Abraham Lincoln to Samuel Galloway with directions for publishing the Lincoln-Douglas debates - American History 1493-1945 - Adam Matthew Digital

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Field name	Value
Collection Reference Number	GLC00365
From Archive Folder	Documents Relating to 1859
Title	Abraham Lincoln to Samuel Galloway with directions for publishing the Lincoln-Douglas debates
Date	19 December 1859
Author	Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865)
Recipient	Galloway, Samuel
Document Type	Correspondence
Content Description	With two postscripts, one initialed. Headed "Private." Introducing John "George" Nicolay (later Lincoln's personal secretary) and describing how he wants the Lincoln-Douglas debates published. In the 1860 presidential election, the debates served as an essential statement of Republican Party principles, especially on the issue of slavery being extended into the territories. Given the importance of the debates, it is unsurprising that Lincoln emphasizes the importance of fidelity to the original speeches: "As they stand there, is precisely the shape I would prefer the publication to be made in…. [….] …Mr. Nicolay will furnish you another double set of the joint debates, so that Douglas' speeches can be taken from the paper friendly to him, and mine from that friendly to me. Of course I wish the whole to be accurately done; but especially let there be no color of complaint, that a word, or letter, in Douglas' speeches, has been changed." In fact, Lincoln printed the debates over Douglas's objections. Samuel Galloway, an attorney at Columbus, Ohio, helped get the Lincoln-Douglas Debates printed. Lincoln served as counsel to Galloway, who was also an early promoter of him for president. See Basler, Roy P. The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, (New Brunswick, NJ and London: Rutgers University Press, 1974), Vol. X 1832 - 1865, p. 47 - 48.
Subjects	Election Printing Book Selling Politics President Government and Civics Republican Party Journalism
People	Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865)
Place written	Springfield, Illinois
Theme	The Presidency; Government & Politics; Arts & Literature
Sub-collection	The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859
Additional Information	Notes: Basler 10: 47-48, prints a slightly different version based upon a copy in the Ohio State Historical Society, Galloway Papers. The Ohio copy joins the four paragraphs in the body of Lincoln's letter, combines some sentences and changes some words without many changes to meaning. Substantive variations appear below. He is a printer I believe-certainly.... \| Basler: believe & certainly. You perceive the copies, in one of the shapes.... \| Basler: You will perceive... in all of the shapes. ...in a scrap book. As they stand there, is precisely the shape... \| Basler: in a scrapbook, as they stood there, precisely in the shape.... Allow me to add that I esteem...; and to assure you, and the other kind friends.... \| Basler: and to assure to the other kind friends. Still, I think it would be indelicate in me to cause a publication of the correspondence. \| Basler: publish the. ...the copies of the Columbus & Cincinnati speeches, which I send, are as corrected by myself. \| Basler: are a correction by me.
Copyright	The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module	Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
Transcript	Show/hide Private Springfield, Ills. Dec. 19.1859 Hon: Saml Galloway: This will introduce my friend Mr. [John] George Nicolay, who will deliver to you the copies of debates you desire. As they cost a good deal of trouble to get them together, some of us here concluded to send them by him, at our own expense, rather than risk their loss, by any public conveyance. He is a printer I believe-certainly has conducted a newspaper-and can give something of my views, a little more in detail than I could write them; and also some mechanical assistance in getting the thing started. He will remain a few days, at our expence, for that purpose. You perceive the copies, in one of the shapes sent, are in a scrap-book. As they stand there, is precisely the shape I would prefer the publication to be made in; but as that includes, with the joint debates, six previously made speeches, and the correspondence which led to the joint debates, it may make a larger job than you wish to undertake. These six speeches however, are so frequently referred to in the joint debates, as to make them a very proper, if not indispensible, accompaniment. If, however, you publish the joint debates only, then it is my wish to preserve the Scrap-book unbroken; and for that contingency, [2] Mr Nicolay will furnish you another double set of the joint debates, so that Douglas' speeches can be taken from the paper friendly to him, and mine from that friendly to me. Of course I wish the whole to be accurately done; but especially let [struck: them] there be no color of complaint, that a word, or letter, in Douglas' speeches, has been changed. Allow me to add that I esteem the compliment [struck: you pay] [inserted: paid] me in this matter, as the very highest I have ever received; and to assure you, and the other kind friends that [strikeout] [inserted: it] shall ever be held in grateful remembrance. Still, I think it would be indelicate in me to cause a publication of the correspondence. You can do that if you choose. Yours very truly A. Lincoln P.S. I forgot to say in the proper place, that the copies of the Columbus & Cincinnati speeches, which I send, are as corrected by myself. AL P.S. Mr. Nicolay is a good Republican, and a good man; and worthy of any confidence which may be bestowed upon him-

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