Lincoln votes nay on resolution calling for joint committee of both Houses to draft memorial to Congress asking that federal lands in state be subject to taxation as soon as sold.House Journal.

["Sangamo Journal" advertises Lincoln as its agent at New Salem. On March 8, 1835 periodical announces it will take "Meal, Buckwheat, flour, pork on newspaper accounts."]

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.

Stuart & Lincoln are notified by Samuel H. Treat, attorney for complainant in Foster v. Cassidy, that John Calhoun's deposition will be taken December 22, 1837, in Thomas Moffett's office.Record.

Little work is done in House. Cloud of Morgan reports from Committee on Rules, to which Lincoln was appointed December 4, 1838. House adopts report and adjourns until 2 o'clock December 7, 1838.House Journal.

Lincoln's motion for new trial in Powell v. E. C. Blankenship & Co. is granted in Sangamon Circuit Court. [Plaintiffs failed in justice of peace court and on December 2, 1839 were given costs in circuit court. On March 13, 1840 they are awarded $95.77.]Stuart & Lincoln fee book.

Logan and Lincoln file declaration in Walker and Hack v. McCoy in U.S. Circuit Court.Record.

Lincoln gives receipt to A. H. Kellar for $12.50—"for one half of which I am to account to Stuart."Receipt to A. H. Kellar, 6 December 1841, CW, 1:264.

Logan & Lincoln win Vance v. Kilgore et al. when defendants default. Plaintiff is awarded $1,765.66.Record.

Lincoln writes Samuel D. Marshall, attorney at Shawneetown, explaining what action he will take in several Supreme Court cases sent to him by Marshall.Abraham Lincoln to Samuel D. Marshall, 6 December 1844, CW, 1:342.

Logan & Lincoln file replication, demurrer, and exceptions to defendant's plea in Napier v. Wooldridge in U.S. Circuit Court.Record.

"To succeed, I must have 17 votes in convention," writes Lincoln to B. F. James. ". . . If you and other friends can secure Dr. Boal's entire senatorial district, that is, Tazewell 4, Woodford 1, and Marshall 1, it just covers the case. . . . In doing this, let nothing be said against Hardin. . . . Let the pith of the whole argument be `Turn about is fair play.' "Abraham Lincoln to Benjamin F. James, 6 December 1845, CW, 1:351-52.

Lincoln writes and signs assignment of errors in Murphy v. Summerville (SC).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.

House convenes at 12 o'clock. Lincoln votes for Robert C. Winthrop of Massachusetts for speaker. He is elected on third ballot. After administration of oath to members, House adjourns. Congressional Globe.

Lincoln is still absent.Globe.

In Lyons v. Hill et al., assumpsit suit in Circuit Court, defendants default and Lincoln & Herndon secure damages of $440.66 for plaintiff. Record.

In margin of mortgage book Lincoln records satisfaction of mortgage he took from John Hay May 7, 1849. Book CC, 43.

Lincoln writes, and he and Stephen T. Logan sign, arbitration award in dispute between David Spear and Isaac P. Spear. Arbitration Award in Dispute between David Spear and Isaac P. Spear, 6 December 1851, CW, 2:114.

Lincoln and Johnston engage R. E. Goodell as clerk. They have rented sheriff's office and are conducting hearings there. Illinois Reports, 1853, No. 9.

Lincoln & Herndon enter nonsuit in Johnson v. McMullen. In Popper v. Patton et al. they secure change of venue to McLean County. They lose appeal, McGlasson v. Power et al., when court affirms decision of lower court awarding plaintiff $32.50 damages. In Cantrall, conservator of Cantrall v. Cantrall et al., before court November 23, 1853, their client is permitted to sell lands of his lunatic son. Pleadings are filed in five other cases. Record.

Lincoln writes John McLean, justice of U.S. Supreme Court, that he understands displacement of present clerk of U.S. Circuit Court is contemplated. He hopes not, for he is very friendly with incumbent. However, if present clerk should be removed, he recommends William Butler. William J. Black, also applicant, "is every way worthy of the office." He writes John T. Stuart's bond as receiver of Mechanics and Farmer's Bank, Springfield, and signs with five others. Abraham Lincoln to John McLean, 6 December 1854, CW, 2:291; Bond for John T. Stuart, 6 December 1854, CW, 2:291-92.

Lincoln & Herndon have two cases, both of which are settled by agreement. First, appeal in which they appear for defendant, is dismissed whentheir client agrees to pay all costs except plaintiff's witnesses. Second, action in assumpsit in which they represent plaintiff, ends when defendant agrees that judgment for $206.23, amount of notes and interest sued on, shall be entered against him. Record.

Lincoln writes and has sworn three witness affidavits (and files them December 12, 1855) in Correll et al. v. McDaniel et al.Photocopy.

Lincoln remains for territorial election. N.Y. Tribune, 30 August 1860.

After reading text of Buchanan's message, Lincoln is considerably mollified. N.Y. Herald, 11 December 1860.

Lincoln turns back "Illinois Staats-Anzeiger" to Theodore Canisius. Across back of May 30, 1859 contract he certifies that Canisius has fulfilled obligations, and therefore, for consideration, he conveys to him type, paper, and good will. Barton, Life of Lincoln, 1:423.

