnderson，vs。

JosephMiller。

JudgmentinSangamonCircuitCourtagainstJosephMillerobtainedonanoteoriginally25dollsandinterestthereonaccrued。

Iassignallmyright，titleandinteresttoJamesAdamswhichisinconsiderationofadebtIowesaidAdams。

hisJOSEPHxANDERSON。

mark。"

Asthecopyshows，itboredateMay10，1827；althoughthejudgmentassignedbyitwasnotobtaineduntiltheOctoberafterwards，asmaybeseenbyanyoneontherecordsoftheCircuitCourt。Twootherstrangecircumstancesattendeditwhichcannotberepresentedbyacopy。Oneofthemwas，thatthedate"1827"hadfirstbeenmade"1837"and，withoutthefigure"3，"

beingfullyobliterated，thefigure"2"hadafterwardsbeenmadeontopofit；theotherwasthat，althoughthedatewastenyearsold，thewritingonit，fromthefreshnessofitsappearance，wasthoughtbymany，andIbelievebyallwhosawit，nottobemorethanaweekold。Thepaperonwhichitwaswrittenhadaveryoldappearance；andthereweresomeoldfiguresonthebackofitwhichmadethefreshnessofthewritingonthefaceofitmuchmorestrikingthanIsupposeitotherwisemighthavebeen。Thereader’scuriosityisnodoubtexcitedtoknowwhatconnectionthisassignmenthadwiththelandinquestion。Thestoryisthis：DixonsoldanddeededthelandtoThomas；ThomassoldittoAnderson；butbeforehegaveadeed，AndersonsoldittoMiller，andtookMiller’snoteforthepurchasemoney。Whenthisnotebecamedue，AndersonsuedMilleronit，andMillerprocuredaninjunctionfromtheCourtofChancerytostaythecollectionofthemoneyuntilheshouldgetadeedfortheland。Gen。AdamswasemployedasanattorneybyAndersoninthischancerysuit，andattheOctoberterm，1827，theinjunctionwasdissolved，andajudgmentgiveninfavorofAndersonagainstMiller；anditwasprovidedthatThomaswastoexecuteadeedforthelandinfavorofMilleranddeliverittoGen。Adams，tobeheldupbyhimtillMillerpaidthejudgment，andthentodeliverittohim。Millerleftthecountywithoutpayingthejudgment。AndersonmovedtoFultoncounty，wherehehassincediedWhenthewidowcametoSpringfieldlastMayorJune，asbeforementioned，andfoundthelanddeededtoGen。AdamsbyMiller，shewasnaturallyledtoinquirewhythemoneydueuponthejudgmenthadnotbeensenttothem，inasmuchashe，Gen。Adams，hadnoauthoritytodeliverThomas’sdeedtoMilleruntilthemoneywaspaid。ThenitwastheGeneraltoldher，orperhapsherson，whocamewithher，thatAnderson，inhislifetime，hadassignedthejudgmenttohim，Gen。

Adams。IamnowtoldthattheGeneralisexhibitinganassignmentofthesamejudgmentbearingdate"1828"andinotherrespectsdifferingfromtheonedescribed；andthatheisassertingthatnosuchassignmentastheonecopiedbymeeverexisted；oriftheredid，itwasforgedbetweenTalbottandthelawyers，andslippedintohispapersforthepurposeofinjuringhim。Now，IcanonlysaythatIknowpreciselysuchaonedidexist，andthatBen。Talbott，Wm。Butler，C。R。Matheny，JohnT。Stuart，JudgeLogan，RobertIrwin，P。C。CanedyandS。M。

Tinsley，allsawandexaminedit，andthatatleastonehalfofthemwillswearthatITWASINGENERALADAMS’SHANDWRITING！！Andfurther，IknowthatTalbottwillswearthathegotitoutoftheGeneral’spossession，andreturneditintohispossessionagain。

TheassignmentwhichtheGeneralisnowexhibitingpurportstohavebeenbyAndersoninwriting。TheoneIcopiedwassignedwithacross。

IamtoldthatGen。NealesaysthathewillswearthatheheardGen。AdamstellyoungAndersonthattheassignmentmadebyhisfatherwassignedwithacross。

Theaboveare’facts，asstated。Ileavethemwithoutcomment。

Ihavegiventhenamesofpersonswhohaveknowledgeofthesefacts，inorderthatanyonewhochoosesmaycallonthemandascertainhowfartheywillcorroboratemystatements。IhaveonlymadethesestatementsbecauseIamknownbymanytobeoneoftheindividualsagainstwhomthechargeofforgingtheassignmentandslippingitintotheGeneral’spapershasbeenmade，andbecauseoursilencemightbeconstruedintoaconfessionofitstruth。Ishallnotsubscribemyname；butI

herebyauthorizetheeditoroftheJournaltogiveituptoanyonethatmaycallforit。"

LINCOLNANDTALBOTTINREPLYTOGEN。ADAMS。

"SANGAMONJOURNAL，"SPRINGFIELD，ILL。，Oct。28，1837。

IntheRepublicanofthismorningapublicationofGen。Adams’sappears，inwhichmynameisusedquiteunreservedly。ForthisI

thanktheGeneral。Ithankhimbecauseitgivesmeanopportunity，withoutappearingobtrusive，ofexplainingapartofaformerpublicationofmine，whichappearstometohavebeenmisunderstoodbymany。

Intheformerpublicationalludedto，Istated，insubstance，thatMr。TalbottgotadeedfromasonofGen。Adams’sforthepurposeofcorrectingamistakethathadoccurredontherecordofthesaiddeedintherecorder’soffice；thathecorrectedtherecord，andbroughtthedeedandhandedittome，andthatonopeningthedeed，anotherpaper，beingtheassignmentofajudgment，felloutofit。ThisstatementGen。AdamsandtheeditoroftheRepublicanhaveseizeduponasamostpalpableevidenceoffabricationandfalsehood。TheysetthemselvesgravelyaboutprovingthattheassignmentcouldnothavebeeninthedeedwhenTalbottgotitfromyoungAdams，ashe，Talbott，wouldhaveseenitwhenheopenedthedeedtocorrecttherecord。

Now，thetruthis，Talbottdidseetheassignmentwhenheopenedthedeed，oratleasthetoldmehedidonthesameday；andI

onlyomittedtosayso，inmyformerpublication，becauseitwasamatterofsuchpalpableandnecessaryinference。IhadstatedthatTalbotthadcorrectedtherecordbythedeed；andofcoursehemusthaveopenedit；and，justastheGeneralandhisfriendsargue，musthaveseentheassignment。IomittedtostatethefactofTalbott’sseeingtheassignment，becauseitsexistencewassonecessarilyconnectedwithotherfactswhichIdidstate，thatIthoughtthegreatestduncecouldnotbutunderstandit。

DidIsayTalbotthadnotseenit？DidIsayanythingthatwasinconsistentwithhishavingseenitbefore？MostcertainlyIdidneither；andifIdidnot，whatbecomesoftheargument？TheselogicalgentlemencansustaintheirargumentonlybyassumingthatIdidsaynegativelyeverythingthatIdidnotsayaffirmatively；anduponthesameassumption，wemayexpecttofindtheGeneral，ifalittleharderpressedforargument，sayingthatIsaidTalbottcametoourofficewithhisheaddownward，notthatIactuallysaidso，butbecauseIomittedtosayhecamefeetdownward。

Inhispublicationto—day，theGeneralproducestheaffidavitofReubenRadford，inwhichitissaidthatTalbotttoldRadfordthathedidnotfindtheassignmentinthedeed，intherecordingofwhichtheerrorwascommitted，butthathefounditwrappedinanotherpaperintherecorder’soffice，uponwhichstatementtheGenl。commentsasfollows，towit：

"IfitbetrueasstatedbyTalbotttoRadford，thathefoundtheassignmentwrappedupinanotherpaperathisoffice，thatcontradictsthestatementofLincolnthatitfelloutofthedeed。"

Iscommonsensetobeabusedwithsuchsophistry？DidIsaywhatTalbottfounditin？IfTalbottdidfinditinanotherpaperathisoffice，isthatanyreasonwhyhecouldnothavefoldeditinadeedandbroughtittomyoffice？CananyonebesofardupedastobemadebelievethatwhatmayhavehappenedatTalbot’sofficeatonetimeisinconsistentwithwhathappenedatmyofficeatanothertime？

NowTalbott’sstatementofthecaseashemakesittomeisthis，thathegotabunchofdeedsfromyoungAdams，andthatheknowshefoundtheassignmentinthebunch，butheisnotcertainwhichparticulardeeditwasin，norishecertainwhetheritwasfoldedinthesamedeedoutofwhichitwastaken，oranotherone，whenitwasbroughttomyoffice。Isthisamysteriousstory？Isthereanythingsuspiciousaboutit？

"Butitisuselesstodwelllongeronthispoint。Anymanwhoisnotwilfullyblindcanseeataflash，thatthereisnodiscrepancy，andLincolnhasshownthattheyarenotonlyinconsistentwithtruth，buteachother"——Icanonlysay，thatI

haveshownthathehasdonenosuchthing；andifthereaderisdisposedtorequireanyotherevidencethantheGeneral’sassertion，hewillbeofmyopinion。

