Lincoln-Douglas Freeport Debate

Stephen A. Douglas, the incumbent senator, and Abraham Lincoln, a former congressman and current attorney, met for the second in a series of seven debates for the right to represent Illinois in the Senate. They debated the issues of the day before an outdoor crowd in Freeport, Illinois. Mr.Douglas and Mr. Lincoln again traded accusations, Mr. Douglas accusing Lincoln of being an abolitionist and Mr. Lincoln accusing Douglas of being for the nationalization of slavery. They also accused each other of not frankly answering the other’s questions. Lastly, they even accused each other of conspiracy; Mr. Lincoln charged that Mr. Douglas was conspiring with other Democrats to extend slavery and Mr. Douglas charged that Mr. Lincoln was conspiring with other abolitionists, or “Black Republicans,” to defeat him. close