Description:

Abraham Lincoln
Springfield, IL, January 29, 1858
Abraham Lincoln PSA GEM MT 10 ALS, Pro Bono "I charge nothing for this," Advising Fellow IL Attorney on Case
ALS

ABRAHAM LINCOLN, Autograph Letter Signed, to John Olney, January 29, 1858, Springfield, IL. 1 p. Encapsulated and PSA/DNA certified and graded GEM MT 10. Expected folds; scattered soiling and stains; laid down on Japanese tissue. The sight size of the document is 8" x 9.5" while the slab measures 9.625" x 13.25" x .25."

In this letter to fellow attorney John Olney of Shawneetown, Abraham Lincoln advises him that he probably does not have a viable case against Daniel Doup of Louisville, Kentucky, regarding land titles in Gallatin County, along the Ohio River, in southeastern Illinois. Lincoln also conferred with his former law partner, Judge Stephen T. Logan, who agreed that the case was doubtful. Lincoln would soon be representing Doup in a case against his Illinois partners.

Although deeply enmeshed in legal matters early in 1858, Lincoln would soon largely put his law practice on hold as he sought to unseat Senator Stephen A. Douglas. In June 1858, Lincoln accepted the fledgling Illinois Republican Party's nomination as candidate with his famed "House Divided" speech at the state capitol in Springfield. Both candidates made speeches in Chicago, Springfield, and other locales before agreeing in late July to a series of seven debates in the remaining Congressional districts. Those debates occurred between August 21 and October 15 and brought into sharp focus the nation's disagreements over the extension of slavery into the western territories. Although Lincoln's supporters won the popular vote within the state by a margin of more than 24,000, Democrats carried more seats in the Illinois General Assembly, which elected the Senators. The legislature re-elected Douglas by a vote of 54 to 46. Despite the loss, the campaign, and especially the debates, raised Lincoln's national profile and made him a viable candidate for the Republican nomination for President in 1860.

Complete Transcript
Springfield, Jany 29, 1858
John Olney, Esq.
My dear Sir:
I have had your case under consideration for two days; and I really fear you can not maintain the suit. Doup has the legal title, and who but the State, can question it? If Galatin County has the right to question it by suit, can it do so without making the State a party? and how can you make the State a party?
The case, depending upon new and peculiar statutes, I can not give an opinion with entire confidence. It may not be worth the trial, after all. I submitted the case to Logan, and his off-hand opinion is that you can not maintain it.
Can you not make the question on Ejectment as well as otherwise? Prove your title, and when they present theirs prove that it was obtained in fraud of the law.
Sorry I can not write a more encouraging letter. I charge nothing for this.
Yours very truly
A. Lincoln

Historical Background
In December 1856, Doup had partnered with attorney Ninian E. Primm (1839-1857) and Samuel C. Gibson, both of Sangamon County, Illinois, to buy land in Illinois. With $1,360 provided by Doup and another $1,360 provided by Primm and Gibson together, they purchased 1,000 acres of land in Gallatin and Pulaski counties in southern Illinois. In a separate agreement, Doup supplied $4,324 and bought 1,500 acres in Vermilion, McLean, Iroquois, and Kankakee counties in east-central Illinois. The three partners agreed to divide taxes and profits proportionally to their respective interests. Primm died in September 1857, and Doup purchased Gibson's interest in March 1858. Doup also claimed that he had advanced Primm $1,387 to buy land, but no one could account for the money. Doup retained Abraham Lincoln and William H. Herndon and sued Gibson and Primm's heirs. Doup asked the court to sell the land and to give him $1,387 from Primm's proceeds. Primm's adult heirs failed to appear, and the court ruled for Doup.

In January 1861, Olney wrote to Lincoln asking to be appointed District Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. Lincoln appointed fellow attorney Lawrence Weldon to the position instead of Olney.


John Olney (1822-1900) was born in Shawneetown, Illinois, and studied law with local attorney Samuel D. Marshall. When he was licensed to practice law in 1844, he joined Marshall as a partner. By 1858, he was a partner in the law firm of Olney & McAtee in Shawneetown and was active in Republican politics. He enlisted in the Union Army and served as lieutenant colonel of the 6th Illinois Cavalry until he was discharged in 1863. In 1867, he became a judge for the 19th Illinois Circuit Court.

Daniel Doup (1796-1872) was born in Maryland and served in the Maryland militia during the War of 1812. After the war, he moved to Kentucky, where he was a slaveowner and land speculator. He had extensive landholdings in Illinois.

Provenance:
Previously sold Christie's, December 8, 1989, lot 46
Louise Taper, Beverly Hills, California
Property from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Foundation

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: slabbed: 9.625" x 13.25" x .25"
  • Medium: ALS

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