Bill appropriating $20,000 for Big Muddy River improvement comes back from Senate with amendments which House adopts. Motion to table fails, 49 to 12, Lincoln voting nay with others from Sangamon. He votes yea on Senate bill for relief of purchasers of canal lots and lands. House Journal.

Dawson of Sangamon moves that House appropriate $2,000 each to Menard, Logan, and Dane counties. Motion fails, it being introduced only to call attention to Senate amendment granting $2,000 to Scott County. Lincoln and Dawson call for vote and amendment fails 51 to 13. [House adjourns sine die 4 March 1839.] House Journal.

State Representative Lincoln writes to Bond County resident William S. Wait, who apparently has concerns about the recently passed "Revenue law." Lincoln argues that the state needs the new property tax because "the wants of the Treasury were increasing with the increase of population." Lincoln maintains that the measure "does not increase the tax upon the 'many poor' but upon the 'wealthy few.'" He points out that while the tax may be unpopular with "the wealthy... they are not sufficiently numerous to carry the elections."Abraham Lincoln to William S. Wait, 2 March 1839, CW, 1:147-48.

Stuart & Lincoln have four cases in Sangamon Circuit Court. Steele confesses judgment for $186.03 in Vaughn v. Steele & Smith. Iles v. Hobbs, and Keeland v. Bragg & Ware are dismissed at plaintiff's cost. VanBergen v. H. M. Armstrong & Co., suit to collect debt of $300, is dismissed at defendant's cost. They appear for plaintiff.Record.

Two chancery cases are Stuart & Lincoln's only business in court. They represent complainant in Patterson et al. v. Casey et al., and defendants in Bohannan v. Suter et al. In latter case, petitions, exhibits, and notice of publication are filed and William Butler appointed guardian.Record.

Judge William Thomas, commissioned judge of First Circuit February 26, 1839, takes place of Judge Thomas Ford, and presides until Circuit Court closes March 16, 1839. William Butler, appointed guardian in Bohannan v. Suter et al., files his answer.Record.

Stuart & Lincoln have five cases in circuit court. Two are dismissed and one continued. In Darling v. Norred, court orders land divided equally. Treat appears for plaintiff and Stuart & Lincoln for defendant. They get judgment by default for $455.59 on Bailey v. Low.Record.

On motion of Stuart & Lincoln, leave is given plaintiff to withdraw note filed in Klein & Co. v. Thomas P. Smith. Commissioners in Darling v. Norred file report. Asa D. Wright, one of defendants in Atwood & Jones v. Douglas & Wright, files plea. Stuart & Lincoln represent plaintiffs.Record.

Eastham v. Clark & Sanks, and Langford v. Dryer, Cofflin & Co., are dismissed by Stuart & Lincoln representing plaintiffs. Atwood & Jones v. Douglas & Wright is continued. James M. Shackelford is made party to judgment which Lincoln obtained for Erastus Wright against C. G. Brooks October 15, 1838.Record.

Stuart & Lincoln dismiss one case at cost of their client, and win seven others by default, obtaining total damages of $1,515.38. As attorney for Simeon Francis, Lincoln writes report, which Baker signs, in Francis v. Mitchell et al. Mitchell, late postmaster of Springfield, failed to give deed to lot.Record; Photocopy.

Stuart & Lincoln have eight cases in circuit court; two come to trial. They get $3 judgment for William Butler against A. W. Center, but lose May v. Weber, Ruckle & Co., in which court awards plaintiff $208.50. Lincoln asks that defendant in William Edwards v. Oliver H. P. Rush be held to bail.Record.

Lincoln writes and files bill in Duncan v. Goforth & Brooker, Springfield hatters.Photocopy.

He writes report of James W. Simpson that real estate title has been conveyed to George W. Wilson as ordered in Wilson v. Simpson et al.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

[Lincoln is not engaged in any of eight cases called in circuit court. Stuart replies to Douglas' letter of March 4, 1839, declining Douglas' proposals to recanvass votes in congressional election of August 6, 1838. Stuart also declines to resign his claim to office and run race over.Original owned by Mrs. Logan Hay, Springfield, Ill.]

Stuart & Lincoln file defendant's answer and exhibits in Darling v. Norred & Baker. In similar case of Darling v. Norred they enter motion for summons to commissioners who reported March 8, 1839, and ask time to bring witnesses before commissioner's report is approved.Record.

Stuart & Lincoln obtain divorce for complainant, Samuel Rogers, in Rogers v. Rogers. Alimony of $1,000 is granted. They lose Johnson v. Dryer, Cofflin & Co. when judgment of justice of peace is affirmed for $39.88. When court orders land sold in Darling v. Norred, they ask appeal to Supreme Court, which is granted.Record.

Three cases of Stuart & Lincoln are called on last day of term. Todd v. Kendall is dismissed by agreement, and Kendall v. Richardson, ejectment suit, is dismissed by plaintiff. They appear for plaintiff in first and defendant in second case. They obtain leave to take deposition of W. D. Chitton in St. John v. Chitton et al.Record.

Stuart & Lincoln receive from James Manary $168.80 in full payment of judgment obtained March 12, 1838, in Sangamon Circuit Court in Eli Judy v. James Manary and William Cassity.Execution Docket D.