ExceptingtheGeneral’smostflimsyattemptatmystification，inregardtoadiscrepancebetweenTalbottandmyself，hehasnotdeniedasinglestatementthatImadeinmyhand—bill。EverymaterialstatementthatImadehasbeensworntobymenwho，informertimes，werethoughtasrespectableasGeneralAdams。I

statedthatanassignmentofajudgment，acopyofwhichIgave，hadexisted——Benj。Talbott，C。R。Matheny，Wm。Butler，andJudgeLogansworetoitsexistence。IstatedthatitwassaidtobeinGen。Adams’shandwriting——thesamemensworeitwasinhishandwriting。IstatedthatTalbottwouldswearthathegotitoutofGen。Adams’spossession——Talbottcameforwardanddidswearit。

Biddingadieutotheformerpublication，InowproposetoexaminetheGeneral’slastgiganticproduction。InowproposetopointoutsomediscrepanciesintheGeneral’saddress；andsuch，too，asheshallnotbeabletoescapefrom。Speakingofthefamousassignment，theGeneralsays："Thislastcharge，whichwastheirlastresort，theirdyingefforttorendermycharacterinfamousamongmyfellowcitizens，wasmanufacturedatacertainlawyer’sofficeinthetown，printedattheofficeoftheSangamonJournal，andfounditswayintotheworldsometimebetweentwodaysjustbeforethelastelection。"NowturntoMr。Keys’

affidavit，inwhichyouwillfindthefollowing，viz。："IcertifythatsometimeinMayortheearlypartofJune，1837，IsawatWilliams’scornerapaperpurportingtobeanassignmentfromJosephAndersontoJamesAdams，whichassignmentwassignedbyamarktoAnderson’sname，"etc。Nowmark，ifKeyssawtheassignmentonthelastofMayorfirstofJune，Gen。Adamstellsafalsehoodwhenhesaysitwasmanufacturedjustbeforetheelection，whichwasonthe7thofAugust；andifitwasmanufacturedjustbeforetheelection，KeystellsafalsehoodwhenhesayshesawitonthelastofMayorfirstofJune。

EitherKeysortheGeneralisirretrievablyinforit；andintheGeneral’sverycondescendinglanguage，Isay"Letthemsettleitbetweenthem。"

Nowagain，letthereader，bearinginmindthatGeneralAdamshasunequivocallysaid，inonepartofhisaddress，thatthechargeinrelationtotheassignmentwasmanufacturedjustbeforetheelection，turntotheaffidavitofPeterS。Weber，wherethefollowingwillbefoundviz。："I，PeterS。Weber，docertifythatfromthebestofmyrecollection，onthedayordayafterGen。AdamsstartedfortheIllinoisRapids，inMaylast，thatI

wasatthehouseofGen。Adams，sittinginthekitchen，situatedonthebackpartofthehouse，itbeingintheafternoon，andthatBenjaminTalbottcamearoundthehouse，backintothekitchen，andappearedwildandconfused，andthathelaidapackageofpapersonthekitchentableandrequestedthattheyshouldbehandedtoLucian。Hemadenoapologyforcomingtothekitchen，norfornothandingthemtoLucianhimself，butshowedthetokenofbeingfrightenedandconfusedbothindemeanorandspeechandforwhatcauseIcouldnotapprehend。"

CommentingonWeber’saffidavit，Gen。Adamsasks，"Whythisfrightandconfusion？"IreplythatthisisaquestionfortheGeneralhimself。WebersaysthatitwasinMay，andifso，itismostclearthatTalbottwasnotfrightenedonaccountoftheassignment，unlesstheGenerallieswhenhesaystheassignmentchargewasmanufacturedjustbeforetheelection。Isitnotastrongevidence，thattheGeneralisnottravelingwiththepole—

staroftruthinhisfront，toseehiminonepartofhisaddressroundlyassertingthattheassignmentwasmanufacturedjustbeforetheelection，andthen，forgettingthatposition，procuringWeber’smostfoolishaffidavit，toprovethatTalbotthadbeenengagedinmanufacturingittwomonthsbefore？

Inanotherpartofhisaddress，Gen。Adamssays："ThatIholdanassignmentofsaidjudgment，datedthe20thofMay，1828，andsignedbysaidAnderson，Ihaveneverpretendedtodenyorconceal，butstatedthatfactinoneofmycircularsprevioustotheelection，andalsoinanswertoabillinchancery。"NowI

pronouncethisstatementunqualifiedlyfalse，andshallnotrelyonthewordoroathofanymantosustainmeinwhatIsay；butwillletthewholebedecidedbyreferencetothecircularandanswerinchanceryofwhichtheGeneralspeaks。Inhiscircularhedidspeakofanassignment；buthedidnotsayitboredate20thofMay，1828；nordidhesayitboreanydate。Inhisanswerinchancery，hedidsaythathehadanassignment；buthedidnotsaythatitboredatethe20thMay，1828；butsofarfromit，hesaidonoath(forhesworetotheanswer)thataswellasrecollected，heobtaineditin1827。Ifanyonedoubts，lethimexaminethecircularandanswerforhimself。Theyarebothaccessible。

ItwillreadilybeobservedthattheprincipalpartofAdams’sdefenserestsupontheargumentthatifhehadbeenbaseenoughtoforgeanassignmenthewouldnothavebeenfoolenoughtoforgeonethatwouldnotcoverthecase。Thisargumentheusedinhiscircularbeforetheelection。TheRepublicanhasuseditatleastonce，sincethen；andAdamsusesitagaininhispublicationofto—day。NowIpledgemyselftoshowthatheisjustsuchafoolthatheandhisfriendshavecontendeditwasimpossibleforhimtobe。Recollect——hesayshehasagenuineassignment；andthathegotJosephKlein’saffidavit，statingthathehadseenit，andthathebelievedthesignaturetohavebeenexecutedbythesamehandthatsignedAnderson’snametotheanswerinchancery。LuckilyKleintookacopyofthisgenuineassignment，whichIhavebeenpermittedtosee；andhenceIknowitdoesnotcoverthecase。Inthefirstplaceitisheaded"JosephAndersonvs。JosephMiller，"andheadsoff"JudgmentinSangamonCircuitCourt。"Now，mark，thereneverwasacaseinSangamonCircuitCourtentitledJosephAndersonvs。JosephMiller。Thecasementionedinmyformerpublication，andtheonlyonebetweenthesepartiesthateverexistedintheCircuitCourt，wasentitledJosephMillervs。JosephAnderson，Millerbeingtheplaintiff。WhatthenbecomesofalltheirsophistryaboutAdamsnotbeingfoolenoughtoforgeanassignmentthatwouldnotcoverthecase？Itiscertainthatthepresentonedoesnotcoverthecase；andifhegotithonestly，itisstillclearthathewasfoolenoughtopayforanassignmentthatdoesnotcoverthecase。

TheGeneralasksfortheproofofdisinterestedwitnesses。Whomdoesheconsiderdisinterested？Nonecanbemoresothanthosewhohavealreadytestifiedagainsthim。Nooneofthemhadtheleastinterestonearth，sofarasIcanlearn，toinjurehim。

True，hesaystheyhadconspiredagainsthim；butifthetestimonyofanangelfromHeavenwereintroducedagainsthim，hewouldmakethesamechargeofconspiracy。AndnowIputthequestiontoeveryreflectingman，DoyoubelievethatBenjaminTalbott，Chas。R。Matheny，WilliamButlerandStephenT。

Logan，allsustaininghighandspotlesscharacters，andjustlyproudofthem，woulddeliberatelyperjurethemselves，withoutanymotivewhatever，excepttoinjureaman’selection；andthat，too，amanwhohadbeenacandidate，timeoutofmind，andyetwhohadneverbeenelectedtoanyoffice？

Adams’sassurance，indemandingdisinterestedtestimony，issurpassing。Hebringsintheaffidavitofhisownson，andevenofPeterS。Weber，withwhomIamnotacquainted，butwho，I

suppose，issomeblackormulattoboy，fromhisbeingkeptinthekitchen，toprovehispoints；butwhensuchamanasTalbott，amanwho，buttwoyearsago，ranagainstGen。AdamsfortheofficeofRecorderandbeathimmorethanfourvotestoone，isintroducedagainsthim，heasksthecommunity，withalltheconsequenceofalord，torejecthistestimony。

Imighteasilywriteavolume，pointingoutinconsistenciesbetweenthestatementsinAdams’slastaddresswithoneanother，andwithotherknownfacts；butIamawarethereadermustalreadybetiredwiththelengthofthisarticle。Hisopeningstatements，thathewasfirstaccusedofbeingaTory，andthatherefutedthat；thatthentheSampson’sghoststorywasgotup，andherefutedthat；thatasalastresort，adyingeffort，theassignmentchargewasgotupisallasfalseashell，asallthiscommunitymustknow。Sampson’sghostfirstmadeitsappearanceinprint，andthat，too，afterKeysswearshesawtheassignment，asanyonemayseebyreferencetothefilesofpapers；andGen。

