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.

Lincoln writes and files with the Sangamon County Circuit Court a bill of complaint in Payne v. Bryan, a chancery suit to foreclose a chattel mortgage. Lincoln enters himself as security for court costs for his client, Thomas J. Payne.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; Record.

House adopts resolution 54 to 33 recommending vote at next general election on convention to amend constitution. Lincoln and Baker are only Sangamon representatives to oppose resolution.House Journal.

Lincoln writes and signs bond for costs in Tydings & Widney v. Hathaway & Fullenwider.Photocopy.

Senate bill for act regulating sale of property is referred to select committee of which Lincoln is member. House resolves itself into Committee of the Whole on apportionment bill. After various proposed amendments and parliamentary moves, bill is ordered engrossed, Lincoln voting nay.House Journal.

Lincoln instructs G. B. Shelledy, lawyer of Paris, Illinois, how to prepare papers in cases Shelledy wants Logan & Lincoln to handle in U.S. Circuit Court. Lincoln agrees to attend to them for $10 each when there is no opposition.Abraham Lincoln to Garland B. Shelledy, 16 February 1842, CW, 1:270-71.

Frisby et al. v. Ballance et al. (SC), ejectment suit involving title to land in Peoria County, is submitted to court on written arguments. Lincoln is attorney for plaintiffs in error, and Justin Butterfield appears for defendants in error.Record.

Lincoln writes Simeon Ryder about his chancery suit against Daniel Stringer and heirs of Edward Mitchell. On November 30, 1843, Logan & Lincoln obtained decree against Stringer in favor of Ryder for former's debt of $300 with interest at 7 per cent from January 1, 1836.Abraham Lincoln to Simeon Ryder, 16 February 1844, CW, 1:332.

[Illustrative of feeling between Whigs and Democrats in Springfield are these lines from Register: "Lincoln, another member of the Junto . . . is our jester and mountebank. . . . We have had him appointed a candidate for Clay elector. This we hope will buy him off from being a candidate for Congress. . . . We intend to send Lincoln to Linder's county (Coles) to make speeches. Lincoln is a long-legged varmint, and great at jumping . . . out of the windows of the State House. . . . He can make a speech which is all length and height like himself, and no breadth or thickness."]

[Hardin writes public letter declining to be candidate for Congress. He publishes his plan for selecting nominee—primary in place of convention.] B. F. James in Tazewell Whig February 21, 1846 prints letter and says: "We conceive it due to Mr. Lincoln, that the people of this district should pay a substantial tribute to his worth, energy and patriotic exertions in behalf of Whig principles."

Lincoln loses Wright v. Taylor when Supreme Court reverses decision of Menard County Circuit Court. He also loses Anderson v. Ryan when judgment of Coles County Circuit Court is affirmed. He wins Fell et al. v. Price et al. when court reverses McLean County Circuit Court and makes perpetual injunction against defendants' claim to land owned by plaintiff. Record.

"Your letter, asking me to procure passports, has been received," writes Lincoln to H. O. Merriman of Peoria or A. L. Merriman of Pekin: "I have just been to Mr. Buchanan [secretary of state], who turned me over to an understrapper. . . . He gave me a printed circular showing exactly what is to be done, which I transmit to you."Abraham Lincoln to Halsey O. or Amos L. Merriman, 16 February 1848, CW, 1:452.

He attends House where loan bill is under consideration.Journal.

Managers of "Birth Night Ball" meet at City Hall.National Intelligencer, 16 February 1848.

Lincoln writes to William Fithian of Danville in response to inquiries about sale and rental value of properties belonging to Major Mobley which are to be sold under judgment secured by Lincoln, Fithian's attorney, in Sangamon Circuit Court August 29, 1849. Abraham Lincoln to William Fithian, 16 February 1850, CW, 2:74.

[Most members of legislature, many Springfield residents, and several editors start to Chicago as guests of Chicago citizens. At 7:00 A.M. they board cars for Bloomington. There they change to Illinois Central. At La Salle they transfer to Rock Island, on which they reach Chicago. Though no evidence connects Lincoln with this excursion, it is likely that he took part in it. Illinois Journal, 20 February 1854.

Mrs. Lincoln buys and charges ($1.50) pair of boys' boots. Pratt, Personal Finances, 146.]

Lincoln writes to Illinois Congressman Jesse Olds Norton eight days after Lincoln lost a bid for a U.S. Senate seat. At a time when U.S. Senators were elected by state legislatures, Lincoln explains to Norton how various Illinois legislators voted. Lincoln, a Whig, ultimately lost the race to Anti-Nebraska Democrat Lyman Trumbull, an Illinois Supreme Court justice. Lincoln attributes his loss to the "manoevering" of Governor Joel A. Matteson, who also sought the Senate seat, and "forced upon me and my friends the necessity of surrendering to Trumbull." Lincoln lost, he explains, in spite of the fact that he "finally surmounted the difficulty with the extreme Anti-Slavery men, and got all their votes, [Owen] Lovejoy's included." Trumbull was elected on the tenth ballot after Lincoln advised his backers to vote for Trumbull in order to avoid the "imminent danger of Matteson's election." Lincoln writes that his supporters "were taken by surprise" by his directive, "Trumbull quite as much as any one else." Lincoln explains that in spite of his loss, he is "very happy to find myself quite convalescent." Abraham Lincoln to Jesse Olds Norton, 16 February 1855, IHi, Springfield, IL.

