Tuesday, December 12, 2006
The Challenge Letter
The Republicans nominated Lincoln to run against Douglas on June 16, 1858. Little FYI nugget: that is when Lincoln delivered his famous “house divided” speech, but more on that later. At that time, Stephen A. Douglas was very well known and had a lot more money than Lincoln to campaign with. As a solution to that problem, Lincoln followed Douglas around the state. Douglas would make a speech and Lincoln would respond with a speech of his own in the same town. Sometimes he responded the same day, sometimes the next day. Lincoln and his assistant, Norman Judd, concluded that this approach was not working well. So they decided to challenge Douglas to debates in order to get more exposure. Well, it worked. Boy did it work. This is the first letter that Lincoln sent to Douglas.
Chicago Ills. July 24, 1858
My Dear Sir
Will it be agreeable to you to make an arrangement for you and myself to divide time and address the same audiences during the present canvass? Mr. Judd who will hand you this is authorized to receive your answer; and if agreeable to you to enter into the terms of such arrangement.
Your Obt. Servt
A. Lincoln
