They also clash repeatedly over the Dred Scott case, which denied citizenship rights to freed slaves in perpetuity. “Lincoln thinks he knows more of the law than Chief Justice Taney,” says Douglas, or words to that effect. Applause. Laughter. “Lincoln has declared war on the Supreme Court.”

He accuses Lincoln of believing that the Negro is his equal and his brother.

Lincoln pleads not guilty.

. . . anything that argues me into his idea of perfect social and political equality with the negro, is but a specious and fantastic arrangement of words, by which a man can prove a horse chestnut to be a chestnut horse . . . There is a physical difference between the two, which in my judgment will probably forever forbid their living together upon the footing of perfect equality, and inasmuch as it becomes a necessity that there must be a difference, I, as well as Judge Douglas, am in favor of the race to which I belong, having the superior position.

But this he does openly confess to believing:

. . . there is no reason in the world why the negro is not entitled to all the natural rights enumerated in the Declaration of Independence, the right of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

. . . in the right to eat the bread, without leave of anybody else, which his own hand earns, he is my equal and the equal of Judge Douglas, and the equal of every living man.

The debates continue. Douglas has long been known as the Little Giant because he is short, but forceful. Lincoln is now called the Giant-Killer.

More and more people are urging him to declare his candidacy.

In 1859, the likeliest choice for the top of the Republican ticket is William Henry Seward, former governor and also senator of New York. Seward appears to want the presidency desperately. “He will die if he doesn’t get it,” friends say. But he’s considered an extremist on the issue of slavery and any attempt to alleviate those fears alienates the abolitionists. It’s a hard needle to thread.

The second major contender is Edward Bates, a lawyer and politician from Missouri. On the subject of slavery, Bates is conservative. He was once a Know-Nothing, which counts against him, and he has a sort of schoolmarmish air that no one likes. His base of support is solid, but unexcited.

“No man knows, when that presidential grub gets to gnawing at him, just how deep in it will get until he has tried it,” Lincoln says.

—

The Dred Scott decision is now generally agreed to be the worst Supreme Court ruling in all of American history though not for lack of competition.

xiii

As 1859 begins, Edwin is touring. Rosalie and Asia are still in Baltimore, with Asia’s wedding day approaching. Joe is preparing for medical school. John has moved to Richmond, Virginia. He sends Edwin a letter, full of his usual apologies for being such a slow and dismal writer. He finds spelling a particular challenge.