CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN LINCOLN AND DOUGLAS

[The following is the correspondence between the two rival candidates for the United States Senate]

Mr. Lincoln to Mr. Douglas.

Chicago, ill., July 24, 1558. 
Hon.  S. A. Douglas: 

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 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 obedient servant,
A. Lincoln.

Mr. Douglas to Mr. Lincoln.

Bement, Platt Co., Ill., July 30, 1858.

Dear Sir,—­Your letter dated yesterday, accepting my proposition for a joint discussion at one prominent point in each Congressional District, as stated in my previous letter, was received this morning.

The times and places designated are as follows: 

Ottawa, La Salle County August 21st, 1858. 
Freeport, Stephenson County " 27th,
Jonesboro, Union County, September 15th,
Charleston, Coles County " 18th,
Galesburgh, Knox County October 7th,
Quincy, Adams County " 13th,
Alton, Madison County " 15th,

I agree to your suggestion that we shall alternately open and close the discussion.  I will speak at Ottawa one hour, you can reply, occupying an hour and a half, and I will then follow for half an hour.  At Freeport, you shall open the discussion and speak one hour; I will follow for an hour and a half, and you can then reply for half an hour.  We will alternate in like manner in each successive place.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. A. Douglas.

Mr. Lincoln to Mr. Douglas.

Springfield, July 31, 1858. 
Hon.  S. A. Douglas: 

Dear Sir,—­Yours of yesterday, naming places, times, and terms for joint discussions between us, was received this morning.  Although, by the terms, as you propose, you take four openings and closes, to my three, I accede, and thus close the arrangement.  I direct this to you at Hillsborough, and shall try to have both your letter and this appear in the Journal and Register of Monday morning.

Your obedient servant,
A. Lincoln.

FIRST JOINT DEBATE, AT OTTAWA,

AUGUST 21, 1858

Mr. LINCOLN’S reply