Amendment to "A Bill for an Act to Increase the Capital Stock of the Bank of Illinois
and to Provide Means to Pay the Interest on a Loan or Loans Authorized by an Act entitled
'An Act to Establish and Maintain a General System of Internal Improvement,'" [28
January-28 February 1839]1
Provided that nothing herein shall be construed to legalize the taking of more than
twelve ^per cent interest^ per annum interest in any case whatever—
<Page 2>
1Abraham Lincoln introduced this amendment, written entirely in his hand, sometime
between January 28 and February 28, 1839, as the House of Representatives deliberated the bill. The House adopted Lincoln’s amendment, but twice refused to engross the bill, the
last time by a vote of 38 yeas to 39 nays, with Lincoln voting yea.
Illinois House Journal. 1838. 11th G. A., 1st sess.,
553-54, 558.
Handwritten Document, 2 page(s), Lincoln Collection, Illinois State Archives (Springfield, IL).