Rawalt of Fulton reports from Finance Committee resolution on purchase of public lands by state, and asks to be discharged. This is agreed to, but later Lincoln asks reconsideration, which is granted. Senate reports bill appropriating funds for completion and furnishing state house at Springfield.House Journal.

Lincoln serves for first time as chairman of Committee of the Whole. Discussion is held on adverse report of Internal Improvement committee on incorporating Albion and Graysville Railroad Co. When speaker resumes chair, Lincoln reports progress on bill and asks leave to sit again, which is granted.House Journal.

[Lincoln's name is not mentioned in proceedings.House Journal.]

Lincoln votes with majority to pass bill incorporating Danville. He moves House adopt rule that "no bill shall be referred or amended after its engrossment for the third reading, without the consent of two-thirds of the members present." Motion is lost. [Similar motion he made December 11, 1834 was disapproved.]House Journal.

Lincoln proposes two rules which are adopted: "(1) No bill shall be committed or amended on the question of its passage, except by the consent of two thirds of all the members present," and "(2) When any petition, remonstrance or claim is presented by a member and such member may not deesire its reading, he may make the motion to dispense with its reading and ask its reference at the time of presentation—and the chair may consider the motion as agreed to, unless some member should object and so state to the House." He makes brief remarks about fugitive slave resolutions, and moves indefinite postponement of "the subject."House Journal; Additional Rules Adopted by the House of Representatives of Illinois, [5 January 1839], CW, 1:125; Remarks in Illinois Legislature Concerning Resolutions in Relation to Fugitive Slaves, 5 January 1839, CW, 1:126.

[A newspaper reports that Colonel Lehmanowsky of Poland, purportedly a former officer in Napoleon's army, delivers an "original, ingenious, and eloquent" sermon in the Presbyterian Church in Vandalia. The report adds that Colonel Lehmanowsky "is to deliver a series of lectures on the history of Napoleon Bonaparte." Lincoln was in Vandalia and may have attended. The Alton Telegraph (IL), 19 January 1839, 2:4.

]

On Lincoln's motion, House resolves itself into Committee of the Whole, on bill appropriating $128,300 to complete state house. Friends of Vandalia, led by Ewing and Hankins of Fayette and Ficklin of Coles, attempt to defeat bill. Lincoln leads fight for Springfield.House Journal.

House meets briefly. Lincoln's motion to adjourn fails, but few minutes later they adjourn. Democrats invite "the true friends of the late and present administration" to Ferguson's Tavern to celebration in honor of Jackson's victory at New Orleans. Whigs invite "everyone" to House to hear E. D. Baker.House Journal.

Hankins of Fayette proposes to appoint commissioners to locate new capital but is voted down 61 to 23. Proposal by Green of Clay to submit appropriation of $128,300 for state house to public vote is turned down 63 to 23; appropriation bill is ordered to third reading.House Journal.

Late in afternoon Lincoln moves to postpone order of day, and take up Senate bill appropriating $128,300 for state house at Springfield. His motion is lost and House adjourns.House Journal.

Lincoln reports, from select committee, bill repealing all laws in relation to state road leading from William Crow's in Morgan County to Musick's bridge in Sangamon County. Lincoln's fight to hold capital in Springfield succeeds when House approves, 56 to 26, appropriation bill.House Journal.

Lincoln presents remonstrance of Sangamon County citizens against division into four parts. On his motion it is referred to Committee on Counties of which he is member.House Journal.

Party conflict over public printer ends with election of Democrat, William Walters, 65 to 63. Levi Davis and John D. Whiteside are re-elected auditor and treasurer, respectively. Lincoln votes for Whiteside. He votes for G. W. Olney for attorney general, but W. Kitchell is elected.House Journal.

[Lincoln's name does not appear in proceedings. Penitentiary Committee recommends construction of new prison. Larger shops should be built, library and hospital added, and warden's salary raised.House Journal.]

Lincoln writes bill establishing counties of Menard, Logan, and Dane. It is read twice and referred to committee of Calhoun of Sangamon, Thornton of Shelby, Fish of Montgomery, Roman of St. Clair, and Lincoln.Photocopy.