Adamshimself，inreplytotheSampson’sghoststory，wasthefirstmanthatraisedthecryoftoryism，anditwasonlybywayofset—off，andneverinseriousness，thatitwasbandiedbackathim。Hiseffortistomaketheimpressionthathisenemiesfirstmadethechargeoftoryismandhedrovethemfromthat，thenSampson’sghost，hedrovethemfromthat，thenfinallytheassignmentchargewasmanufacturedjustbeforeelection。Now，theonlygeneralreplyheevermadetotheSampson’sghostandtorychargeshemadeatoneandthesametime，andnotinsuccessionashestates；andthedateofthatreplywillshow，thatitwasmadeatleastamonthafterthedateonwhichKeysswearshesawtheAndersonassignment。Butenough。InconclusionIwillonlysaythatIhaveacharactertodefendaswellasGen。Adams，butIdisdaintowhineaboutitashedoes。

ItistrueIhavenochildrennorkitchenboys；andifIhad，I

shouldscorntolugthemintomakeaffidavitsforme。

A。LINCOLN，September6，1837。

Gen。ADAMSCONTROVERSY——CONTINUED

TOTHEPUBLIC。

"SANGAMONJOURNAL，"Springfield，Ill，Oct。28，1837。

Suchistheturnwhichthingshavetakenlately，thatwhenGen。

Adamswritesabook，Iamexpectedtowriteacommentaryonit。

IntheRepublicanofthismorninghehaspresentedtheworldwithanewworkofsixcolumnsinlength；inconsequenceofwhichI

mustbegtheroomofonecolumnintheJournal。Itisobviousthataminutereplycannotbemadeinonecolumntoeverythingthatcanbesaidinsix；and，consequently，IhopethatexpectationwillbeansweredifIreplytosuchpartsoftheGeneral’spublicationasareworthreplyingto。

ItmaynotbeimpropertoremindthereaderthatinhispublicationofSept。6thGeneralAdamssaidthattheassignmentchargewasmanufacturedjustbeforetheelection；andthatinreplyIprovedthatstatementtobefalsebyKeys，hisownwitness。Now，withoutattemptingtoexplain，hefurnishesmewithanotherwitness(Tinsley)bywhichthesamethingisproved，towit，thattheassignmentwasnotmanufacturedjustbeforetheelection；butthatitwassomeweeksbefore。LetitbeborneinmindthatAdamsmadethisstatement——hashimselffurnishedtwowitnessestoproveitsfalsehood，anddoesnotattempttodenyorexplainit。Beforegoingfarther，letapinbestuckhere，labeled"Onelieprovedandconfessed。"Onthe6thofSeptemberhesaidhehadbeforestatedinthehand—billthatheheldanassignmentdatedMay20th，1828，whichinreplyIpronouncedtobefalse，andreferredtothehand—billforthetruthofwhatI

said。Thisweekheforgetstomakeanyexplanationofthis。Letanotherpinbestuckhere，labelledasbefore。Imentionthesethingsbecause，if，whenIconvicthiminonefalsehood，heispermittedtoshifthisgroundandpassitbyinsilence，therecanbenoendtothiscontroversy。

ThefirstthingthatattractsmyattentionintheGeneral’spresentproductionistheinformationheispleasedtogiveto"thosewhoaremadetosufferathis(my)hands。"

Underpresentcircumstances，thiscannotapplytome，forIamnotawidownoranorphan：norhaveIawifeorchildrenwhomightbypossibilitybecomesuch。Such，however，Ihavenodoubt，havebeen，andwillagainbemadetosufferathishands！

Hands！Yes，theyarethemischievousagents。ThenextthingI

shallnoticeishisfavoriteexpression，"notoflawyers，doctorsandothers，"whichheissofondofapplyingtoallwhodareexposehisrascality。Now，letitberememberedthatwhenhefirstcametothiscountryheattemptedtoimposehimselfuponthecommunityasalawyer，andactuallycarriedtheattemptsofarastoinduceamanwhowasunderachargeofmurdertoentrustthedefenceofhislifeinhishands，andfinallytookhismoneyandgothimhanged。Isthisthemanthatistoraiseabreezeinhisfavorbyabusinglawyers？Ifheisnothimselfalawyer，itisforthelackofsense，andnotofinclination。Ifheisnotalawyer，heisaliar，forheproclaimedhimselfalawyer，andgotamanhangedbydependingonhim。

Passingoversuchpartsofthearticleashaveneitherfactnorargumentinthem，IcometothequestionaskedbyAdamswhetheranypersoneversawtheassignmentinhispossession。Thisisaninsulttocommonsense。Talbotthasswornonceandrepeatedtimeandagain，thathegotitoutofAdams’spossessionandreturneditintothesamepossession。Still，asthoughhewasaddressingfools，hehasassurancetoaskifanypersoneversawitinhispossession。

NextIquoteasentence，"NowmysonLucianswearsthatwhenTalbottcalledforthedeed，thathe，Talbott，openeditandpointedouttheerror。"True。HissonLuciandidswearashesays；andindoingso，hesworewhatIwillprovebyhisownaffidavittobeafalsehood。TurntoLucian’saffidavit，andyouwillthereseethatTalbottcalledforthedeedbywhichtocorrectanerrorontherecord。Thusitappearsthattheerrorinquestionwasontherecord，andnotinthedeed。HowthencouldTalbottopenthedeedandpointouttheerror？Whereathingisnot，itcannotbepointedout。Theerrorwasnotinthedeed，andofcoursecouldnotbepointedoutthere。Thisdoesnotmerelyprovethattheerrorcouldnotbepointedout，asLuciansworeitwas；butitproves，too，thatthedeedwasnotopenedinhispresencewithaspecialviewtotheerror，forifithadbeen，hecouldnothavefailedtoseethattherewasnoerrorinit。ItiseasyenoughtoseewhyLuciansworethis。

HisobjectwastoprovethattheassignmentwasnotinthedeedwhenTalbottgotit：butitwasdiscoveredhecouldnotswearthissafely，withoutfirstswearingthedeedwasopened——andifhesworeitwasopened，hemustshowamotiveforopeningit，andtheconclusionwithhimandhisfatherwasthatthepointingouttheerrorwouldappearthemostplausible。

ForthepurposeofshowingthattheassignmentwasnotinthebundlewhenTalbottgotit，isthestoryintroducedintoLucian’saffidavitthatthedeedswerecounted。Itisaremarkablefact，andonethatshouldstandasawarningtoallliarsandfabricators，thatinthisshortaffidavitofLucian’sheonlyattemptedtodepartfromthetruth，sofarasIhavethemeansofknowing，intwopoints，towit，intheopeningthedeedandpointingouttheerrorandthecountingofthedeeds，——andinbothofthesehecaughthimself。Aboutthecounting，hecaughthimselfthus——aftersayingthebundlecontainedfivedeedsandalease，heproceeds，"andIsawnootherpapersthanthesaiddeedandlease。"Firsthehassixpapers，andthenhesawnonebuttwo；for"mysonLucian’s"benefit，letapinbestuckhere。

Adamsagainadducestheargument，thathecouldnothaveforgedtheassignment，forthereasonthathecouldhavehadnomotiveforit。Withthosethatknowthefactsthereisnoabsenceofmotive。Admittingthepaperwhichhehasfiledinthesuittobegenuine，itisclearthatitcannotanswerthepurposeforwhichhedesignsit。Hencehismotiveformakingonethathesupposedwouldanswerisobvious。Hismakingthedatetoooldisalsoeasilyenoughaccountedfor。Therecordswerenotinhishands，andthen，therebeingsomeconsiderabletalkuponthisparticularsubject，heknewhecouldnotexaminetherecordstoascertaintheprecisedateswithoutsubjectinghimselftosuspicion；andhenceheconcludedtotryitbyguess，and，asitturnedout，misseditalittle。AboutMiller’sdepositionIhaveawordtosay。Inthefirstplace，Miller’sanswertothefirstquestionshowsuponitsfacethathehadbeentamperedwith，andtheanswerdictatedtohim。HewasaskedifheknewJoelWrightandJamesAdams；andabovethree—fourthsofhisanswerconsistsofwhatheknewaboutJosephAnderson，amanaboutwhomnothinghadbeenasked，norawordsaidinthequestion——afactthatcanonlybeaccountedforuponthesuppositionthatAdamshadsecretlytoldhimwhathewishedhimtoswearto。

AnotherofMiller’sanswersIwillprovebothbycommonsenseandtheCourtofRecordisuntrue。Toonequestionheanswers，"AndersonbroughtasuitagainstmebeforeJamesAdams，thenanactingjusticeofthepeaceinSangamonCounty，beforewhomheobtainedajudgment。

"Q。——DidyouremovethesamebyinjunctiontotheSangamonCircuitCourt？Ans。——Ididremoveit。"

Nowmark——itissaidheremoveditbyinjunction。Theword"injunction"incommonlanguageimportsacommandthatsomepersonorthingshallnotmoveorberemoved；inlawithasthesamemeaning。Aninjunctionissuingoutofchancerytoajusticeofthepeaceisacommandtohimtostopallproceedingsinanamedcaseuntilfurtherorders。Itisnotanordertoremovebuttostoporstaysomethingthatisalreadymoving。Besidesthis，therecordsoftheSangamonCircuitCourtshowthatthejudgmentofwhichMillersworewasneverremovedintosaidCourtbyinjunctionorotherwise。

