THE FIRST LEGISLATION SPONSORED BY ABRAHAM LINCOLN THAT PASSED INTO LAW, 1835
(LINCOLN, Abraham) (ILLINOIS NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY). An Act to Provide for Building a Toll Bridge across the Little Calimic; pp. 85-87. IN: Laws of the State of Illinois. Vandalia: J.Y. Sawyer, 1835-36. Octavo, 20th-century library buckram, red morocco spine label. $750.
First edition of the collection of Illinois State law from 1834-35 that includes the first legislation sponsored by Abraham Lincoln that was passed into law.
"On August 4, 1834, New Salem surveyor Abraham Lincoln was one of four men elected to a two-year term as a state representative from Sangamon County. In this, his second attempt to serve the General Assembly, Lincoln came in second in a field of thirteen candidates. The state's Ninth General Assembly session began on December 1, 1834. On December 15, Lincoln introduced legislation to authorize Samuel Musick to build a toll bridge across Salt Creek in northern Sangamon County… The bill became the first legislation sponsored by Lincoln that was passed into law… Lincoln's bill stated that Musick or his heirs or assignees had one year to finish the project and that no other bridge could compete with his for a mile up or down the stream. The county would set the tolls and Musick had to keep the bridge in good repair or lose his franchise. He also could not interfere with the river traffic in any way. This toll bridge was probably completed because bills were introduced in the next few years to have a state road linked to 'Musick's bridge at Salt Creek.' Throughout his political career, Lincoln was a great proponent of improving transportation systems and supported the use of rivers and later railroads in the movement of goods and people. On July 1, 1862, President Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway Act in order to create a rail system that would span the entire country" (Illinois State Archives). Ex-library Social Law Library of Boston, with its bookplate.
Minor dampstaining and foxing to text, library binding near-fine.