The Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858Text of the speeches from "Political debates between Lincoln and Douglas," Columbus, Ohio, 1860, with connecting narrative by the editor, and much illustrative material from contemporary newspapers, etc. |
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Abolition Abolitionism Abolitionists Abraham Lincoln adopted Alton answer applause audience August 26 banners Black Republican Buchanan campaign candidate canvass charge Charleston Chicago citizens Congress Convention crowd debate between Lincoln declared delegation Democracy Democratic party doctrine Douglas and Lincoln Douglas's Dred Scott decision election equality exclude slavery favor Free Freeport friends Galesburg Government hear hour House Illinois institution interrogatories joint debate Jonesboro Judge Douglas Judge Trumbull Kansas Laughter and cheers Lecompton Constitution legislation Legislature Lincoln and Douglas Lincoln's speech Little Giant meeting Missouri Nebraska bill negro never o'clock October October 16 Ottawa persons platform pledged political popular sovereignty President Press and Tribune principles Quincy reply Republican party resolutions Senator Douglas Slave slavery slavery question speaking Springfield stand Supreme Court tell Territory thing tion to-day Union United States Senate vote Whig wrong
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Page 109 - Measures, is hereby declared inoperative and void : it being the true intent and meaning of this act, not to legislate slavery into any territory or state, nor to exclude it therefrom, but to leave the people thereof perfectly free to form and regulate their domestic institutions in their own way, subject only to the constitution of the United States...
Page 93 - A house divided against itself cannot stand." I believe this Government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved, I do not expect the house to fall, but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other. Either the opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the course of ultimate extinction; or its advocates will push...
Page 178 - In my opinion, it will not cease until a crisis shall have been reached and passed. 'A house divided against itself cannot stand.' I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved. I do not expect the house to fall, but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other.
Page 340 - I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races — that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races...
Page 485 - They are the two principles that have stood face to face from the beginning of time, and will ever continue to struggle. The one is the common right of humanity, and the other the " divine right of kings. " It is the same principle in whatever shape it develops itself. It is the same spirit that says, " You work and toil and earn bread, and I'll eat it.
Page 102 - I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so ; and I have no inclination to do so.
Page 485 - It is the eternal struggle between these two principles — right and wrong — throughout the world. They are the two principles that have stood face to face from the beginning of time; and will ever continue to struggle. The one is the common right of humanity, and the other the divine right of kings. It is the same principle in whatever shape it develops itself. It is the same spirit that says, "You toil and work and earn bread, and I'll eat it.
Page 469 - This they said, and this they meant. They did not mean to assert the obvious untruth that all were then actually enjoying that equality, nor yet that they were about to confer it immediately upon them. In fact, they had no power to confer such a boon. They meant simply to declare the right, so that enforcement of it might follow as fast as circumstances should permit.
Page 278 - And be it further enacted, That the following propositions be, and the same are hereby offered to the convention of the eastern state of the said territory, when formed, for their free acceptance or rejection, which, if accepted by the convention, shall be obligatory upon the United States.
Page 20 - All the anxious politicians of his party, or who have been of his party for years past, have been looking upon him as certainly, at no distant day, to be the President of the United States. They have seen in his round, jolly, fruitful face, post-offices, land-offices, marshalships and cabinet appointments, chargeships and foreign missions, bursting and sprouting out in wonderful exuberance, ready to be laid hold of by their greedy hands.