Mrs. Lincoln writes her sister Emilie: "Within the last three weeks there has been a party almost every night and some two or three grand fetes are coming off this week." Sandburg and Angle, 198.

Lincoln credits payment of $50 on two promissory notes made by A. and J. Haines of Pekin which he holds. Notes, probably legal fees, are for $200 each, and were due October 15, 1858 and January 1, 1859. He deposits money at Springfield Marine & Fire Insurance Co. Lincoln Estate Inventory; Marine Bank Ledger.

He writes two checks: $10 to "C. Loch," bootmaker; $2.16 to "P. A. Dorwin & Co.," tinware and stove merchants. DLC—Original.

Lincoln corrects complainant's bill in Farmers' Loan & Trust Co. v. Great Western RR et al., signing "J. C. Conkling for complainant." Photocopy.

Militia company of Cleveland Grays escorts Lincoln from hotel to 9 A.M. train. Leland's Brass Band entertains at depot. Villard, Eve of '61, 87.

Train stops at Ohio towns of Willoughby, Painesville, Geneva, Madison, Ashtabula, Conneaut, at Pennsylvania towns of Girard, Erie, Northeast, and at New York towns of Westfield, Dunkirk, and Silver Creek, arriving Buffalo 4:30 P.M. On board are committees from Ohio Legislature, Cleveland, Erie, Chautauqua County, N.Y., and Buffalo. Remarks at Painesville, Ohio, 16 February 1861, CW, 4:218; Remarks at Ashtabula, Ohio, 16 February 1861, CW, 4:218; Remarks at Conneaut, Ohio, 16 February 1861, CW, 4:218-19; Remarks at Erie, Pennsylvania, 16 February 1861, CW, 4:219; Remarks at Westfield, New York, 16 February 1861, CW, 4:219; Remarks at Dunkirk, New York, 16 February 1861, CW, 4:219-20; Cleveland Plain Dealer, 18 February 1861.

At Willoughby Lincoln has time to say good morning and goodbye. At Painesville he speaks from special platform to estimated 3,000 persons in response to introduction by Mayor Wilcox. Remarks at Painesville, Ohio, 16 February 1861, CW, 4:218; Cleveland Plain Dealer, 18 February 1861.

Cong.-elect Albert G. Riddle (Ohio) rides from Cleveland to Painesville and talks to Lincoln about Sen. Cameron (Pa.). Albert G. Riddle, Recollections of War Times: Reminiscences of Men and Events in Washington, 1860-1865 (New York: Putnam, 1895), 179.

Train stops one minute at Geneva and Lincoln replies to introduction by Mr. Bearse. At Madison he compliments crowd of ladies during brief stop. Cleveland Plain Dealer, 18 February 1861.

Crowd calls for Mrs. Lincoln at Ashtabula, and President-elect remarks that "he should hardly hope to induce her to appear, as he had always found it very difficult to make her do what she did not want to." At Conneaut Lincoln thanks "people for the kindly demonstration." Remarks at Ashtabula, Ohio, 16 February 1861, CW, 4:218; Remarks at Conneaut, Ohio, 16 February 1861, CW, 4:218-19.

Horace Greeley boards train at Girard and rides to Erie. Lincoln greets crowd and receives baskets of fruit. Villard, Eve of '61, 87.

At 12:22 P.M. presidential party detrains at Erie, and committee escorts it to dining room of railroad company, where Lincoln makes speech. Cleveland Plain Dealer, 18 February 1861.

At Northeast he delivers brief remarks from rear platform. Henry J. Raymond, The Life and Public Services of Abraham Lincoln . . . Together with his State Papers, including his Speeches, Addresses, Messages, Letters, and Proclamations and the Closing Scenes Connected with his Life and Death (New York: Derby & Miller, 1865), 141.

En route to Washington, D. C., Lincoln's train stops in Westfield, New York, where a "large crowd" greets him. Lincoln remarks that Westfield is the home of twelve-year-old Grace Bedell, who "advised me to let my whiskers grow." Lincoln adds, "[A]cting partly upon her suggestion, I have done so; and now, if she is here, I would like to see her." Before he departs, Lincoln locates the "beautiful girl, with black eyes" and gives her "several hearty kisses . . . amid the yells of delight from the excited crowd." New York Herald, 17 February 1861, 5:1; New York Daily Tribune, 18 February 1861, 5:4; Philadelphia Inquirer (Pennsylvania), 20 February 1861, 2:1-2; Remarks at Westfield, New York, 16 February 1861, CW, 4:219.

