Menard Circuit Court opens for special three-day term. Lincoln appears for four supervisors of Menard County indicted for failure to do their duty; jury finds William Young and William McNeely not guilty and prosecution drops case against Bennett Abell and Bluford Atterbury. James v. Engle is by agreement dismissed at defendant's cost. Lincoln & Herndon appear for plaintiff. Lincoln writes bond for costs in Elmore v. Moon.Record.

In Elmore v. Moon, jury finds defendant guilty and assesses damages at $50. Court awards $317.32 to complainants in John Bennett et al. v. Richard E. Bennett et al., and orders real estate sold as per bill of complaint. In chancery case of Waggoner v. Lukins, jury awards land to complainant on payment of $125.34. Lincoln is for plaintiffs in all three cases.Record.

He writes court order in three cases: Bennett, executor v. Bennett et al.; Backenstos v. Backenstos; Wright v. Adams et al.Photocopy; Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln writes to Hezekiah M. Wead, Lewistown attorney, about case Wead has on U.S. Circuit Court docket.Abraham Lincoln to Hezekiah M. Wead, 6 December 1846, CW, 1:391.

Lincoln writes assignment of errors in Wilcoxon v. Roby (SC) and signs Logan's name.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

In U.S. Circuit Court, Donaldson v. Reynolds and Walker is continued by agreement. Peters is attorney for plaintiff and Lincoln for defendant.Record.

Stephen A. Douglas is elected to U.S. Senate, by legislature, over Cyrus Edwards, Whig.

In People v. Browne, Washburne, attorney for plaintiff, and Lincoln, for defendant, argue plaintiff's motion to have writ of alternative mandamus made peremptory. Court denies motion. Douglas gives brilliant levee at state house in honor of his election to U.S. Senate. Record; Sangamo Journal, 24 December 1846.

In Wilcoxson v. Roby (SC), suit on penal bond from Stephenson County, court orders appellant to file abstracts by December 23, 1846. Lincoln is attorney for appellant and Jesse B. Thomas for appellee. Appellant is ordered to assign errors in Garrett v. Stevenson (SC), appeal from Tazewell County. Lincoln appears for appellant.Record.

Lincoln writes assignment of errors in Shaffer and Shaffer v. Weed (SC), signing for Constable and Lincoln.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.