If, by possibility, I could get over among you it might be of
some advantage to know these things in advance.
Yours very truly,
A. LINCOLN.
ARGUMENT IN THE ROCK ISLAND BRIDGE CASE.
(From the Daily Press of Chicago, Sept. 24, 1857.)
Hurd et al. vs Railroad Bridge Co.
United States Circuit Court, Hon. John McLean, Presiding Judge.
13th day, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 1857.
Mr. A. Lincoln addressed the jury. He said he did not purpose to assail
anybody, that he expected to grow earnest as he proceeded but not
ill-natured. "There is some conflict of testimony in the case," he said,
"but one quarter of such a number of witnesses seldom agree, and even if
all were on one side some discrepancy might be expected. We are to try
and reconcile them, and to believe that they are not intentionally
erroneous as long as we can." He had no prejudice, he said, against
steamboats or steamboat men nor any against St. Louis, for he supposed
they went about this matter as other people would do in their situation.
"St. Louis," he continued, "as a commercial place may desire that this
bridge should not stand, as it is adverse to her commerce, diverting a
portion of it from the river; and it may be that she supposes that the
additional cost of railroad transportation upon the productions of Iowa
will force them to go to St.
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