Lincoln-Douglas Debates

The Lincoln-Douglas debates were a series a debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas for an Illinois seat in the United States Senate. The debates were held in seven different towns and normally ran about 3 hours long, one candidate speaking for an hour, the other candidate speaking for 90 minutes, and the other candidate speaking again for another thirty minutes.

The main issue that was discussed during the debates was slavery. Douglas was for slavery and popular soverignty which is where states can decide for themselves if they should keep slavery in their state or not. Lincoln, on the other hand, was against slavery and against letting other states vote for if they want to keep slavery around or not.

Regarding the Dred Scott case, Douglas stated the following in the second debate:

"Then again, I wish to call his attention to the fact that at the time the Nebraska bill was passed, the Dred Scott case was not before the Supreme Court at all; it was not upon the docket of the Supreme Court; it had not been brought there, and the Judges in all probability knew nothing of it. Thus the history of the country proves the charge to be false as against them"

From this quote you can see how Douglas acts as if the Dred Scott case isn't even important.

The following is Lincoln's response to the Dred Scott case.

"He denounces all who question the correctness of that decision, as offering violent resistance to it. But who resists it? Who has, in spite of the decision, declared Dred Scott free, and resisted the authority of his master over him?"

From this quote, I know that Lincoln is defending the Dred Scott case. Early in the speeche Lincoln also states:

" That decision declares two propositions—first, that a negro cannot sue in the U.S. Courts; and secondly, that Congress cannot prohibit slavery in the Territories"

Lincoln blames the the Supreme Court rather then saying Dred Scott can't sue becuase of his color. So in terms of the Dred Scott case, it is very clear that Douglas would be against Dred Scott suing for his freedom, while Lincoln was more accepting of it.

To me, I feel that the Lincoln-Douglas debates were more challenging then the 2008 debates going on now. Reason being, the candidates now are given a minute or two to answer a question given to them. The answers given usually sound very rehearsed and sound like something they made up just to please the crowd to get them to vote for them.
With the Lincoln-Douglas debates I feel they spoke more from what they really wanted America to be rather then just saying what the people wanted to hear. Also, they had a longer amount of time to talk so they had to have the skill to speak very well and also be able to transition from one subject to another.
Overall, I think the debates back then were more challenging and better.

Link to Speeches