GDG- Little Giant's WWF Premier Appearance

[Dennis Lawrence]

Friday, August 3, 1838.
Springfield, IL.

Campaign of Stuart and Douglas, for Congress, becomes violent. A few days 
before election they debate in Springfield. Douglas uses language offensive 
to Stuart. Latter grabs Douglas and contemptuously carries him. Douglas, 
retaliating, bites Stuart's right thumb.


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Aftermath

Stuart won by a margin of 36 votes out of a total of 36,495 cast. In 
Washington more than a year later, Stuart still feared that Douglas might 
contest the election. Young Mr. Lincoln reported to his friend on the 
political scene back home in Springfield.

Springfield, November 14, 1839
Dear Stuart:

I have been to the Secretary's office within the last hour; and find things 
precisely as you left them - no new arrivals of returns on either side. 
Douglas has not been here since you left. A report is in circulation here 
now, that he has abandoned the idea of going to Washington; though the 
report does not come in a very authentic form, so far as I can learn. 
Though, by the way speaking of authenticity, you know that if we had heard 
Douglas say that he had abandoned the contest, it would not be very 
authentic. There is no news here. Noah, I still think will be elected very 
easily. I am afraid of our race for Representative. Dr. Knapp has become a 
candidate; and I fear the few votes he will get will be taken from us. 
Also, someone has been tampering with old Esquire Wycoff, and induced him 
to send in his name to be announced as a candidate. Francis refused to 
announce him without seeing him, and now I suppose there is to be a fuss 
about it. I have been so busy that I have not seen Mrs. Stuart since you 
left, though I understand she wrote you by today's mail, which will inform 
you more about her than I could. The very moment a speaker is elected write 
me who he is. Your friend as ever

A. Lincoln

Take Care

Dennis