Linclon Douglas Debates

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The Lincoln vs. Douglass debates were a source of much entertainment and thought during a very troubling time in this nation. There were originally to be nine debates held in nine separate congressional districts, however the two agreed to conduct only seven “joint appearances” due to both of their recent individual appearances in two of the districts. These two districts being Springfield and Chicago. Each debate was divided into speaking times. One candidate would speak for an hour, then the other for 90 minutes. Then the original candidate would speak for a 30 minute rebuttal. Judge Stephen Douglas was responsible for the popular sovereignty act. Douglas accused Lincoln of being a member of the “black republican party”, wanting to free all slaves, and overthrow the slave owner’s “constitutional rights”. The Judge was responsible for the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which repealed the Missouri compromise in the states of Kansas and Nebraska. He soon replaced the compromise with the Popular Sovereignty Act. Before these debates Douglass was accused of driving people from the republican side by encouraging their fear of amalgamation. Douglass seemed to be the most deceitful of the two debating. He was frequently lying at his private speeches and deceiving voters with half truths. Stephen Douglas would take the pro-slavery side of the debate. On the opposing side Lincoln was a firm abolitionist and believed that the Declaration of Independence applied to blacks and whites alike. This was as he called it a “self-evident truth” that is "the electric cord ... that links the hearts of patriotic and liberty-loving men together." Lincoln went on about this topic in his extremely well known House Divided Speech. He accused Douglas of wanting to... ... middle of paper ... ...y good orator and quite persuasive and good at relating to the common man. He stated that Douglas’s statement was grossly incorrect. These Debates were the talk of the nation for months to come. Slavery was a hot issue and the role of the parties involved was a major factor in this debate. Insight was given to innumerable people during these events. The public was so well informed that local debates were started in lieu of the main debate. Issues ranging from the rights of slaves to the freedom of slaves were discussed. At one point Lincoln asked how we could deprive a Negro of the rights that God and the Declaration awarded to him?... this question was the basis of much discussion. Our great nation has once chosen to stray down the path of interpreting God’s will without the guidance of our great creator. Let us hope that we do not choose this path again.

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