Meantime Lincoln, addressing a Republican audience, was relating his recent experiences in the enemy’s camp.  Believing that he had discovered the line of attack, he sought to fortify his position.  He did not contemplate the abolition of State legislatures, nor any such radical policy, any more than the fathers of the Republic did, when they sought to check the spread of slavery by prohibiting it in the Territories.[701] He did not propose to resist the Dred Scott decision except as a rule of political action.[702] Here in Sangamon County, he was somewhat less insistent upon negro equality.  The negro was not the equal of the white man in all respects, to be sure; “still, in the right to put into his mouth the bread that his own hands have earned, he is the equal of every other man, white or black."[703]

As matters stood, Douglas had the advantage of Lincoln, since with his national prominence and his great popularity, he was always sure of an audience, and could reply as he chose to the attacks of his antagonist.  Lincoln felt that he must come to close terms with Douglas and extort from him admissions which would discredit him with Republicans.  With this end in view, Lincoln suggested that they “divide time, and address the same audiences the present canvass."[704] It was obviously to Douglas’s interest to continue the campaign as he had begun.  He had already mapped out an extensive itinerary.  He therefore replied that he could not agree to such an arrangement, owing to appointments already made and to the possibility of a third candidate with whom Lincoln might make common cause.  He intimated, rather unfairly, that Lincoln had purposely waited until he was already bound by his appointments.  However, he would accede to the proposal so far as to meet Lincoln in a joint discussion in each congressional district except the second and sixth, in which both had already spoken.[705]

It was not such a letter as one would expect from a generous opponent.  But politics was no pastime to the writer.  He was sparring now in deadly earnest, for every advantage.  Not unnaturally Lincoln resented the imputation of unfairness; but he agreed to the proposal of seven joint debates.  Douglas then named the times and places; and Lincoln agreed to the terms, rather grudgingly, for he would have but three openings and closings to Douglas’s four.[706] Still, as he had followed Douglas in Chicago, he had no reason to complain.

The next three months may be regarded as a prolonged debate, accentuated by the seven joint discussions.  The rival candidates traversed much the same territory, and addressed much the same audiences on successive days.  At times, chance made them fellow-passengers on the same train or steamboat.  Douglas had already begun his itinerary, when Lincoln’s last note reached him in Piatt County.[707] He had just spoken at Clinton, in De Witt County, and again he had found Lincoln in the audience.