Abraham Lincoln to William Butler, 31 January 18391
Vandalia, Jany 31th 1839Friend Butler:I have just time before the bearer of this starts, to say that I want you to send
me the amount of your claim for old State Bank fees— I can not find the old bill that Stone introduced—2
You have heard before this, that we have passed Anti-Sub-Treasury resolutions thro[through], both Houses— Yesterday the Loco Focos, took it into their heads that they would contend that senate had amended the resolutions, and then the House had a right to try the whole question over again— We commenced the fight at 9. A.M
and kept it up most fiercely till after candlelight, when on taking the final vote,
we beat them again 46 to 43—3
Lincoln.<Page 2>
Wm ButlerSpringfieldIllinois1Abraham Lincoln wrote the body of the letter, his signature, and the address. William
Butler penned the docketing.
2It is not clear to which bill Lincoln is referring. Daniel Stone did not introduce any bills in the first session of the
Eleventh General Assembly. This could be a reference to the clerk fee bill which Lincoln introduced in the House of Representatives on February 6, which he hoped Stone would help him get passed.
3The House of Representatives spent the entire session on January 30 debating the resolutions, which were directed at Martin Van Buren’s Independent Treasury System.
Illinois House Journal. 1838. 11th G. A., 1st sess.,
310-12.
Autograph Letter Signed, 2 page(s), Lincoln Collection, Chicago Historical Society (Chicago, IL).