Cabinet considers report of secretary of treasury. N.Y. Times, 6 December 1861.

Lincoln interviews David L. Phillips, marshal of southern Illinois, regarding arrests of secessionists. Abraham Lincoln to Simon Cameron, 6 December 1861, CW, 5:59.

Receives Capt. Kennedy's Artillery Company from Auburn, N.Y., accompanied by Sec. Seward. N.Y. Times, 7 December 1861.

Interviews Capt. Francis G. Young of late Col. Baker's California regiment and gives him letter to Gen. McClellan. Young to Lincoln, 7 December 1861, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; Abraham Lincoln to George B. McClellan, 6 December 1861, CW, 5:60.

Library of Congress lends copy of "Musäus, Volksmärchen" to White House. [Johann Karl August Musäus, Volksmärchen der Deutschen, Leipzig, 1842.] Borrowers' Ledger 1861-63, 114, Archives of the Library of Congress, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln writes to General Henry H. Sibley, who heads a military commission that sentenced 303 Dakota Indians to death for killing military personnel and civilians in Minnesota. After evaluating the testimony, Lincoln recommended that only thirty-nine of the accused merited execution. On this day, Lincoln issues an order listing the names of the thirty-nine "Indians and Half-breeds . . . to be executed on Friday, the nineteenth day of December." Annual Message to Congress, 1 December 1862, CW, 5:518-537; Abraham Lincoln to Joseph Holt, 1 December 1862, CW, 5:537-538; Abraham Lincoln to Henry H. Sibley, 6 December 1862, CW, 5:542-43.

Sen. John B. Henderson (Mo.) and Cong. Thomas L. Price (Mo.) interview President on behalf of Rufus K. Sanders. Abraham Lincoln to Edwin M. Stanton, 6 December 1862, CW, 5:543.

President telegraphs Mrs. Lincoln in New York: "All doing well." Abraham Lincoln to Mary Lincoln, 6 December 1863, CW, 7:35.

Sends for Cong. Colfax (Ind.), nominated for Speaker of House by acclamation. Hay, Letters and Diary.

Confers with Colfax about plans of clerk of House of Representatives to give control of House to Peace Party by excluding members with old certificates. Memorandum, 6 December 1863, John G. Nicolay Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Joint Committee announces to President that Congress is ready to receive communications. Senate Journal, 6.

President communicates Annual Message to Congress: Condition of foreign affairs reasonably satisfactory. No differences of any kind have arisen with republics to the south, and their sympathies are constantly expressed with cordiality. China seems to be accepting conventional laws which regulate commercial intercourse, and friendship of Japan toward U.S. has increased. Several ports have been opened and immigration encouraged. Financial affairs have been administered successfully. Public debt is $1,740,690,489. Money required to meet expenses of war derived from taxes should be increased. National banking system is proving to be acceptable to capitalists and to the people. Organization and admission of state of Nevada completed. Territories growing rapidly. Newly established Agriculture Dept. recommended to continued care of Congress. Movements that mold society for durability have occurred—Arkansas and Louisiana have organized loyal state governments. President recommends reconsideration and passage of proposed amendment to Constitution, abolishing slavery. In midst of war nation's material resources and manpower are more complete and abundant than ever. On basis of accessible evidence it would seem that no attempt at negotiation with insurgent leader could result in any good. "The war will cease on the part of the government, whenever it shall have ceased on the part of those who began it." Annual Message to Congress, 6 December 1864, CW, 8:136-53.

President sends nomination to Senate: "I nominate Salmon P. Chase of Ohio, to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States vice Roger B. Taney, deceased." Abraham Lincoln to the Senate, 6 December 1864, CW, 8:154.

Responds to crowd assembled at White House to congratulate him on Annual Message: "I have no good news to tell you, and yet I have no bad news to tell. . . . We all know where he [Gen. Sherman] went in at, but I can't tell where he will come out at." Response to a Serenade, 6 December 1864, CW, 8:154.

Cabinet meets. Welles, Diary.

Cong. Alley (Mass.) visits President, who allegedly says: "Although I may have appeared to you and to Mr. Sumner to have been opposed to Chase's appointment, there has never been a moment since the breath left old Taney's body that I did not conceive it to be the best thing to do. . . ." Clarence E. Macartney, Lincoln and His Cabinet (New York: Scribner, 1931), 267.

At 8 p.m., President meets with Judge David McDonald, of Indianapolis, Ind., and Senator Thomas A. Hendricks regarding appointment of McDonald as judge of U.S. District Court. Lincoln appoints McDonald to the post on December 13. "Diaries of Judge David McDonald," Indiana Magazine of History 28 (December 1932): 303; David McDonald to Abraham Lincoln, 15 December 1864, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; Abraham Lincoln to Godlove S. Orth, 13 December 1864, CW, 8:47.

[See December 10, 1864] Sends for Noah Brooks who finds him recording incident of Tennessee ladies [See December 1, 1864, December 2, 1864, December 3, 1864.], labelling it "The President's Last, Shortest, and Best Speech." Story Written for Noah Brooks, [6 December 1864], CW, 8:154-55.