His first case at the bar will never be forgotten by ex-Senator John C.
S. Blackburn, of Kentucky, for Abraham Lincoln played a conspicuous part
in helping the young Kentuckian to win his suit. Lincoln was merely an
attorney, waiting for one of his cases to be called, when the incident
occurred.
Ex-Senator Blackburn was but 20 years old when he began the practice of
law, having graduated at Center College, Danville, Ky. His first case
was in the United States court in Chicago, presided over by Justice John
McLean, then on the circuit, says the Chicago Times-Herald. The opposing
counsel was Isaac N. Arnold, then at the head of the Chicago bar, and
subsequently a member of congress and author of the first biography of
Lincoln. Young Blackburn had filed a demurrer to Mr. Arnold’s pleadings
in the cause, and when the case was reached on the calendar the young
Kentuckian was quite nervous at having such a formidable and experienced
antagonist, while the dignity of the tribunal and the presence of a
large number of eminent lawyers in court served to increase his timidity
and embarrassment. In truth, the stripling barrister was willing to have
any disposition made of the cause, in order to get rid of the burden of
embarrassment and “stage fright.” He was ready to adopt any suggestion
the opposing counsel should make.
Arnold made an argument in which he criticized the demurrer in a manner
that increased the young lawyer’s confusion. However, Blackburn knew that
he had to make some kind of an effort. He proceeded with a few remarks,
weak and bewildering, and was about to sit down when a tall, homely,
loose-jointed man sitting in the bar arose and addressed the court in
behalf of the position the young Kentuckian had assumed in a feeble and
tangled argument, making the points so clear that the court sustained the
demurrer.
Blackburn did not know who his volunteer friend was, and Mr. Arnold got
up and sought to rebuke the latter for attempting to interfere in the
case, which he had nothing to do with. This volunteer was none other than
Abraham Lincoln, and this was the first and last time the Kentuckian
ever saw the “rail-splitting President.” In replying to Mr. Arnold’s
strictures, Mr. Lincoln said he claimed the privilege of giving a young
lawyer a helping hand when struggling with his first case, especially
when he was pitted against an experienced practitioner.