Death of David Nowlin, representative from Monroe, is announced. After appointment of committee to make funeral arrangements, House adjourns.House Journal.

House, Lincoln voting yea, changes hour of assembly from 10 to 9 o'clock. [Hour is moved back to 10 week later.] He votes yea on second reading of bill granting several divorces. He does not vote on four afternoon roll calls.House Journal.

Bill to erect county of Bureau is reported from committee. Lincoln votes for indefinite postponement, but motion fails.House Journal.

Act for relief of clerk of county commissioners' court of Franklin is referred to select committee of Harris of Macoupin, Dollins of Franklin, and Lincoln. Joint committee reports that $10,378.22½ is due and should be paid to builders of new capitol.House Journal.

Act to extend charter of Bank of Kaskaskia is tabled 39 to 37, Lincoln voting yea. Douglas moves to table bill extending act incorporating Bank of Illinois at Shawneetown.House Journal.

Lincoln votes nay on five amendments to bill extending act incorporating Shawneetown Bank, and yea with majority ordering it engrossed for third reading. Afternoon is devoted to amendments to school fund distribution act. Lincoln adds amendment which is adopted.House Journal; Amendment to an Amendment Introduced in Illinois Legislature to an Act distributing the School Funds to the Counties, [7 February 1837], CW, 1:71.

Senate resolution setting February 13, 1837 as last day for new business and 28th for adjournment is adopted, 60 to 10, Lincoln voting nay. He votes with majority to compensate Vandalia citizens for new state house, erected in 1836 without authority. He votes yea on passage of bill extending Shawneetown Bank incorporation.House Journal.

Douglas presents Sangamon petition for division of county. On Lincoln's motion bill is referred to select committee of Douglas, Dawson, Harris, Reddick, and himself. David Prickett is elected prosecuting attorney of first judicial circuit which includes Sangamon. Lincoln votes for him.House Journal.

Lincoln votes against act to forbid circulation of state bank notes smaller than $5. He writes and reports from committee on Finance bill to relocate part of state road from Springfield to Lewiston. It is read twice and ordered engrossed.House Journal; Photocopy; Bill Introduced in Illinois Legislature to Relocate part of a State Road from Springfield to Lewiston, [10 February 1837], CW, 1:71-72.

First direct move to gain capital for Springfield is made in attempt to repeal act of 1833 on permanent seat of government following referendum. Lincoln leads move for repeal and Dement of Fayette [Vandalia, county seat] opposes.House Journal.

Lincoln reports from committee petition for three new counties. Committee, finding 1,437 names on petition for Sangamon division and 2,213 names on remonstrance, unanimously recommends rejection. He makes similar report on petitions from Montgomery and Shelby counties. Bridge bill in Lincoln's hand is introduced by William McMurty.House Journal; Photocopy; Report to Illinois Legislature on Petitions and Remonstrances Concerning Establishment of New Counties, [13 February 1837], CW, 1:72; Bill Introduced in Illinois Legislature to Supplement "An Act to Erect Certain Bridges, Approved January 22, 1831", [13 February 1837], CW, 1:72-73.

Fight to move capital occupies House through afternoon. Move to table bill until December 1839 is defeated 42 to 38.House Journal; Amendments Introduced in Illinois Legislature to Senate Bill Permanently Locating the Seat of Government of the State of Illinois, [14 February 1837], CW, 1:73.

Lincoln votes yea on bill to incorporate Illinois Beet-Sugar, Silk and Vegetable Oil Manufacturing Co. He opposes move to table bill relocating penitentiary.House Journal.

Lincoln reports from Committee on Finance annual income and expenses of state. Income is $57,895.15 and expenditures $55,151.95. Committee believes too little is allowed for contingent fund, and adds $15,000, producing deficit of $12,256.82.House Journal; Photocopy; Report to Illinois Legislature on Amount of Annual Revenue and Current Expenses, [16 February 1837], CW, 1:74.

Senate bill for permanent location of capital is before House. Motion to organize board to examine geographical center of state as possible site is defeated. Bill is tabled 39 to 38.House Journal.

Capital bill tabled yesterday is taken up. Motion to table until July 4, 1837 fails after discussion. On Lincoln's motion, bill is tabled until Monday. He also has tabled motion to submit bill to referendum. He votes yea on resolution to adjourn February 27, 1837.House Journal; William E. Baringer, Lincoln's Vandalia: A Pioneer Portrait (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1949), 105-7.

Lincoln votes nay on tabling bill to amend act for construction of Illinois and Michigan Canal, approved January 9, 1836. [Bill is taken up on February 21, 1837, and passed 78 to 2.]House Journal.

Lincoln votes yea on bill amending act incorporating town of Alton, and yea on bill continuing charter of Bank of Kaskaskia. Motion to keep capital removal bill tabled is defeated 41 to 40, and bill is discussed.House Journal.

Omnibus divorce bill is amended to read, "and all other persons who are desirous of being divorced." Bill and proposed amendment are referred to Committee of the Whole. Lincoln votes with majority in refusing to put internal improvement bill to vote of people.House Journal.

Lincoln and Sangamon delegation oppose move for constitutional convention.House Journal.

Capital removal bill is read third time. Lincoln moves to amend by adding meaningless provision that "General Assembly reserves the right to repeal this act at any time hereafter," which is adopted, and the bill passes 46 to 37. Sangamon delegation votes yea.House Journal.

Senate reports concurrence in House amendments to relocation bill. Council of Revision reports rejection of internal improvement bill. Lincoln votes with majority to repass bill, 53 to 20. [Bill passes Senate Monday 23 to 13.]House Journal.

Bill to appropriate residue of Vermilion Saline lands to Vermilion County for bridge across Big Vermilion River is referred to select committee of five, which includes Lincoln. Evening session is devoted to discussion on per diem of members.House Journal.

Senate joins House to select permanent seat of government. Springfield leads 20 towns on first ballot, and receives majority on fourth (Springfield 73, Vandalia 16, Jacksonville 11, Peoria 8, Alton 6, Illiopolis 3). Six other towns receive one vote each.House Journal.