Handwritten legal brief, signed “James & Lincoln pg,” one lightly-lined page, 7.5 x 7.5, no date. Legal document “Laben Hicks, for the use of Wright, and James, Adams & c. vs. Daniel M. Bailey.” Lincoln writes, “And the said plaintiff comes, and says precludi non as to the plea of the said defendant by him first above pleaded, because he says the said plea, and the matters & things therein contained, in manner and form as the same are therein stated & set forth are not sufficient in law to bar him of his said action; and this he is ready to verify, wherefore he prays judgement etc.” Accompanied by a typescript from the Lincoln Library in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and originally a part of the Henry E. Luhrs collection. Two horizontal folds, a rough bottom edge, small pencil notation to lower left, and a bit of scattered light edge toning, otherwise fine condition.
Lincoln taught himself the law, as he had educated himself earlier. Like most country lawyers, he represented clients in a variety of civil and criminal actions including debt, slander, divorce, dower and partition, mortgage foreclosure, and murder. After his two-year stint in Congress ended in 1849, he intensified his law practice, presenting cases before the Illinois Supreme Court in the winter and riding the circuit in the summer. This document represents Lincoln’s primary occupation; like many of our country’s heroes, he was drawn into politics somewhat reluctantly due to his firm convictions. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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