GDG- Untrammeled by the laws of this State

[Dennis Lawrence]

Tuesday, October 4, 1842.
Springfield, IL.
	

Gen. Whiteside sends quasi-challenge to Dr. Merryman to meet him at 
Planters House, St. Louis, Friday. Merryman appoints Lincoln his second. 
Lincoln acts as messenger. Affairs resolves itself into quibbles about 
notes. High excitement prevails in Springfield
 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
October [4], 1842

Upon presenting this note [2] to Gen. Whiteside, and stating verbally that 
it was an agreement to meet him at the time he mentioned, at Louisiana, 
Missouri, he replied:---

``Lincoln, I can not accept any thing from him now. I have business at St. 
Louis: and it is as near as Louisiana.''

A. LINCOLN.

Dr. Merryman requests me, as he understands you are going away, to give you 
notice, that he will publish the correspondence which has passed between 
you and him, with such comments as he shall think proper.

Upon making the above statement verbally to Gen. Whiteside, he 
replied:---``I am going away when it suits my convenience; but I expect Dr. 
Merryman, as an honorable man, to meet me at St. Louis. We then shall be 
untrammeled by the laws of this State.''

A. LINCOLN.
Annotation


[2]   The final note of several exchanged between six A.M. and seven P.M. 
on October 4. Lincoln was now acting as ``friend'' of Dr. Merryman, with 
about as much success as Merryman had had when their roles were reversed. 
The note denied Whiteside's ``right to name time and place'' and specified 
Louisiana, Missouri, ``on Friday next.'' Whiteside refused to receive the 
note and Lincoln's first statement covers what passed between them 
verbally. Lincoln's second statement covers the verbal message which 
Merryman then requested him to deliver to Whiteside. Being unable to agree 
upon a meeting place, Whiteside and Merryman did not consummate their 
reluctant desires.