[Illustration:  Stuart and Lincoln’s law office.

From a photograph loaned by Jesse W. Weik.  The law office of Stuart and Lincoln was in the second story of the building occupied at the time the photograph was made by “Tom Dupleaux’s Furniture Store.”  Hoffman’s Row, as this group of buildings was called, was used as a court-house at that date, 1837.  The court-room was in the lower story of the two central buildings.]

If Lincoln did not support measures which he considered doubtful, he did, now and then, “tack a provision” on a bill to please a friend, as the following letter, hitherto unpublished, shows:[3]

    “Springfield, Illinois, August 5, 1837.

    “Dear sir: 

“Mr. Edwards tells me you wish to know whether the act to which your town incorporation provision was attached passed into a law.  It did.  You can organize under the general incorporation law as soon as you choose.

“I also tacked a provision on to a fellow’s bill, to authorize the relocation of the road from Salem down to your town, but I am not certain whether or not the bill passed.  Neither do I suppose I can ascertain before the law will be published—­if it is a law.  Bowling Green, Bennett Abell, and yourself are appointed to make the change.

    “No news.  No excitement, except a little about the election of
    Monday next.  I suppose, of course, our friend Dr. Henry stands
    no chance in your ‘diggings.’

    “Your friend and honorable servant,

    “A.  Lincoln.”

    “John Bennett, Esq.

As was to be expected, the Democrats charged that the Whigs of Sangamon had won their victory by “bargain and corruption.”  These charges became so serious that, in an extra session called in the summer of 1837, a few months after the bill passed, Lincoln had a bitter fight over them with General L.D.  Ewing, who wanted to keep Vandalia as the capital.  “The arrogance of Springfield,” said General Ewing, “its presumption in claiming the seat of government, is not to be endured; the law has been passed by chicanery and trickery; the Springfield delegation has sold out to the internal improvement men, and has promised its support to every measure that would gain a vote to the law removing the seat of government.”

Lincoln answered in a speech of such severity and keenness that the House believed he was “digging his own grave;” for Ewing was a high-spirited man who would not hesitate to answer by a challenge.  It was, in fact, only the interference of their friends which prevented a duel at this time between Ewing and Lincoln.  This speech, to many of Lincoln’s colleagues, was a revelation of his ability and character.  “This was the first time,” said General Linder, “that I began to conceive a very high opinion of the talents and personal courage of Abraham Lincoln.”