Crowd of 15,000 citizens of Chautauqua County greets Lincoln at Dunkirk. From trackside platform he says: "Standing as I do, with my hand upon this staff, and under the folds of the American flag, I Ask You to Stand by Me so Long as I Stand by It." Cleveland Plain Dealer, 18 February 1861; Remarks at Dunkirk, New York, 16 February 1861, CW, 4:219-20.

Train stops momentarily at Silver Creek, but Lincoln is resting for entrance to Buffalo. Cleveland Plain Dealer, 18 February 1861.

Former President Millard Fillmore and crowd of 10,000 welcome presidential party to Buffalo at 4:30 P.M. Guard of soldiers and police being unable to prevent disorderly jam, guests are jostled and separated; Maj. David Hunter's arm is dislocated, and members of presidential partywalk to hotel. Lincoln rides in procession with Acting Mayor A. S. Benies, Committee Chairman A. M. Clapp, and Ward Hill Lamon, former law partner of Lincoln and bodyguard during trip to Washington. Arriving at American House, speaks from balcony in reply to welcome by acting mayor: "It is most proper I should wait, see the developments, and get all the light I can, so that when I do speak authoritatively I may be as near right as possible. . . . allow me to say that you, as a portion of the great American people, need only to maintain your composure." Meets 34 members of Buffalo committee and governor's staff, who will accompany him to Albany. Holds public reception at 7:30 P.M. Later receives another welcoming committee of 20 Germans headed by ex-Alderman Jacob Beyer. Listens to serenades by two singing groups. Cleveland Plain Dealer, 18 February 1861; Villard, Eve of '61, 87; Speech at Buffalo, New York, 16 February 1861, CW, 4:220-21.

[Irwin withdraws $10.75 from Springfield Marine Bank. Pratt, Personal Finances, 176.]

President announces that public safety renders it necessary to withhold reasons for arresting members of Maryland Legislature. Henry J. Raymond, The Life and Public Services of Abraham Lincoln . . . Together with his State Papers, including his Speeches, Addresses, Messages, Letters, and Proclamations and the Closing Scenes Connected with his Life and Death (New York: Derby & Miller, 1865), 378.

Lincoln writes Gen. Halleck that Gen. Grant can hold Fort Donelson, Tenn., unless overwhelmed from outside. To prevent this disaster enemy forces from Bowling Green, Ky., could be cut off by having gunboat destroy railroad bridge at Clarksville, Tenn. In the event Nashville is defended by forces from all South, "Could not a cavalry force from Gen. Thomas on the upper Cumberland, dash across, almost unresisted, and cut the Railroad at or near Knoxville, Tenn.?" Abraham Lincoln to Henry W. Halleck, 16 February 1862, CW, 5:135.

President requests secretaries of war and navy to appoint an officer from each department to test incendiary shell and fluid of Alfred Berney, chemist at Jersey City. Abraham Lincoln to Edwin M. Stanton and Gideon Welles, 16 February 1863, CW, 6:107.

Confers with Sec. Welles on sending Asst. Sec. Fox to advise Rear Adm. Samuel F. Du Pont at Charleston. Welles, Diary.

Consults with Rear Adm. Dahlgren about "some inflammable humbug" and plan of attack on Charleston. Bruce, Tools of War, 229.

Inquires of Atty. Gen. Bates if it is lawful for President to return fine of $40 to Nathan Darling, captain of Capitol police. Abraham Lincoln to Edward Bates, 16 February 1863, CW, 6:106-7.

"No matters of much moment at the Cabinet." Welles, Diary.

President forwards to House of Representatives documentation touching arrest of [J. R. Giddings] U.S. consul general to British North American Provinces. Abraham Lincoln to the House of Representatives, 16 February 1864, CW, 7:187-88.

Transmits to Congress information about claim of owners of French ship "La Manche." Abraham Lincoln to the Senate and House of Representatives, 16 February 1864, CW, 7:188.

Receives copy of Gen. Blair's speech on confiscated property through Postmaster Gen. Blair. Blair to Lincoln, 16 February 1864, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

President suspends two death sentences, paroles prisoner of war, issues pass through lines, and recommends an appointment. Abraham Lincoln to Ulysses S. Grant, 16 February 1865, CW, 8:301; Abraham Lincoln to Ulysses S. Grant, 16 February 1865, CW, 8:302; Order Concerning R. H. Baptist, 16 February 1865, CW, 8:302; Pass for Mrs. John F. Slaughter, 16 February 1865, CW, 8:302; Endorsement, 16 February 1865, CW, 8:301.

Writes check to Robert T. Lincoln for $100.00. CW, 8:580.

At 7:00 P.M., President and Mrs. Lincoln, accompanied by their son Robert T. Lincoln, host state dinner for twenty senators whose wives are not in the capital, including Senator Zachariah Chandler (Mich.). Evening Star (Washington, DC), 17 February 1865, 2d ed., 2:1; CW, 8:580.