IhavenowtotakenoticeofapartofAdams’saddresswhichintheorderoftimeshouldhavebeennoticedbefore。Itisinthesewords："Ihavenowshown，intheopinionoftwocompetentjudges，thatthehandwritingoftheforgedassignmentdifferedfrommine，andbyoneofthemthatitcouldnotbemistakenformine。"Thatisfalse。Tinsleynodoubtisthejudgereferredto；andbyreferencetohiscertificateitwillbeseenthathedidnotsaythehandwritingoftheassignmentcouldnotbemistakenforAdams’s——nordidheuseanyotherexpressionsubstantially，oranythingnearsubstantially，thesame。ButifTinsleyhadsaidthehandwritingcouldnotbemistakenforAdams’s，itwouldhavebeenequallyunfortunateforAdams：foritthenwouldhavecontradictedKeys，whosays，"IlookedatthewritingandjudgeditthesaidAdams’soragoodimitation。"

Adamsspeakswithmuchapparentconfidenceofhissuccessonattendinglawsuits，andtheultimatemaintenanceofhistitletothelandinquestion。Withoutwishingtodisturbthepleasureofhisdream，Iwouldsaytohimthatitisnotimpossiblethathemayyetbetaughttosingadifferentsonginrelationtothematter。

AttheendofMiller’sdeposition，Adamsasks，WillMr。Lincolnnowsaythatheisalmostconvincedmytitletothistenacretractoflandisfoundedinfraud？"Ianswer，Iwillnot。Iwillnowchangethephraseologysoastomakeitrun——Iamquiteconvinced，&c。IcannotpassinsilenceAdams’sassertionthathehasprovedthattheforgedassignmentwasnotinthedeedwhenitcamefromhishousebyTalbott，therecorder。Inthis，althoughTalbotthasswornthattheassignmentwasinthebundleofdeedswhenitcamefromhishouse，AdamshastheunaccountableassurancetosaythathehasprovedthecontrarybyTalbott。LethimorhisfriendsattempttoshowwhereinheprovedanysuchthingbyTalbott。

Inhispublicationofthe6thofSeptemberhehintedtoTalbott，thathemightbemistaken。Inhispresent，speakingofTalbottandmehesays"Theymayhavebeenimposedupon。"Cananymanoftheleastpenetrationfailtoseetheobjectofthis？Afterbehasstormedandragedtillhehopesandimagineshehasgotusalittlescaredhewishestosoftlywhisperinourears，"Ifyou’l1

quitIwill。"Ifhecouldgetustosaythatsomeunknown，undefinedbeinghadslippedtheassignmentintoourhandswithoutourknowledge，notadoubtremainsbutthatbewouldimmediatelydiscoverthatwewerethepurestmenonearth。Thisisthegroundheevidentlywishesustounderstandheiswillingtocompromiseupon。Butweasknosuchcharityathishands。Weareneithermistakennorimposedupon。Wehavemadethestatementswehavebecauseweknowthemtobetrueandwechoosetoliveordiebythem。

Esq。Carter，whoisAdams’sfriend，personalandpolitical，willrecollect，that，onthe5thofthismonth，he(Adams)，withagreataffectationofmodesty，declaredthathewouldneverintroducehisownchildasawitness。Notwithstandingthisaffectationofmodesty，hehasinhispresentpublicationintroducedhischildaswitness；andasiftoshowwithhowmuchcontempthecouldtreathisowndeclaration，hehashadthissameEsq。Cartertoadministertheoathtohim。Andsoimportantawitnessdoesheconsiderhim，andsoentirelydoesthewholeofhisentirepresentproductiondependuponthetestimonyofhischild，thatinithehasmentioned"myson，""mysonLucian，"

"Lucian，myson，"andthelikeexpressionsnolessthanfifteendifferenttimes。Letitberememberedhere，thatIhaveshowntheaffidavitof"mydarlingsonLucian"tobefalsebytheevidenceapparentonitsownface；andInowaskifthataffidavitbetakenawaywhatfoundationwillthefabrichavelefttostandupon？

GeneralAdams’spublicationsandout—doormaneuvering，takeninconnectionwiththeeditorialarticlesoftheRepublican，arenotmorefoolishandcontradictorythantheyareludicrousandamusing。OneweektheRepublicannotifiesthepublicthatGen。

Adamsispreparinganinstrumentthatwilltear，rend，split，rive，blowup，confound，overwhelm，annihilate，extinguish，exterminate，burstasunder，andgrindtopowderallitsslanderers，andparticularlyTalbottandLincoln——allofwhichistobedoneinduetime。

Thenfortwoorthreeweeksalliscalm——notawordsaid。AgaintheRepublicancomesforthwithamerepassingremarkthat"public"opinionhasdecidedinfavorofGen。Adams，andintimatesthathewillgivehimselfnomoretroubleaboutthematter。InthemeantimeAdamshimselfisprowlingaboutand，asBurnssaysofthedevil，"Forprey，andholesandcornerstryin’，"andinoneinstancegoessofarastotakeanoldacquaintanceofmineseveralstepsfromacrowdand，apparentlyweigheddownwiththeimportanceofhisbusiness，gravelyandsolemnlyaskshimif"heeverheardLincolnsayhewasadeist。"

AnontheRepublicancomesagain。"WeinvitetheattentionofthepublictoGeneralAdams’scommunication，"&c。"Thevictoryisagreatone，thetriumphisoverwhelming。"IreallybelievetheeditoroftheIllinoisRepublicanisfoolenoughtothinkGeneralAdamsleadsoff——"Authorsmostegregiouslymistaken)&c。Mostwoefullyshalltheirpresumptionbepunished，"&c。(Lordhavemercyonus。)"Thehourisyettocome，yea，nighathand——(howlongfirstdoyoureckon？)——whentheJournalanditsjuntoshallsay，Ihaveappearedtooearly。""Theirinfamyshallbelaidbaretothepublicgaze。"SuddenlytheGeneralappearstorelentattheseveritywithwhichheistreatingusandheexclaims："Thecondemnationofmyenemiesistheinevitableresultofmyowndefense。"Foryourhealth’ssake，dearGen。，donotpermityourtendernessofhearttoafflictyousomuchonouraccount。Forsomereason(perhapsbecausewearekilledsoquickly)weshallneverbesensibleofoursuffering。

Farewell，General。Iwillseeyouagainatcourtifnotbefore——

whenandwherewewillsettlethequestionwhetheryouorthewidowshallhavetheland。

A。LINCOLN。

October18，1837。

1838

TOMrs。O。H。BROWNING——AFARCE

SPRINGFIELD，April1，1838。

DEARMADAM：——Withoutapologizingforbeingegotistical，IshallmakethehistoryofsomuchofmylifeashaselapsedsinceIsawyouthesubjectofthisletter。And，bytheway，Inowdiscoverthat，inordertogiveafullandintelligibleaccountofthethingsIhavedoneandsufferedsinceIsawyou，Ishallnecessarilyhavetorelatesomethathappenedbefore。

Itwas，then，intheautumnof1836thatamarriedladyofmyacquaintance，andwhowasagreatfriendofmine，beingabouttopayavisittoherfatherandotherrelativesresidinginKentucky，proposedtomethatonherreturnshewouldbringasisterofherswithheronconditionthatIwouldengagetobecomeherbrother—in—lawwithallconvenientdespatch。I，ofcourse，acceptedtheproposal，foryouknowIcouldnothavedoneotherwisehadIreallybeenaversetoit；butprivately，betweenyouandme，Iwasmostconfoundedlywellpleasedwiththeproject。Ihadseenthesaidsistersomethreeyearsbefore，thoughtherintelligentandagreeable，andsawnogoodobjectiontoploddinglifethroughhandinhandwithher。Timepassedon；

theladytookherjourneyandinduetimereturned，sisterincompany，sureenough。Thisastonishedmealittle，foritappearedtomethathercomingsoreadilyshowedthatshewasatrifletoowilling，butonreflectionitoccurredtomethatshemighthavebeenprevailedonbyhermarriedsistertocomewithoutanythingconcerningmeeverhavingbeenmentionedtoher，andsoIconcludedthatifnootherobjectionpresenteditself，I

wouldconsenttowaivethis。Allthisoccurredtomeonhearingofherarrivalintheneighborhood——for，beitremembered，Ihadnotyetseenher，exceptaboutthreeyearsprevious，asabovementioned。Inafewdayswehadaninterview，and，althoughI

hadseenherbefore，shedidnotlookasmyimaginationhadpicturedher。Iknewshewasover—size，butshenowappearedafairmatchforFalstaff。Iknewshewascalledan"oldmaid，"

andIfeltnodoubtofthetruthofatleasthalfoftheappellation，butnow，whenIbeheldher，Icouldnotformylifeavoidthinkingofmymother；andthis，notfromwitheredfeatures，——forherskinwastoofulloffattopermitofitscontractingintowrinkles，——butfromherwantofteeth，weather—

beatenappearanceingeneral，andfromakindofnotionthatraninmyheadthatnothingcouldhavecommencedatthesizeofinfancyandreachedherpresentbulkinlessthanthirty—fiveorfortyyears；andinshort，Iwasnotatallpleasedwithher。

