The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-12-18


demanded should be rendered. Mr..
Lincoln promptly responded, and named
DIR. Merriman as his friend.
Further proceedings were, however,
adjourned to Springfield but the fact
that hostile meeting between the two
parties was imminent soon became
known, and in order to avoid arrest Mr..
Lincoln suddenly retired to Jackson
vile, leaving with Mr.. Butler the fol-
lowing instructions for his "friend, u
Dr. Merriman, who was conducting the
affair in his behalf
MIR. LINCoLN's RULES FOR THE FIGHT
In case Gen. Whitesides Shields
secondD shall signify wish to settle
this affair without further difficulty, let
him know that if the papers already
passed be withdrawn, and a note pre-
sented from Gen. Shields asking if
am the author of the articles of which
he complains, and asking that / shall
make him gel-tlemanly satisfaction, and
that without menace or dictation as to
what that satisfaction shall be, you can
assure him that the following answer
shall be given:
"I did write the "Lost Township -
letter which appeared in the Journal of
the I'd instant, but had no participation
in any form in any other article allud-
ing to you. l had no intention of in
iuring your personal or private charac.
ter or standing as a man or gentle
man and | did not then think, and l
do not now think, that the article could
produce, or has produced, that effect
against you; and had i anticipated
such an effect, l should have forborne
| TO write it.
"Such is the tenor of the apology l
am willing to make, providing all former
demands are withdrawn. If no arrange
ment is arrived at, the preliminaries of
the fight are to be:
"1. Weapons-Cavalry broadswords
of the largest size, precisely equal in
ali respects, and such as are now used
by the cavalry company at Jackson
ville
go. Position-A plank ten feet long
and from nine to twelve inches broad,
to be firmly fixed on edge on the ground
as the line between us, which neither is
to pass his foot over on forfeit of his
life. Next. line drawn on the ground
on either side of said plank and parallel
with it, each at the distance of the
length of the sword and three feet ad-
ditional from the plank, and the retreat
ing of his own accord over such line, by
either party, during the fight, shall be
deemed surrender of the contest.
"3. Time-On Thursday evening, at
5 o'clock, if agreeable; but in no case to
be deferred longer than Friday evening,
at ) o'clock.
"a. Place-Within three miles of Al
ton, on the opposite side Of the river,
the particular spot to be agreed on by
you. Any details coming within the
foregoing rules You are at liberty to
make at your discretion, but you in no
case to swerve from these rules or pass
beyond the limits.
"ABRAHAM LINCOLN"
DIR. Merriman read these instructions
to Gen. Whitesides, who, in the absence
of his principal, declined to discuss the
terms of settlement until they should
meet in Missouri.
All parties now left for Alton. Lin
coins friends met him at Jacksonville,
where the weapons were procured, and
surgeon-Dr. A. II. Bledsoe- added
to the party. When Shields and his
party arrived, all crossed into Missouri,
and the work of laying off the ground
commenced.
Fortunately, at this iuncture, Colonel
j. j. Hardin and DIR. r. W. English,
warm personal friends of both parties,
arrived ON the scene, having come all
the way from Springfield with the sole
purpose of bringing about an accommo-
dation and Immediately presented the
following proposition
ALTON, Sept. %, 1s42.
Messrs. Wh.tesides and Merriman
As the mutual personal friends of Shields
and Lincoln. but without authority from either,
we earnestly desire RECONCILIATION Of the mis-
understanding which exists between them.
Such difficulties should always be arranged
amicably, il it is possible TO do so with honor
to both parties. Believing that such an ar
rangement can possibly De effected, we re-
spectfully but earnestly submit the following
proposition for your consideration Let the
whole difficulty be submitted to four or more
gentlemen of your own choosing, who shall
consider the affair and report thereupon for
your consideration. JOIN j. HARDIN,
r. W. ENGLISH.
This paper was laid before the princi-
pals and accepted. Mr.. Shields prompt
ly named Gen. Whitesides, w. l.. ID.
Ewing, and the surgeon who had accom-
panied him, t. M. Hope, to conduct
the negotiations on his behalf.
The demand for an apology and ell
other belligerent papers we're with
drawn, when Mr.. Lincoln rendered the
explanation he had already promised,
which proved satisfactory, the parties
were reconciled, shook hands, and re-
turned together to Springfield. Soended
Lincoln's first, last, and only duel. But
the affair did not end with Lincoln's
withdrawal from it. The blood of all
the parties who had been connected with
it was up, and nearly half dozen chal-
lenges grew out of it, nearly as many as
have occurred in the whole history of
the State before or since.
SHIELDS AND BUTLER.
Butler, il will be remembered, was
one of Lincoln's seconds, in his affair
with Shields, and had urged the fight |
with great vehemence. Greatly DIS
gusted at the fasco, he returned to /
Springfield, and published letter IN
the ,Sdnqamon Journal which was very
severe upon both Lincoln and Shields;