To Richard S. Thomas1Jump to section
Dear Sir.--- June 15, 1848.
Herewith I send you a copy of a law, by virtue of which, the inhabitants of fractional Townships, on which there are NO sixteenth sections, or in which those sections are FRACTIONAL, and proportionally TOO SMALL for the remainder of such townships respectively, may have other lands in lieu. It will be seen that the law, by its letter, applies to cases where there is NO school land, but, by construction here, it is applied to cases where there is TOO LITTLE. In cases where there is, and only have enough in addition, to make their proportion. As I was ignorant of this law when I came on here, I suppose that some others may be; and therefore, in order that all persons interested may know the law, and the way to avail themselves of its benefits, I propose that you give this letter, the law, and Judge Young's letter, and note, a start for publication in the papers of our region. Yours Truly, A. LINCOLN.
Annotation
[1] Beardstown Gazette, July 12, 1848. Thomas submitted this letter to the Gazette in the hope that ``. . . it may prove beneficial to the cause of popular education.'' The law is also printed in the Gazette. For other correspondence concerning school lands, see Lincoln to Thomas, March 30 and June 13, 1848 (supra).