ButwhatcouldIdo？IhadtoldhersisterthatIwouldtakeherforbetterorforworse，andImadeapointofhonorandconscienceinallthingstosticktomywordespeciallyifothershadbeeninducedtoactonitwhichinthiscaseIhadnodoubttheyhad，forIwasnowfairlyconvincedthatnoothermanonearthwouldhaveher，andhencetheconclusionthattheywerebentonholdingmetomybargain。

"Well，"thoughtI，"Ihavesaidit，and，betheconsequenceswhattheymay，itshallnotbemyfaultifIfailtodoit。"AtonceI

determinedtoconsiderhermywife；and，thisdone，allmypowersofdiscoverywereputtoworkinsearchofperfectionsinherwhichmightbefairlysetoffagainstherdefects。Itriedtoimagineherhandsome，which，butforherunfortunatecorpulency，wasactuallytrue。ExclusiveofthisnowomanthatIhaveeverseenhasafinerface。Ialsotriedtoconvincemyselfthatthemindwasmuchmoretobevaluedthantheperson；andinthisshewasnotinferior，asIcoulddiscover，toanywithwhomIhadbeenacquainted。

Shortlyafterthis，withoutcomingtoanypositiveunderstandingwithher，IsetoutforVandalia，whenandwhereyoufirstsawme。DuringmystaythereIhadlettersfromherwhichdidnotchangemyopinionofeitherherintellectorintention，butonthecontraryconfirmeditinboth。

Allthiswhile，althoughIwasfixed，"firmasthesurge—

repellingrock，"inmyresolution，IfoundIwascontinuallyrepentingtherashnesswhichhadledmetomakeit。Throughlife，Ihavebeeninnobondage，eitherrealorimaginary，fromthethraldomofwhichIsomuchdesiredtobefree。Aftermyreturnhome，Isawnothingtochangemyopinionsofherinanyparticular。Shewasthesame，andsowasI。InowspentmytimeinplanninghowImightgetalongthroughlifeaftermycontemplatedchangeofcircumstancesshouldhavetakenplace，andhowImightprocrastinatetheevildayforatime，whichIreallydreadedasmuch，perhapsmore，thananIrishmandoesthehalter。

Afterallmysufferinguponthisdeeplyinterestingsubject，hereIam，wholly，unexpectedly，completely，outofthe"scrape"；andnowIwanttoknowifyoucanguesshowIgotoutofit————out，clear，ineverysenseoftheterm；noviolationofword，honor，orconscience。Idon’tbelieveyoucanguess，andsoImightaswelltellyouatonce。Asthelawyersays，itwasdoneinthemannerfollowing，towit：AfterIhaddelayedthematteraslongasIthoughtIcouldinhonordo(which，bytheway，hadbroughtmeroundintothelastfall)，IconcludedImightaswellbringittoaconsummationwithoutfurtherdelay；andsoImusteredmyresolution，andmadetheproposaltoherdirect；but，shockingtorelate，sheanswered，No。AtfirstIsupposedshediditthroughanaffectationofmodesty，whichIthoughtbutillbecameherunderthepeculiarcircumstancesofhercase；butonmyrenewalofthecharge，Ifoundsherepelleditwithgreaterfirmnessthanbefore。Itrieditagainandagainbutwiththesamesuccess，orratherwiththesamewantofsuccess。

Ifinallywasforcedtogiveitup；atwhichIveryunexpectedlyfoundmyselfmortifiedalmostbeyondendurance。Iwasmortified，itseemedtome，inahundreddifferentways。MyvanitywasdeeplywoundedbythereflectionthatIhadbeentoostupidtodiscoverherintentions，andatthesametimeneverdoubtingthatIunderstoodthemperfectly，andalsothatshe，whomIhadtaughtmyselftobelievenobodyelsewouldhave，hadactuallyrejectedmewithallmyfanciedgreatness。And，tocapthewhole，IthenforthefirsttimebegantosuspectthatIwasreallyalittleinlovewithher。Butletitallgo。I’lltryandoutliveit。

Othershavebeenmadefoolsofbythegirls，butthiscanneverwithtruthbesaidofme。Imostemphaticallyinthisinstance，madeafoolofmyself。Ihavenowcometotheconclusionneveragaintothinkofmarrying，andforthisreason：Icanneverbesatisfiedwithanyonewhowouldbeblockheadenoughtohaveme。

Whenyoureceivethis，writemealongyarnaboutsomethingtoamuseme。GivemyrespectstoMr。Browning。

Yoursincerefriend，A。LINCOLN。

1839

REMARKSONSALEOFPUBLICLANDS

INTHEHOUSEOFREPRESENTATIVES，January17，1839。

Mr。Lincoln，fromCommitteeonFinance，towhichthesubjectwasreferred，madeareportonthesubjectofpurchasingoftheUnitedStatesalltheunsoldlandslyingwithinthelimitsoftheStateofIllinois，accompaniedbyresolutionsthatthisStateproposetopurchaseallunsoldlandsattwenty—fivecentsperacre，andpledgingthefaithoftheStatetocarrytheproposalintoeffectifthegovernmentacceptthesamewithintwoyears。

Mr。Lincolnthoughttheresolutionsoughttobeseriouslyconsidered。InreplytothegentlemanfromAdams，hesaidthatitwasnottoenrichtheState。Thepriceofthelandsmayberaised，itwasthoughtbysome；byothers，thatitwouldbereduced。TheconclusioninhismindwasthattherepresentativesinthisLegislaturefromthecountryinwhichthelandsliewouldbeopposedtoraisingtheprice，becauseitwouldoperateagainstthesettlementofthelands。Hereferredtothelandsinthemilitarytract。Theyhadfallenintothehandsoflargespeculatorsinconsequenceofthelowprice。Hewasopposedtoalowpriceofland。Hethoughtitwasadversetotheinterestsofthepoorsettler，becausespeculatorsbuythemup。Hewasopposedtoareductionofthepriceofpubliclands。

Mr。LincolnreferredtosomeofficialdocumentsemanatingfromIndiana，andcomparedtheprogressivepopulationofthetwoStates。IllinoishadgaineduponthatStateunderthepubliclandsystemasitis。HisconclusionwasthattenyearsfromthistimeIllinoiswouldhavenomorepubliclandunsoldthanIndiananowhas。HereferredalsotoOhio。ThatStatehadsoldnearlyallherpubliclands。Shewasbuttwentyyearsaheadofus，andasourlandswereequallysalable——moreso，ashemaintained——weshouldhavenomoretwentyyearsfromnowthanshehasatpresent。

Mr。Lincolnreferredtothecanallands，andsupposedthatthepolicyoftheStatewouldbedifferentinregardtothem，iftherepresentativesfromthatsectionofcountrycouldthemselveschoosethepolicy；buttherepresentativesfromotherpartsoftheStatehadavetouponit，andregulatedthepolicy。HethoughtthatiftheStatehadallthelands，thepolicyoftheLegislaturewouldbemoreliberaltoallsections。

HereferredtothepolicyoftheGeneralGovernment。Hethoughtthatifthenationaldebthadnotbeenpaid，theexpensesofthegovernmentwouldnothavedoubled，astheyhaddonesincethatdebtwaspaid。

TO_________ROW。

SPRINGFIELD，June11，1839

DEARROW：

Mr。RedmaninformsmethatyouwishmetowriteyoutheparticularsofaconversationbetweenDr。Felixandmyselfrelativetoyou。TheDr。overtookmebetweenRushvilleandBeardstown。

He，afterlearningthatIhadlivedatSpringfield，askedifI

wasacquaintedwithyou。ItoldhimIwas。HesaidyouhadlatelybeenelectedconstableinAdams，butthatyouneverwouldbeagain。Iaskedhimwhy。HesaidthepeopletherehadfoundoutthatyouhadbeensheriffordeputysheriffinSangamonCounty，andthatyoucameoffandleftyoursecuritiestosuffer。

HethenaskedmeifIdidnotknowsuchtobethefact。ItoldhimIdidnotthinkyouhadeverbeensheriffordeputysheriffinSangamon，butthatIthoughtyouhadbeenconstable。I

furthertoldhimthatifyouhadleftyoursecuritiestosufferinthatoranyothercase，Ihadneverheardofit，andthatifithadbeenso，IthoughtIwouldhaveheardofit。

IftheDr。istellingthatItoldhimanythingagainstyouwhatever，Iauthorizeyoutocontradictitflatly。Wehavenonewshere。

Yourfriend，asever，A。LINCOLN。

SPEECHONNATIONALBANK

INTHEHALLOFTHEHOUSEOFREPRESENTATIVES

SPRINGFIELD，ILLINOIS，December20，1839。

FELLOW—CITIZENS：——Itispeculiarlyembarrassingtometoattemptacontinuanceofthediscussion，onthisevening，whichhasbeenconductedinthishallonseveralprecedingones。Itissobecauseoneachofthoseeveningstherewasamuchfullerattendancethannow，withoutanyreasonforitsbeingso，exceptthegreaterinterestthecommunityfeelinthespeakerswhoaddressedthemthenthantheydoinhimwhoistodosonow。I

am，indeed，apprehensivethatthefewwhohaveattendedhavedonesomoretosparememortificationthaninthehopeofbeinginterestedinanythingImaybeabletosay。Thiscircumstancecastsadampuponmyspirits，whichIamsureIshallbeunabletoovercomeduringtheevening。Butenoughofpreface。

