Below is a copy of Lincoln’s speech against the Lecompton Constitution.  Oh yeah, let me tell you about the Lecompton Constitution.  By now, it is clear that the fight over slavery is coming down to the territories.  Should slavery expand? Should slavery be kept where it is?  There are also the abolitionists who want slavery wiped from the United States, but for Lincoln and Douglas we need to focus on the expansion of or the limiting of slavery.  The Lecompton Constitution was a possible state constitution for Kansas that protects the rights of slave owners, supports the existence of slavery, and allows people to vote to allow more slaves into the state.  President James Buchanan supported Lecompton, while Senator Stephen A. Douglas did not.  Wondering why Douglas didn’t support it?  Well, remember “popular sovereignty?” Good.  Douglas saw that the Lecompton Constitution did not allow popular sovereignty.  Douglas was not a supporter of slavery as much as a supporter in what he saw as self-government.  Douglas even rejected a gift of slaves, noting that he didn’t want to own slaves, but didn’t mind if others did.  The Lecompton Constitution was a major event leading up to the Debates and the Civil War.

This speech by Lincoln shows off both his philosophy of republican government and his political skill.  Douglas’ rejection of Lecompton put him at odds with President Buchanan and many others in the Democratic Party.  There was talk within the Republican Party of embracing Douglas, but Lincoln opposed this for a few reasons.  He thought that the new Republican Party would lose some core identity if it embraced Douglas, and he didn’t think Douglas would take on any Republican principles.  Another important factor was that Lincoln did not want to share any of his leadership roles with Douglas.  In this speech, Lincoln manages to attack both the Lecompton Constitution and Stephen Douglas.  This is so neat.  Let’s take a look at a section of the speech.

Well, I too, believe in self-government as I understand it; but I do not understand, that the privilege one man takes of making a slave of another, or holding him as such, is any part of “self government"-- To call it so is, to mind, simply absurd, and ridiculous--
I am for the people of the whole nation doing just as they please, in all matters which concern the whole nation; for those of each part, doing just as they choose, in all matters which concern no other part; and for each individual doing just as he chooses in all matters which concern no body else--
This is the principle-- Of course I am content with any exception, which the constitution, or the actually existing state of things, makes a necessity--
But neither the principle, nor the exception, will admit the indefinite spread and perpetuity of human slavery—

Do you see Lincoln’s ideas on republicanism?  Basically, a group or faction should not be able to do something that harms the entire nation.  This is direct from The Federalist Papers by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay.  He also takes a shot at Douglas with the interpretation of “self government.” I love these old papers; they are full of great stuff.  Thanks Library of Congress for the image.