To T. J. Henderson of Stark County, who had written Lincoln that he was not committed, and would vote to prevent slavery extension, Lincoln writes careful letter. "We shall have a terrible struggle with our adversaries. They are desperate, and bent on desperate deeds." With letter he sends copy of his Peoria speech. "You may have seen it before; or you may not think it worth seeing now." Abraham Lincoln to Thomas J. Henderson, 15 December 1854, CW, 2:293-94.

To Leonard Swett of Bloomington Lincoln writes: "I can not learn of a single copy of the Revised Code being here for sale. Sorry; but it seems to be so. Does the Rev. John S. Barger occassi[o]nally cross your path?" Abraham Lincoln to Leonard Swett, 17 December 1854, CW, 2:294.

In the U.S. Circuit Court Lincoln & Herndon file declaration in Collins et al. v. Cook. Plaintiffs ask damages of $1,000 for failure of defendant to pay two promissory notes of $596.23 and $132.27. Record.

Lincoln writes an opinion concerning the welfare of eighteen-year-old Irish immigrant John Fitzgerald. Shortly after arriving in Springfield, Fitzgerald "fell sick, and became a public charge." Someone asked Lincoln to determine which governmental entity—the City of Springfield or Sangamon County—should "bear the charge." After studying the "new city charter," Lincoln concludes, "I think the Legislature intended that all public charges, arising from the indigence of persons, resident within the City, were to be borne by the City—and not by the County." Opinion, 18 December 1854, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL; Opinion Concerning John Fitzgerald, 18 December 1854, CW, 2:294-95.

In third letter to Washburne, Lincoln tries to overcome objection which one of Washburne's friends—evidently T. J. Turner, Representative-elect from Stephenson County—has offered to his candidacy. Turner has questioned whether Lincoln would be "impartial representative" of whole state. Lincoln answers that he is mortified "that any one should suspect me of an inclination to the contrary." Abraham Lincoln to Elihu B. Washburne, 19 December 1854, CW, 2:295.

Lincoln and Logan lose ejectment case, Morrison v. Briggs, in U.S. Circuit Court. Jury finds for plaintiff, orders that defendant restore property and pay damages of one cent. Record.

Lincoln is concerned with another ejectment case in U.S. Circuit Court, Taylor v. Humphries. In association with Taylor he files declaration, notice, affidavit of service, and bond for costs. In declaration plaintiff alleges that defendant, citizen of Kentucky, has withheld his land and damages him to extent of $5,000. Record.

Special election is held to choose Lincoln's successor to legislature. Of 491 voters Lincoln is 38th to appear. Whig candidate, N. M. Broadwell, is defeated. Election Returns.