ablish himself at Springfield, opened an office there, and
for the next twenty years, practised law with considerable success,
riding from one court to another, and gradually extending his circle of
acquaintances. He even became prosperous enough to marry, and in 1842,
after a courtship of the most peculiar description, married a Miss Mary
Todd--a young woman somewhat above him in social station, and possessed
of a sharp tongue and uncertain temper which often tried him severely.

It was inevitable, of course, that he should become interested again in
politics, and he threw in his fortunes with the Whig Party, serving two
or three terms in the state legislature and one in Congress. All of this
did much to temper and chasten his native coarseness and uncouthness,
but he was still just an average lawyer and politician, with no evidence
of greatness about him, and many evidences of commonness. Then,
suddenly, in 1858, he stood forth as a national figure, in a contest
with one of the most noteworthy men in public life, Stephen A. Douglas.

Douglas was an aggressive, tireless and brilliant political leader, the
acknowledged head of the Democratic party, and had represented Illinois
in the Senate for many years. He had a great ambition to be President,
had missed the nomination in 1852 and 1856, but was determined to secure
it in 1860, and was carefully building to that end. His term as senator
expired in 1858, and his re-election seemed essential to his success. Of
his re-election he had no doubt, for Illinois had always been a
Democratic state, though it was becoming somewhat divided in opinion.
The southern part was largely pro-slavery, but the northern part,
including the rapidly-growing city of Chicago, was inclined the other
way. This division of opinion made Douglas's part an increasingly
difficult one, for pro-slave and anti-slave sentiment were as
irreconcilable as fire and water.

Lincoln, meanwhile, had been active in the formation of the new
Republican party in the state, had made a number of strong speeches,
and, on June 16, 1858, the Republican convention resolved that: "Hon.
Abraham Lincoln is our first and only choice for United States senator
to fill the vacancy about to be created by the expiration of Mr.
Douglas's term of office." A month later, Lincoln challenged Douglas to
a series of joint debates. Douglas at once accepted, never doubting his
ability to overwhelm his obscure opponent, and the famous due