Thesubjectheretoforeandnowtobediscussedisthesubtreasuryschemeofthepresentadministration，asameansofcollecting，safe—keeping，transferring，anddisbursing，therevenuesofthenation，ascontrastedwithanationalbankforthesamepurposes。

Mr。Douglashassaidthatwe(theWhigs)havenotdaredtomeetthem(theLocos)inargumentonthisquestion。Iprotestagainstthisassertion。Iassertthatwehaveagainandagain，duringthisdiscussion，urgedfactsandargumentsagainstthesubtreasurywhichtheyhaveneitherdaredtodenynorattemptedtoanswer。Butlestsomemaybeledtobelievethatwereallywishtoavoidthequestion，Inowpropose，inmyhumbleway，tourgethoseargumentsagain；atthesametimebeggingtheaudiencetomarkwellthepositionsIshalltakeandtheproofIshalloffertosustainthem，andthattheywillnotagainpermitMr。

Douglasorhisfriendstoescapetheforceofthembyaroundandgroundlessassertionthatwe"darenotmeettheminargument。"

Ofthesubtreasury，then，ascontrastedwithanationalbankforthebefore—enumeratedpurposes，Ilaydownthefollowingpropositions，towit：(1)Itwillinjuriouslyaffectthecommunitybyitsoperationonthecirculatingmedium。(2)Itwillbeamoreexpensivefiscalagent。(3)Itwillbealesssecuredepositoryofthepublicmoney。Toshowthetruthofthefirstproposition，letustakeashortreviewofourconditionundertheoperationofanationalbank。Itwasthedepositoryofthepublicrevenues。Betweenthecollectionofthoserevenuesandthedisbursementofthembythegovernment，thebankwaspermittedtoanddidactuallyloanthemouttoindividuals，andhencethelargeamountofmoneyactuallycollectedforrevenuepurposes，whichbyanyotherplanwouldhavebeenidleagreatportionofthetime，waskeptalmostconstantlyincirculation。

Anypersonwhowillreflectthatmoneyisonlyvaluablewhileincirculationwillreadilyperceivethatanydevicewhichwillkeepthegovernmentrevenuesinconstantcirculation，insteadofbeinglockedupinidleness，isnoinconsiderableadvantage。Bythesubtreasurytherevenueistobecollectedandkeptinironboxesuntilthegovernmentwantsitfordisbursement；thusrobbingthepeopleoftheuseofit，whilethegovernmentdoesnotitselfneedit，andwhilethemoneyisperformingnonoblerofficethanthatofrustinginironboxes。Thenaturaleffectofthischangeofpolicy，everyonewillsee，istoreducethequantityofmoneyincirculation。But，again，bythesubtreasuryschemetherevenueistobecollectedinspecie。Ianticipatethatthiswillbedisputed。Iexpecttohearitsaidthatitisnotthepolicyoftheadministrationtocollecttherevenueinspecie。

Ifitshall，IreplythatMr。VanBuren，inhismessagerecommendingthesubtreasury，expendednearlyacolumnofthatdocumentinanattempttopersuadeCongresstoprovideforthecollectionoftherevenueinspecieexclusively；andheconcludeswiththesewords：

"Itmaybesafelyassumedthatnomotiveofconveniencetothecitizensrequiresthereceptionofbankpaper。"Inadditiontothis，Mr。SilasWright，SenatorfromNewYork，andthepolitical，personalandconfidentialfriendofMr。VanBuren，draftedandintroducedintotheSenatethefirstsubtreasurybill，andthatbillprovidedforultimatelycollectingtherevenueinspecie。

Itistrue，Iknow，thatthatclausewasstrickenfromthebill，butitwasdonebythevotesoftheWhigs，aidedbyaportiononlyoftheVanBurensenators。Nosubtreasurybillhasyetbecomealaw，thoughtwoorthreehavebeenconsideredbyCongress，somewithandsomewithoutthespecieclause；sothatI

admitthereisroomforquibblinguponthequestionofwhethertheadministrationfavortheexclusivespeciedoctrineornot；

butItakeitthatthefactthatthePresidentatfirsturgedthespeciedoctrine，andthatunderhisrecommendationthefirstbillintroducedembracedit，warrantsusinchargingitasthepolicyofthepartyuntiltheirheadaspubliclyrecantsitasheatfirstespousedit。Irepeat，then，thatbythesubtreasurytherevenueistobecollectedinspecie。Nowmarkwhattheeffectofthismustbe。ByallestimatesevermadetherearebutbetweensixtyandeightymillionsofspecieintheUnitedStates。

TheexpendituresoftheGovernmentfortheyear1838——thelastforwhichwehavehadthereport——werefortymillions。Thusitisseenthatifthewholerevenuebecollectedinspecie，itwilltakemorethanhalfofallthespecieinthenationtodoit。Bythismeansmorethanhalfofallthespeciebelongingtothefifteenmillionsofsoulswhocomposethewholepopulationofthecountryisthrownintothehandsofthepublicoffice—holders，andotherpubliccreditorscomprisinginnumberperhapsnotmorethanonequarterofamillion，leavingtheotherfourteenmillionsandthreequarterstogetalongastheybestcan，withlessthanonehalfofthespecieofthecountry，andwhateverragsandshinplasterstheymaybeabletoput，andkeep，incirculation。Bythismeans，everyoffice—holderandotherpubliccreditormay，andmostlikelywill，setupshaver；andamostgloriousharvestwillthespecie—menhaveofit，——eachspecie—

man，uponafairdivision，havingtohissharethefleecingofaboutfifty—ninerag—men。Inallcandorletmeask，wassuchasystemforbenefitingthefewattheexpenseofthemanyeverbeforedevised？AndwasthesacrednameofDemocracyeverbeforemadetoindorsesuchanenormityagainsttherightsofthepeople？

Ihavealreadysaidthatthesubtreasurywillreducethequantityofmoneyincirculation。ThispositionisstrengthenedbytherecollectionthattherevenueistobecollectedinSpecie，sothatthemereamountofrevenueisnotallthatiswithdrawn，buttheamountofpapercirculationthatthefortymillionswouldserveasabasistoiswithdrawn，whichwouldbeinasoundstateatleastonehundredmillions。Whenonehundredmillions，ormore，ofthecirculationwenowhaveshallbewithdrawn，whocancontemplatewithoutterrorthedistress，ruin，bankruptcy，andbeggarythatmustfollow？Themanwhohaspurchasedanyarticle——

sayahorse——oncredit，atonehundreddollars，whentherearetwohundredmillionscirculatinginthecountry，ifthequantitybereducedtoonehundredmillionsbythearrivalofpay—day，willfindthehorsebutsufficienttopayhalfthedebt；andtheotherhalfmusteitherbepaidoutofhisothermeans，andtherebybecomeaclearlosstohim，orgounpaid，andtherebybecomeaclearlosstohiscreditor。WhatIhaveheresaidofasinglecaseofthepurchaseofahorsewillholdgoodineverycaseofadebtexistingatthetimeareductioninthequantityofmoneyoccurs，bywhomsoever，andforwhatsoever，itmayhavebeencontracted。Itmaybesaidthatwhatthedebtorlosesthecreditorgainsbythisoperation；butonexaminationthiswillbefoundtrueonlytoaverylimitedextent。Itismoregenerallytruethatalllosebyit——thecreditorbylosingmoreofhisdebtsthanhegainsbytheincreasedvalueofthosehecollects；

thedebtorbyeitherpartingwithmoreofhispropertytopayhisdebtsthanhereceivedincontractingthem，orbyentirelybreakinguphisbusiness，andtherebybeingthrownupontheworldinidleness。

Thegeneraldistressthuscreatedwill，tobesure，betemporary，because，whateverchangemayoccurinthequantityofmoneyinanycommunity，timewilladjustthederangementproduced；butwhilethatadjustmentisprogressing，allsuffermoreorless，andverymanyloseeverythingthatrenderslifedesirable。Why，then，shallwesufferaseveredifficulty，eventhoughitbebuttemporary，unlesswereceivesomeequivalentforit？

WhatIhavebeensayingastotheeffectproducedbyareductionofthequantityofmoneyrelatestothewholecountry。InowproposetoshowthatitwouldproduceapeculiarandpermanenthardshipuponthecitizensofthoseStatesandTerritoriesinwhichthepubliclandslie。Theland—officesinthoseStatesandTerritories，asallknow，formthegreatgulfbywhichall，ornearlyall，themoneyinthemisswallowedup。Whenthequantityofmoneyshallbereduced，andconsequentlyeverythingunderindividualcontrolbroughtdowninproportion，thepriceofthoselands，beingfixedbylaw，willremainasnow。Ofnecessityitwillfollowthattheproduceorlaborthatnowraisesmoneysufficienttopurchaseeightyacreswillthenraisebutsufficienttopurchaseforty，orperhapsnotthatmuch；andthisdifficultyandhardshipwilllastaslong，insomedegree，asanyportionoftheselandsshallremainundisposedof。Knowing，asI

welldo，thedifficultythatpoorpeoplenowencounterinprocuringhomes，Ihesitatenottosaythatwhenthepriceofthepubliclandsshallbedoubledortrebled，or，whichisthesamething，produceandlaborcutdowntoonehalforonethirdoftheirpresentprices，itwillbelittlelessthanimpossibleforthemtoprocurethosehomesatall……

