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Lincoln-Douglas Debate Activity

Second Debate at Freeport, Illinois, August 27,1858

by B.F. McClerren and Robert Sterling for the Lincoln-Douglas Debate Museum, Charleston, Illinois   SAD is Stephen A. Douglas, AL is Abraham Lincoln.

Freeport Band to great the candidates

AL-- Can the people of the United States territory in any lawful way, against the wishes of any citizen of the United States, exclude slavery from their limits prior to the formation of a state constitution?

SAD-- Whatever the Supreme Court may hereafter decide as to the abstract question of whether slavery may go in under the Constitution or not, the people of a Territory have the lawful means to admit it or exclude it as they please, for the reason that slavery cannot exist a day or an hour anywhere unless supported by local police regulations. If the people of the Territory are opposed to slavery they will elect members to the legislature who will adopt unfriendly legislation to it.

Full Text of the Freeport Debate (all parts)