Abraham Lincoln and Douglas's Age-old Debate While Campaigning for Senator

In 1858, Lincoln and Douglas run against each other for senate. Lincoln uses his clever words to try and get to Douglas without choosing sides in the very split country. Douglas tried to push the idea of creating more slave states by letting the states decide. Douglas wins reelection but Lincoln's ideas become very powerful throughout the country.

Lincoln opened with a few of his own thoughts and issues on different areas of slavery. He clearly stated that he in no way ever said that southern states should have not had a congressional fugitive slave law. He believed that it was there right as slave states to have that law. He also had nothing to say about the existing slave law. He think it should be solid and framed so there are no objections to it. He would have not wanted that law to become another issue in the already great pot of slave issues. Another issue that Lincoln addressed is whether he is or is not for keeping any more slave states out of the union. Lincoln is anti-slavery so he should have been happy, but he also realized that the people should have a say. If a territory formed and grew big enough to create a constitution, if they adopted a slavery constitution, Lincoln could have not seen himself keeping them from being admitted to the Union. If the majority of the people wanted slavery he would have allowed them to have it. It would have not been wise or logical to fight against the masses.

Lincoln also covered the issue of slavery being abolished in the District of Columbia. He believed he should have been happy to know that it was abolished. He was happy to know that it was abolished. But, as a member of congress he should have not been in favor of abolishing slavery in the District of Columbia. He would have been in favor of abolishing slavery in the District of Columbia if the abolition was gradual, and if it was on a vote of the majority of qualified voters in the district, and that compensation would have been made to unwilling owners. Lincoln would have been very happy to abolish slavery if those three conditions were met.

Lincoln then addressed whether or not slavery should have been prohibited in all territories. He pretty much said nothing. He gave you an idea that, yes, he would have like it to be abolished but he would have not done so without the people. He never really came out and spoke his mind completely until later on in his life. Lincoln was a real politician in the aspect that you could not tell his exact stance on an issue.

Lincoln then revealed the questions he answered so as to allow Douglas to conquer them. The first was, if Kansas does not have enough people to create a constitution or to be accepted into the union under the English Bill, but they do it anyway, would they be accepted? The second was, Can slavery be excluded from a territory prior to the formation of a state constitution? The third was, if the Supreme Court decides that states can not exclude slavery, are you in favor of adopting that in as a rule of political action? The last was, are you in favor of acquiring additional territory with disregard on how it would affect the nation on the slavery issue?

Douglas started off by stating that he will review Lincoln's statements but will first answer the questions. To the first question he responded that he will not make an acceptation to the rule for Kansas. They will have to wait until they have the requisite number of people for a member of congress before they can be admitted as a state into the union. Douglas displayed some anger on the second question saying that Lincoln knows the answer already because he has heard Douglas argue his position on the Nebraska Bill, which gave states complete authority on whether the state is slave or free. A Supreme Court decision would have not of matter because the local population would have needed to support it for it to of worked. To the third question Douglas insulted Lincoln. Douglas said he would support the supreme courts decision. He insulted Lincoln by saying even a school boy does know better.

The last question Douglas thought was a cunning one. He says that the Black Republican way would be not to acquire any more territory unless slavery is prohibited in the country. Douglas then addressed Lincoln and asks him if he is in favor of that Black Republican creed. Douglas insulted Lincoln again by saying that Lincoln refused to answer that question by turning in Yankee-fashion, without answering and restates it asking it back to Douglas. Douglas answers it by saying that he is in favor of gaining more land and will leave it to the people to decide what to do with it.One thing I noticed in this debate is that Lincoln answers nothing clearly and Douglas makes his points known. Lincoln's main voting base is in the north but he does not take sides and speaks to all. Douglas main voting base is in the south but he mostly speaks to southerners. Lincoln opposes the idea of slavery but also realizes that he can not be rid of it easily and without conflict. He is very careful with what he says.