To respond, the Whigs chose Lincoln, who “retorted upon Ewing with great severity; denouncing his insinuations in imputing corruption to him and his colleagues, and paying back with usury all that Ewing had said.” Onlookers feared that Lincoln “was digging his own grave; for it was known that Ewing would not quietly pocket any insinuations that would degrade him personally.” Ewing then asked the Sangamon County delegation: “Gentlemen, have you no other champion than this coarse and vulgar fellow to bring into the lists against me? Do you suppose that I will condescend to break a lance with your low and obscure colleague?” Usher F. Linder and other observers expected “that a challenge must pass between them,” but cooler heads prevailed and no duel took place. (Linder said many years later that “this was the first time that I began to conceive a very high opinion of the talents and personal courage of Abraham Lincoln.”) Ewing’s bill was referred to a special committee, chaired by Lincoln, who amended it to have Springfield pay the $50,000 it had pledged before work could begin on the statehouse. The measure as amended passed the House but died in senate.
Source: Abraham Lincoln ∶ A Life ▫𓂃
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