Lincoln has two cases in Supreme Court: Laughlin v. Marshall, and Illinois Central RR v. Morrison & Crabtree. First case, which involved two certificates of deposit totalling $1,000, he argues on behalf of Marshall. (Court affirms decision of trial court.) In second case, in which Lincoln and Ficklin appear for railroad, Ficklin makes opening argument. Record; 19 Ill. 390.

Ficklin continues his argument in Illinois Central RR v. Morrison & Crabtree; Green and Constable follow for appellees, and Lincoln concludes for appellants. Case involved right of railroad to restrict its liabiity as common carrier. Supreme Court reverses decision of lower court. Record; 19 Ill. 136.

People ex rel. Lanphier & Walker v. Hatch is argued. Lincoln appears for Hatch. Record.

Lincoln loses case in Supreme Court when motion for mandamus in People ex rel. Billings v. Bissell is refused. Case involved famous McAllister & Stebbins bonds, relator trying to compel governor to issue new bonds covering arrears of interest. Record; 19 Ill. 229.

In U.S. Circuit Court Lincoln argues demurrer in Gilbert v. Rose et al.Record.

Herndon writes Senator Trumbull that he and Lincoln are certain Supreme Court will uphold Gov. Bissell in political reapportionment case. Lyman Trumbull Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

In the Illinois Supreme Court, the litigants' attorneys begin to argue the appeal case of Sprague v. Illinois River RR et al., a suit that originated in the Cass County Circuit Court. Lincoln & Herndon, and Henry E. Dummer represent Charles Sprague; David A. Smith and Stephen T. Logan are the attorneys for the railroad. Sprague seeks an injunction to prevent Cass County from paying the Illinois River Railroad $50,000 in stock subscriptions approved by the voters. Order, 4 February 1858, Sprague v. Illinois River RR et al., Illinois Supreme Court, Journal Record SC 2nd GD 1855-1864, 149, Illinois State Archives, Springfield, IL; Writ of Injunction, 6 August 1857, Sprague v. Illinois River RR et al., Cass County Circuit Court, box 11, Cass County Courthouse, Virginia, IL; Sprague v. Illinois River Railroad et al., 19 Ill. (1857) 174-83.

Court affirms decision of Cass Circuit Court in Sprague v. Illinois River RR et al. Six other cases in which Lincoln is concerned are before court, including two not in published reports: Mary Ann Gray v. Matilda French et al. and James Welsh v. William P. Welsh et al. This is last day of Supreme Court term. Record.

John O. Johnson visits office of Lincoln & Herndon and they read letter Johnson has received from Senator Trumbull. Late in 1857 Lincoln hired Johnson as political organizer. Herndon to Trumbull, Lyman Trumbull Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; Abraham Lincoln to Henry C. Whitney, 18 December 1857, CW, 2:428-29.