December 4, 1840
       In the House of Representatives, Illinois, December 4, 1840, on presentation of a report respecting petition of H. N. Purple, claiming the seat of Mr. Phelps from Peoria, Mr. Lincoln moved that the House resolve itself into Committee of the Whole on the question, and take it up immediately. Mr. Lincoln considered the question of the highest importance whether an individual had a right to sit in this House or not. The course he should propose would be to take up the evidence and decide upon the facts seriatim.
       Mr. Drummond wanted time; they could not decide in the heat of debate, etc.
       Mr. Lincoln thought that the question had better be gone into now. In courts of law jurors were required to decide on evidence, without previous study or examination. They were required to know nothing of the subject until the evidence was laid before them for their immediate decision. He thought that the heat of party would be augmented by delay.
       The Speaker called Mr. Lincoln to order as being irrelevant; no mention had been made of party heat.
       Mr. Drummond said he had only spoken of debate. Mr. Lincoln asked what caused the heat, if it was not party? Mr. Lincoln concluded by urging that the question would be decided now better than hereafter, and he thought with less heat and excitement.
       (Further debate, in which Lincoln participated.)

Introductory
Introductory Note
Abraham Lincoln: An Essay by Carl Shurz
Abraham Lincoln, by Joseph H. Choate
Address to the People of Sangamon County.
To E. C. Blankenship.
Response to Request for Postage Receipt
Announcement of Political Views.
Response to Political Smear
To Miss Mary Owens.
Speech in Illinois Legislature.
Opposition to Mob-Rule. Address Before the Young Men's Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois.
Protest in the Illinois Legislature on the Subject of Slavery.
To Miss Mary Owens.
To John Bennett.
To Mary Owens.
Legal Suit of Widow v.s. Gen. Adams
Lincoln and Talbott in Reply to Gen. Adams.
Gen. Adams Controversy--continued
To Mrs. O. H. Browning--A Farce
Remarks on Sale of Public Lands
To _________ Row.
Speech on National Bank
To John T. Stuart.
Circular From Whig Committee.
To John T. Stuart.
Resolution in the Illinois Legislature.
Resolution in the Illinois Legislature.
Remarks in the Illinois Legislature.
Remarks in the Illinois Legislature.
To John T. Stuart--On Depression
Remarks in the Illinois Legislature.
Circular From Whig Committee.
Extract From a Protest in the Illinois Legislature Against the Reorganization of the Judiciary.
To Joshua F. Speed--Murder Case
Statement About Harry Wilton.
To Miss Mary Speed--Practical Slavery
To Joshua F. Speed--On Marriage
To Joshua F. Speed.
To Joshua F. Speed--On Depression
To G. B. Sheledy.
To George E. Pickett--Advice to Youth
Address Before the Springfield Washingtonian Temperance Society, February 22, 1842.
To Joshua F. Speed.
To Joshua F. Speed--On Marriage Concerns
To Joshua F. Speed.
To Joshua F. Speed.
A Letter From the Lost Townships
Lost Townships
Invitation to Henry Clay.
Correspondence About the Lincoln-Shields Duel.
To J. Shields.
To A. Lincoln From Jas. Shields
Memorandum of Instructions to E. H. Merryman, Lincoln's Second,
To Joshua F. Speed.
To James S. Irwin.
Resolutions at a Whig Meeting at Springfield, Illinois, March 1, 1843.
Circular From Whig Committee.
To John Bennett.
To Joshua F. Speed.
To Martin M. Morris.
To Martin M. Morris.
To Gen. J. J. Hardin.