Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858
The
Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 were a series of seven debates between
Abraham Lincoln and
Stephen A. Douglas for an
Illinois seat in the
United States Senate. The debates presaged the issues that Lincoln faced in the
1860 Presidential campaign and are remembered partially for the eloquence of both sides.The debates were held in 7 towns in the state of
Illinois:
Ottawa,
Freeport,
Jonesboro,
Charleston,
Galesburg,
Quincy, and
Alton.
Notable among the most important issues were the two contenders' views on
slavery, and
African-American equality in general. Lincoln was opposed to any expansion of slavery into new
United States territories, while Douglas supported the doctrine of
popular sovereignty, believing that a territory's residents should vote on whether or not to allow slavery. Douglas could no longer support this doctrine legally, because of the
Dred Scott v. Sandford decision. Instead, he stated that the people could still control slavery in the territories by not passing laws to protect slave owners and return run away slaves. Because Douglas articulated this position while he was in the debate in Freeport, this position became known as the
Freeport Doctrine. These debates characterized the sectionalized political dichotomy at the time between Democrats and "new" Republicans. The Democratic party at the time assumed a position like Douglas, in support of Popular Sovereignty, whereas the Republicans subscribed to the school of thought presented by Lincoln that supported a virtual containment of slavery.
Because the Senate campaign took place before the ratification of the
Seventeenth Amendment, the debates were designed to influence Illinois voters to elect representatives to the
state legislature who would then support their chosen senatorial candidates. After Douglas's ultimate victory, the Illinois legislature, not the people, re-elected Douglas. Although Lincoln lost, the popularity he gained through the debates helped him in his 1860 election to the presidency.
Stephen A. Douglas actually believed in
popular sovereignty, but he had promised the Supreme Court that he would allow them to rule on the legality of slavery in the territories, and that he would support their decision. After the
Dred Scott case, Douglas was put in a very difficult spot. He was asked to make a speech about his opinion of the Dred Scott ruling on June 12, 1857. That is when he came up with the ideas, but they were not publicized until the Freeport Debate and called the
Freeport Doctrine.
Singer-songwriter
Sufjan Stevens references the Lincoln-Douglas debates in the song "Decatur, or Round of Applause for Your Stepmother!" on his album
Illinois.
The
Lincoln-Douglas debate format is named after this series of debates.
*
Bartleby Etext: Political Debates Between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas*
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858*
Mr. Lincoln and Freedom: Lincoln-Douglas Debates