Bill amending election laws is debated, with Lincoln, Baker, and Hardin demanding more care in counting votes.House Journal.

Lincoln reports from Finance Committee plan to pay for internal improvements. Federal government should sell to state 20,000,000 acres of public lands at 25¢ an acre. State would borrow money to buy land and resell it at $1.25 an acre. Report is tabled. Lincoln enters debate on "partiality" in federal government's handling of tax money collected in Illinois.House Journal; Photocopy; Remarks in Illinois Legislature Concerning Resolutions in Relation to Purchase of Public Lands, 17 January 1839, CW, 1:132-34.

John Calhoun reports from select committee, of which Lincoln is member, bill to establish counties of Menard, Logan, and Dane. Lincoln adds two amendments and bill is ordered engrossed for third reading. Bill making school commissioners elective passes 54 to 17. Lincoln and Baker vote nay.House Journal.

[Lincoln's name does not appear in proceedings. Dawson presents "petition and remonstrance of sundry citizens of Sangamon County, praying the establishment of the county of Dane, and against a division of Sangamon County into four equal parts." On Dawson's motion petition is tabled. House Journal.]

Act to prevent circulation of bank notes of smaller denomination than $5 passes House 63 to 20. Lincoln has steadily opposed measure and is only Sangamon representative to vote nay. He votes yea on bill incorporating Graysville and Albion Railroad Co.House Journal.

House fights over resolutions concerning independent treasury and recharter of national bank. By slight majority Whigs condemn both as "injudicious, inexpedient and unwise." Lincoln and others call for various divisions of resolutions and amendments to get votes on record.House Journal.

Several members wishing to change vote on resolutions of yesterday, House considers requesting Senate to return resolutions. Motion is lost 51 to 38, Lincoln and other Sangamon Whigs voting nay. He votes yea on bill incorporating Charleston Marine and Fire Insurance Co.House Journal.

House discusses constitutional right of W. G. Flood of Adams to hold his seat and also serve as register of Quincy Land Office. Lincoln says he will vote against referring to Judiciary Committee, and for tabling until near end of session.Alton Telegraph, 2 February 1839; Quincy Whig, 9 February 1839.

House adopts four resolutions by large majorities requesting Federal government to deposit money collected in state in banks of state. [Money collected in Illinois was deposited in St. Louis.] Lincoln votes yea on each ballot.House Journal.

Lincoln calls up resolutions tabled on 17th concerning purchase of 20,000,000 acres of public land. On motion of Baker of Sangamon, resolutions are referred to select committee of Lincoln, Johnson of Bond, Thornton of Shelby, Crain of Washington, and Elkin of Sangamon.House Journal.

House adopts resolution authorizing joint committee to investigate whether state bank is engaging in lead trade at Galena, or trading in salt pork at Alton or elsewhere, and what amounts are owed bank by its directors. Lincoln votes nay, but resolution is adopted 68 to 13.House Journal.

Lincoln writes and sends to Springfield return on summons in Rhoda Hart v. Jefferson Hart et al.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln writes, for E. D. Baker, letter to William Butler, who has complained about Sangamon County division, and writes one of his own to Butler, denying that Sangamon delegation has been "bought up."Letter Written for Edward D. Baker to William Butler, 26 January 1839, CW, 1:138-39; Abraham Lincoln to William Butler, 26 January 1839, CW, 1:139-40.

House, Lincoln voting yea, concurs with Senate on inexpediency of legislature acting on resolutions which merely involve national politics. House Journal.

Lincoln reports from Committee on Finance, without amendment, "act to regulate the interest on Auditor's warrants," and recommends its passage. He votes with majority to turn down amendment intended to exempt warrants for building state house. He is appointed to represent Sangamon on committee to arrange time of holding circuit courts.House Journal.

He writes to William Butler asking details of Butler's claim for bank fees, and relating how Whigs defeated Democrats in fight over "Anti-Sub-Treasury resolutions."Abraham Lincoln to William Butler, 31 January 1839, CW, 1:140-41.