Well，then，whatdidbecomeofhim？(PostmasterGeneralBarry)

Why，thePresidentimmediatelyexpressedhishighdisapprobationofhisalmostunequaledincapacityandcorruptionbyappointinghimtoaforeignmission，withasalaryandoutfitof$18，000ayear！ThepartynowattempttothrowBarryoff，andtoavoidtheresponsibilityofhissins。DidnotthePresidentindorsethosesinswhen，ontheveryheeloftheircommission，heappointedtheirauthortotheveryhighestandmosthonorableofficeinhisgift，andwhichisbutasinglestepbehindtheverygoalofAmericanpoliticalambition？

IreturntoanotherofMr。Douglas’sexcusesfortheexpendituresof1838，atthesametimeannouncingthepleasingintelligencethatthisisthelastone。Hesaysthattenmillionsofthatyear’sexpenditurewasacontingentappropriation，toprosecuteananticipatedwarwithGreatBritainontheMaineboundaryquestion。Fewwordswillsettlethis。First，thatthetenmillionsappropriatedwasnotmadetill1839，andconsequentlycouldnothavebeenexpendedin1838；second，althoughitwasappropriated，ithasneverbeenexpendedatall。ThosewhoheardMr。Douglasrecollectthatheindulgedhimselfinacontemptuousexpressionofpityforme。"Nowhe’sgotme，"thoughtI。Butwhenhewentontosaythatfivemillionsoftheexpenditureof1838werepaymentsoftheFrenchindemnities，whichIknewtobeuntrue；thatfivemillionshadbeenforthepost—office，whichI

knewtobeuntrue；thattenmillionshadbeenfortheMaineboundarywar，whichInotonlyknewtobeuntrue，butsupremelyridiculousalso；andwhenIsawthathewasstupidenoughtohopethatIwouldpermitsuchgroundlessandaudaciousassertionstogounexposed，——Ireadilyconsentedthat，onthescorebothofveracityandsagacity，theaudienceshouldjudgewhetherheorI

werethemoredeservingoftheworld’scontempt。

Mr。LamborninsiststhatthedifferencebetweentheVanBurenpartyandtheWhigsisthat，althoughtheformersometimeserrinpractice，theyarealwayscorrectinprinciple，whereasthelatterarewronginprinciple；and，bettertoimpressthisproposition，heusesafigurativeexpressioninthesewords："TheDemocratsarevulnerableintheheel，buttheyaresoundintheheadandtheheart。"Thefirstbranchofthefigure——thatis，thattheDemocratsarevulnerableintheheel——Iadmitisnotmerelyfiguratively，butliterallytrue。WhothatlooksbutforamomentattheirSwartwouts，theirPrices，theirHarringtons，andtheirhundredsofothers，scamperingawaywiththepublicmoneytoTexas，toEurope，andtoeveryspotoftheearthwhereavillainmayhopetofindrefugefromjustice，canatalldoubtthattheyaremostdistressinglyaffectedintheirheelswithaspeciesof"runningitch"？Itseemsthatthismaladyoftheirheelsoperatesonthesesound—headedandhonest—heartedcreaturesverymuchlikethecorkleginthecomicsongdidonitsowner：

which，whenhehadoncegotstartedonit，themorehetriedtostopit，themoreitwouldrunaway。Atthehazardofwearingthispointthreadbare，Iwillrelateananecdotewhichseemstoostrikinglyinpointtobeomitted。AwittyIrishsoldier，whowasalwaysboastingofhisbraverywhennodangerwasnear，butwhoinvariablyretreatedwithoutordersatthefirstchargeofanengagement，beingaskedbyhiscaptainwhyhedidso，replied：

"Captain，IhaveasbraveaheartasJuliusCaesareverhad；but，somehoworother，wheneverdangerapproaches，mycowardlylegswillrunawaywithit。"SowithMr。Lamborn’sparty。Theytakethepublicmoneyintotheirhandforthemostlaudablepurposethatwiseheadsandhonestheartscandictate；butbeforetheycanpossiblygetitoutagain，theirrascally"vulnerableheels"

willrunawaywiththem。

SeriouslythispropositionofMr。Lambornisnothingmoreorlessthanarequestthathispartymaybetriedbytheirprofessionsinsteadoftheirpractices。Perhapsnopositionthatthepartyassumesismoreliabletoormoredeservingofexposurethanthisverymodestrequest；andnothingbuttheunwarrantablelengthtowhichIhavealreadyextendedtheseremarksforbidsmenowattemptingtoexposeit。Forthereasongiven，Ipassitby。

Ishalladverttobutonemorepoint。Mr。LambornreferstothelateelectionsintheStates，andfromtheirresultsconfidentlypredictsthateveryStateintheUnionwillvoteforMr。VanBurenatthenextPresidentialelection。Addressthatargumenttocowardsandtoknaves；withthefreeandthebraveitwilleffectnothing。Itmaybetrue；ifitmust，letit。Manyfreecountrieshavelosttheirliberty，andoursmaylosehers；butifsheshall，beitmyproudestplume，notthatIwasthelasttodesert，butthatIneverdesertedher。IknowthatthegreatvolcanoatWashington，arousedanddirectedbytheevilspiritthatreignsthere，isbelchingforththelavaofpoliticalcorruptioninacurrentbroadanddeep，whichissweepingwithfrightfulvelocityoverthewholelengthandbreadthoftheland，biddingfairtoleaveunscathednogreenspotorlivingthing；

whileonitsbosomareriding，likedemonsonthewavesofhell，theimpsofthatevilspirit，andfiendishlytauntingallthosewhodareresistitsdestroyingcoursewiththehopelessnessoftheireffort；and，knowingthis，Icannotdenythatallmaybesweptaway。BrokenbyitI，too，maybe；bowtoitIneverwill。

Theprobabilitythatwemayfallinthestruggleoughtnottodeterusfromthesupportofacausewebelievetobejust；itshallnotdeterme。IfeverIfeelthesoulwithinmeelevateandexpandtothosedimensionsnotwhollyunworthyofitsalmightyArchitect，itiswhenIcontemplatethecauseofmycountrydesertedbyalltheworldbeside，andIstandingupboldlyandalone，andhurlingdefianceathervictoriousoppressors。Here，withoutcontemplatingconsequences，beforehighheavenandinthefaceoftheworld，Isweareternalfidelitytothejustcause，asIdeemit，ofthelandofmylife，myliberty，andmylove。AndwhothatthinkswithmewillnotfearlesslyadopttheoaththatItake？Letnonefalterwhothinksheisright，andwemaysucceed。Butif，afterall，weshallfail，beitso。Westillshallhavetheproudconsolationofsayingtoourconsciences，andtothedepartedshadeofourcountry’sfreedom，thatthecauseapprovedofourjudgment，andadoredofourhearts，indisaster，inchains，intorture，indeath，weneverfalteredindefending。

TOJOHNT。STUART。

SPRINGFIELD，December23，1839。

DEARSTUART：

Dr。Henrywillwriteyouallthepoliticalnews。Iwritethisaboutsomelittlemattersofbusiness。YourecollectyoutoldmeyouhaddrawntheChicagoMasarkmoney，andsentittotheclaimants。Ahawk—billedYankeeisherebesettingmeateveryturnItake，sayingthatRobertKinzieneverreceivedtheeightydollarstowhichhewasentitled。Canyoutellmeanythingaboutthematter？Again，oldMr。Wright，wholivesupSouthForksomewhere，isteasingmecontinuallyaboutsomedeedswhichhesaysheleftwithyou，butwhichIcanfindnothingof。Canyoutellmewheretheyare？TheLegislatureisinsessionandhassufferedthebanktoforfeititscharterwithoutbenefitofclergy。Thereseemstobelittledispositiontoresuscitateit。

WheneveralettercomesfromyoutoMrs。_____________

Icarryittoher，andthenIseeBetty；sheisatolerablenice"fellow"now。MaybeIwillwriteagainwhenIgetmoretime。

Yourfriendasever，A。LINCOLN

P。S。——TheDemocraticgiantishere，butheisnotmuchworthtalkingabout。

A。L。

1840

CIRCULARFROMWHIGCOMMITTEE。

Confidential。

January[1？]，1840。

ToMESSRS_______

GENTLEMEN：——InobediencetoaresolutionoftheWhigStateconvention，wehaveappointedyoutheCentralWhigCommitteeofyourcounty。Thetrustconfidedtoyouwillbeoneofwatchfulnessandlabor；butwehopethegloryofhavingcontributedtotheoverthrowofthecorruptpowersthatnowcontrolourbelovedcountrywillbeasufficientrewardforthetimeandlaboryouwilldevotetoit。OurWhigbrethrenthroughouttheUnionhavemetinconvention，andafterduedeliberationandmutualconcessionshaveelectedcandidatesforthePresidencyandVice—Presidencynotonlyworthyofourcause，butworthyofthesupportofeverytruepatriotwhowouldhaveourcountryredeemed，andherinstitutionshonestlyandfaithfullyadministered。Tooverthrowthetrainedbandsthatareopposedtouswhosesalariedofficersareeveronthewatch，andwhosemisguidedfollowersareeverreadytoobeytheirsmallestcommands，everyWhigmustnotonlyknowhisduty，butmustfirmlyresolve，whateveroftimeandlaboritmaycost，boldlyandfaithfullytodoit。OurintentionistoorganizethewholeState，sothateveryWhigcanbebroughttothepollsinthecomingPresidentialcontest。Wecannotdothis，however，withoutyourco—operation；andaswedoourduty，soweshallexpectyoutodoyours。Afterduedeliberation，thefollowingistheplanoforganization，andthedutiesrequiredofeachcountycommittee：

