"To succeed, I must have 17 votes in convention," writes Lincoln to B. F. James. ". . . If you and other friends can secure Dr. Boal's entire senatorial district, that is, Tazewell 4, Woodford 1, and Marshall 1, it just covers the case. . . . In doing this, let nothing be said against Hardin. . . . Let the pith of the whole argument be `Turn about is fair play.' "Abraham Lincoln to Benjamin F. James, 6 December 1845, CW, 1:351-52.

Lincoln writes and signs assignment of errors in Murphy v. Summerville (SC).Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.