The second debate in Freeport is notable for the Freeport Doctrine. The Freeport Doctrine, put forward as a response to a Lincoln question, carried forward from 1858 to 1860, denying Douglas a chance at the Presidency. Real quick, let’s step back. Remember that Douglas spoke first in Ottawa. Now it was Lincoln’s turn to take the “stump” first, and he was not one to waste that opportunity. First he answered Douglas’s questions from Ottawa, denying that he was an abolitionist. Then he unleashed the Freeport question; the question he had been gearing up for months to ask. Preparing for months. Remember something about Abraham Lincoln, if nothing else he was a political genius. Lincoln knew Douglas’s answer even before he asked the question. He had been following Douglas’s speeches for years. He counted on the answer. He knew the answer would put Douglas out of the presidential contest in 1860. Out of the election of 1860.

Here is Lincoln’s question. Can the people of a United States territory, in any way, against the wish of any citizen of the United States, exclude slavery from its limits prior to the formation of a state constitution? Seems like a pretty simple question, doesn’t it? In fact, Lincoln’s advisers told him not to ask the question because they knew Douglas’s answer would most likely help him in Illinois. Help him in Illinois. Lincoln knew that Douglas would answer in support of “popular sovereignty,” basically negating the Dred Scott decision. Here is part of Douglas’s response, “It matters not what way the Supreme Court may hereafter decide as to the abstract question whether slavery may or may not go into a Territory under the Constitution, the people have the lawful means to introduce it or exclude it as they please, for the reason slavery cannot exist a day or an hour anywhere, unless it is supported by local police regulations. These police regulations can only be established by the local legislature, and if the people are opposed to slavery they will elect representatives to that body who will by unfriendly legislation effectually prevent the introduction of it into their midst.” This response is important because it showed people in the South that a President Douglas would not intervene in any Territory or state to protect slavery. Remember that these debates were followed nation-wide and that Douglas was a major figure in the nation. Therefore, his words during the debates were looked at under a microscope. Under a microscope. The Democrats were already fractured as a party. The Freeport Doctrine fractured them even more and gave a “dark horse” named Lincoln a chance to become president.