(1)Todividetheircountyintosmalldistricts，andtoappointineachasubcommittee，whosedutyitshallbetomakeaperfectlistofallthevotersintheirrespectivedistricts，andtoascertainwithcertaintyforwhomtheywillvote。Iftheymeetwithmenwhoaredoubtfulastothemantheywillsupport，suchvotersshouldbedesignatedinseparatelines，withthenameofthemantheywillprobablysupport。

(2)Itwillbethedutyofsaidsubcommitteetokeepaconstantwatchonthedoubtfulvoters，andfromtimetotimehavethemtalkedtobythoseinwhomtheyhavethemostconfidence，andalsotoplaceintheirhandssuchdocumentsaswillenlightenandinfluencethem。

(3)Itwillalsobetheirdutytoreporttoyou，atleastonceamonth，theprogresstheyaremaking，andonelectiondaysseethateveryWhigisbroughttothepolls。

(4)Thesubcommitteesshouldbeappointedimmediately；andbythelastofApril，atleast，theyshouldmaketheirfirstreport。

(5)Onthefirstofeachmonthhereafterweshallexpecttohearfromyou。Afterthefirstreportofyoursubcommittees，unlessthereshouldbefoundagreatmanydoubtfulvoters，youcantellprettyaccuratelythemannerinwhichyourcountywillvote。Ineachofyourletterstous，youwillstatethenumberofcertainvotesbothforandagainstus，aswellasthenumberofdoubtfulvotes，withyouropinionofthemannerinwhichtheywillbecast。

(6)Whenwehaveheardfromallthecounties，weshallbeabletotellwithsimilaraccuracythepoliticalcomplexionoftheState。

Thisinformationwillbeforwardedtoyouassoonasreceived。

(7)InclosedisaprospectusforanewspapertobecontinueduntilafterthePresidentialelection。Itwillbesuperintendedbyourselves，andeveryWhigintheStatemusttakeit。Itwillbepublishedsolowthateveryonecanaffordit。Youmustraiseafundandforwardusforextracopies，——everycountyoughttosend——fiftyoronehundreddollars，——andthecopieswillbeforwardedtoyoufordistributionamongourpoliticalopponents。

Thepaperwillbedevotedexclusivelytothegreatcauseinwhichweareengaged。Procuresubscriptions，andforwardthemtousimmediately。

(8)Immediatelyafteranyelectioninyourcounty，youmustinformusofitsresults；andasearlyaspossibleafteranygeneralelectionwewillgiveyouthelikeinformation。

(9)AsenatorinCongressistobeelectedbyournextLegislature。Letnolocalinterestsdivideyou，butselectcandidatesthatcansucceed。

(10)Ourplanofoperationswillofcoursebeconcealedfromeveryoneexceptourgoodfriendswhoofrightoughttoknowthem。

Trustingmuchinourgoodcause，thestrengthofourcandidates，andthedeterminationoftheWhigseverywheretodotheirduty，wegototheworkoforganizationinthisStateconfidentofsuccess。Wehavethenumbers，andifproperlyorganizedandexerted，withthegallantHarrisonatourhead，weshallmeetourfoesandconquertheminallpartsoftheUnion。

AddressyourletterstoDr。A。G。Henry，R。F，Barrett；A。

Lincoln，E。D。Baker，J。F。Speed。

TOJOHNT。STUART。

SPRINGFIELD，March1，1840

DEARSTUART：

Ihaveneverseentheprospectsofourpartysobrightinthesepartsastheyarenow。Weshallcarrythiscountybyalargermajoritythanwedidin1836，whenyouranagainstMay。Idonotthinkmyprospects，individually，areveryflattering，forI

thinkitprobableIshallnotbepermittedtobeacandidate；butthepartyticketwillsucceedtriumphantly。Subscriptionstothe"OldSoldier"pourinwithoutabatement。ThismorningItookfromthepostofficealetterfromDuboisenclosingthenamesofsixtysubscribers，andoncarryingittoFrancisIfoundhehadreceivedonehundredandfortymorefromotherquartersbythesameday’smail。Thatisbutanaveragespecimenofeveryday’sreceipts。YesterdayDouglas，havingchosentoconsiderhimselfinsultedbysomethingintheJournal，undertooktocaneFrancisinthestreet。FranciscaughthimbythehairandjammedhimbackagainstamarketcartwherethematterendedbyFrancisbeingpulledawayfromhim。ThewholeaffairwassoludicrousthatFrancisandeverybodyelse(Douglassexcepted)havebeenlaughingaboutiteversince。

IsendyouthenamesofsomeoftheV。B。menwhohavecomeoutforHarrisonabouttown，andsuggestthatyousendthemsomedocuments。

MosesCoffman(heletusappointhimadelegateyesterday)，AaronCoffman，GeorgeGregory，H。M。Briggs，Johnson(atBirchall’sBookstore)，MichaelGlyn，Armstrong(notHoseanorHugh，butacarpenter)，ThomasHunter，MosesPileher(hewasalwaysaWhiganddeservesattention)，MatthewCrowderJr。，GreenberrySmith；

JohnFagan，GeorgeFagan，WilliamFagan(thesethreefelloutwithusaboutEarly，andaredoubtfulnow)，JohnM。Cartmel，NoahRickard，JohnRickard，WalterMarsh。

TheforegoingshouldbeaddressedatSpringfield。

AlsosendsometoSolomonMillerandJohnAuthatSalisbury。

AlsotoCharlesHarper，SamuelHarper，andB。C。Harper，andT。

J。Scroggins，JohnScrogginsatPulaski，LoganCounty。

SpeedsayshewroteyouwhatJoSmithsaidaboutyouashepassedhere。Wewillprocurethenamesofsomeofhispeoplehere，andsendthemtoyoubeforelong。SpeedalsosaysyoumustnotfailtosendustheNewYorkJournalhewroteforsometimesince。

EvanButlerisjealousthatyouneversendyourcomplimentstohim。Youmustnotneglecthimnexttime。

Yourfriend，asever，A。LINCOLN

RESOLUTIONINTHEILLINOISLEGISLATURE。

November28，1840。

IntheIllinoisHouseofRepresentatives，November28，1840，Mr。

Lincolnofferedthefollowing：

Resolved，Thatsomuchofthegovernor’smessageasrelatestofraudulentvoting，andotherfraudulentpracticesatelections，bereferredtotheCommitteeonElections，withinstructionstosaidcommitteetoprepareandreporttotheHouseabillforsuchanactasmayintheirjudgmentaffordthegreatestpossibleprotectionoftheelectivefranchiseagainstallfraudsofallsortswhatever。

RESOLUTIONINTHEILLINOISLEGISLATURE。

December2，1840。

Resolved，ThattheCommitteeonEducationbeinstructedtoinquireintotheexpediencyofprovidingbylawfortheexaminationastothequalificationofpersonsofferingthemselvesasschoolteachers，thatnoteachershallreceiveanypartofthepublicschoolfundwhoshallnothavesuccessfullypassedsuchexamination，andthattheyreportbybillorotherwise。

REMARKSINTHEILLINOISLEGISLATURE。

December4，1840

IntheHouseofRepresentatives，Illinois，December4，1840，onpresentationofareportrespectingpetitionofH。N。Purple，claimingtheseatofMr。PhelpsfromPeoria，Mr。LincolnmovedthattheHouseresolveitselfintoCommitteeoftheWholeonthequestion，andtakeitupimmediately。Mr。LincolnconsideredthequestionofthehighestimportancewhetheranindividualhadarighttositinthisHouseornot。Thecourseheshouldproposewouldbetotakeuptheevidenceanddecideuponthefactsseriatim。

Mr。Drummondwantedtime；theycouldnotdecideintheheatofdebate，etc。

Mr。Lincolnthoughtthatthequestionhadbetterbegoneintonow。Incourtsoflawjurorswererequiredtodecideonevidence，withoutpreviousstudyorexamination。Theywererequiredtoknownothingofthesubjectuntiltheevidencewaslaidbeforethemfortheirimmediatedecision。Hethoughtthattheheatofpartywouldbeaugmentedbydelay。

TheSpeakercalledMr。Lincolntoorderasbeingirrelevant；nomentionhadbeenmadeofpartyheat。

Mr。Drummondsaidhehadonlyspokenofdebate。Mr。Lincolnaskedwhatcausedtheheat，ifitwasnotparty？Mr。Lincolnconcludedbyurgingthatthequestionwouldbedecidednowbetterthanhereafter，andhethoughtwithlessheatandexcitement。

(Furtherdebate，inwhichLincolnparticipated。)