The Lincoln-Douglas debates were a series of seven debates between the incumbent, Stephen A. Douglas and the challenger, Abraham Lincoln. These were during the 1858 Illinois state election campaign for a Senate seat. Stephen Douglas was a member of Congress since 1843, He was a nationally prominent spokesman for the Democratic party. He was seeking reelection to a third term in the United States Senate. Lincoln was running for Douglas's Senate seat as a Republican. The campaign attracted national attention. Some people thought that the outcome would determine the ability of the Democratic party to maintain unity in the face of the divisive sectional and slavery issues. Some people thought that it would determine the viability of the Union itself.
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He insisted that power should reside at the local level and should reflect the wishes of the people. He thought that slavery would be effectively restricted for economic, geographic, and demographic reasons. He also thought that if territories were allowed to decide that they would choose to be free. In a statement at Freeport, he stated that the people could keep slavery out of their territories by withholding the protection of the local law. Douglas thought that Lincoln's effort to resolve a controversial moral question by political means could lead to civil war. He argued that the contest was between consolidation and confederation. He stated it was, "one consolidated empire" as proposed by Lincoln versus a "confederacy of sovereign and equal states" as he proposed. Lincoln said the real issue with Douglas was the issue of right and wrong . Lincoln assured southerners that he had no intention of interfering with slavery in the states where it existed. He also assured northerners that he was opposed to the political and social equality of the races. He and Douglas agreed on …show more content…
The second debate was in Freeport, Illinois on August 27, 1858. The third debate was in Jonesboro, Illinois on September 15, 1858. The fourth debate was in Charleston, Illinois on September 18, 1858. The fifth debate was in Galesburg, Illinois on October 7, 1858. The sixth debate was in Quincy, Illinois on October 13,
He insisted that power should reside at the local level and should reflect the wishes of the people. He thought that slavery would be effectively restricted for economic, geographic, and demographic reasons. He also thought that if territories were allowed to decide that they would choose to be free. In a statement at Freeport, he stated that the people could keep slavery out of their territories by withholding the protection of the local law. Douglas thought that Lincoln's effort to resolve a controversial moral question by political means could lead to civil war. He argued that the contest was between consolidation and confederation. He stated it was, "one consolidated empire" as proposed by Lincoln versus a "confederacy of sovereign and equal states" as he proposed. Lincoln said the real issue with Douglas was the issue of right and wrong . Lincoln assured southerners that he had no intention of interfering with slavery in the states where it existed. He also assured northerners that he was opposed to the political and social equality of the races. He and Douglas agreed on …show more content…
The second debate was in Freeport, Illinois on August 27, 1858. The third debate was in Jonesboro, Illinois on September 15, 1858. The fourth debate was in Charleston, Illinois on September 18, 1858. The fifth debate was in Galesburg, Illinois on October 7, 1858. The sixth debate was in Quincy, Illinois on October 13,