Lincoln and other eight members of Sangamon delegation, nicknamed Long Nine because of their height, attend opening session of Tenth General Assembly. He votes four times for Newton Cloud for Speaker, but James Semple is elected. On Lincoln's motion House elects David Prickett clerk.House Journal.

House continues with election of doorkeeper. Jefferson Weatherford, one of seven candidates, is elected. House is waiting for Gov. Duncan's address and adjourns soon after noon.House Journal.

Select committee appointed to draft House rules reports and recommends two new standing committees, "Roads & Canals, Agriculture," and "Commerce and Manufactures." Report recommending nine members on each standing committee is adopted.House Journal.

[No session of House.]

Gov. Duncan addresses legislature, denouncing President Jackson's policies. He points out difficulties attendant on sale of state bonds to finance internal improvements, necessity of militia, need of public education, and recommends that state purchase stock reserved in state bank. House Journal.

Lincoln is appointed to two of 14 standing House committees: important Committee on Finance, and minor Penitentiary Committee.House Journal.

[House meets in morning. Lincoln's name is not mentioned in proceedings.House Journal.

Supreme Court convenes and remains in session until March 2, 1837.Record.]

From Vandalia, Illinois, where he is serving in the legislature, Lincoln writes to New Salem resident Mary Owens, with whom Lincoln is, perhaps reluctantly, romantically linked. He discusses politics and his state of mind. He writes, "The new State House is not yet finished, and consequently the legislature is doing little...The Governor delivered an inflamitory political Message, and it is expected there will be some sparring between the parties...I have been sick ever since my arrival here...I would rather be any place in the world than here. I...can not endure the thought of staying here ten weeks." Abraham Lincoln to Mary S. Owens, 13 December 1836, CW, 1:54-55.

Lincoln moves report of auditor be tabled and 2,000 copies printed. Motion adopted. He votes for Archibald Williams of Quincy for U.S. senator on three ballots. Richard M. Young of Jonesboro is elected.House Journal.

Lincoln votes with majority to refer divorce petition of Henry King to Committee on Petitions. He votes yea on granting second reading to bill repealing act to improve cattle, passed last session.House Journal.

Dubois and Lincoln call for vote on amendment to "act to provide for receiving a distributive share of the surplus revenue of the United States on deposit." Lincoln votes nay on resolution: "That it is unconstitutional and foreign to the duties of . . . the Legislature to grant bills of divorce."House Journal.

Senate sitting with House elects W. B. Scates judge of third judicial circuit. Lincoln votes for S. D. Marshall, who is elected prosecuting attorney of same circuit. House adopts Senate resolution "requiring the treasurer . . . to demand specie on the drafts of the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States for her proportion of the public deposits."House Journal.

"Little Bull law," deemed undemocratic by voters, is repealed 81 to 4. Lincoln votes with majority.House Journal; William E. Baringer, Lincoln's Vandalia: A Pioneer Portrait (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1949), 6-7.

Douglas, from committee on Petitions, reports bill for new county to be formed out of Sangamon. On Lincoln's motion it is referred to select committee of Wilson of Sangamon, Richardson of Schuyler, and himself. He introduces resolution asking doorkeeper if assistant is necessary.House Journal; Photocopy; Resolution in the Illinois Legislature to Request Doorkeeper of the House to Make a Statement Concerning Need for an Assistant Doorkeeper, [20 December 1836], CW, 1:55.

Lincoln reports committee bill with amendments for Sangamon County division, says bill is compromise, and favors it because county can be divided only by vote of people. He is opposed to offering to people territory too small for acceptance.Illinois State Register, Vandalia, 12 January 1837;House Journal.

Day is devoted to Sangamon division bill. Linder's motion to have only people in new county vote brings debate in which Linder, Douglas, Webb, and Lincoln take part. Linder's afternoon motion to eliminate referendum clause brings Lincoln again into debate.House Journal.

Smith of Wabash proposes resolutions which become system of internal improvements. McClernand of Gallatin reports committee reply to Gov. Duncan's charges against President Jackson. Party fight ensues with Hardin of Morgan leading Whigs.House Journal.

Lincoln writes John McNamar that he has received petition to change state road. If McNamar does not wish this change he should get up remonstrance. Lincoln attends legislature, reporting, from select committee, amendments to Van Buren County bill.Abraham Lincoln to John McNamar, 24 December 1836, CW, 1:60; Bill Introduced in Illinois Legislature to Organize the County of Van Buren, [24 December 1836], CW, 1:57-60; House Journal.

[House celebrates Christmas; no session.]

House devotes most of day to accounts of John Dement, former state treasurer. Whigs, led by Hardin of Morgan, ask that "all the money which appeared to be due from said Auditor's supplemental report" be turned over by Dement. Hardin's resolution is tabled, Lincoln voting nay.House Journal.

House is notified of death of Resolve Graham, member from Gallatin. House adopts resolutions of regret and adjourns.House Journal.

Funeral services for Resolve Graham are held in capitol; House and Senate attend. Hogan of Madison delivers funeral address, and House follows cortege to edge of town on its way to Gallatin County.Illinois State Register, 30 December 1836.

Lincoln votes with majority to table resolution instructing Election Committee to inquire into expediency of voting by ballot. He votes to table resolution asking Congress for alternate sections of land along creeks and rivers for purpose of improving them. House Journal.

Lincoln signs bond of Charles Gregory as treasurer.Bond of Charles Gregory as Treasurer of Illinois, 30 December 1836, CW, 1:60-61.

[Lincoln's name does not appear in proceedings. No roll calls are taken. Dawson of Sangamon proposes resolution that is strikingly similar to Homestead Law enacted by Congress in 1862.House Journal.]