Quotes · Quote card
Quotation from The Lincoln-Douglas Debates by Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas
“Can the people of a United States Territory, in any lawful way, against the wish of any citizen of the United States, exclude slavery from its limits prior to the formation of a State Constitution ?”
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates, Second Joint Debate, Freeport (August 27, 1858), Lincoln's opening speech, Question 2 (Political Debates Between Lincoln and Douglas (Columbus: Follett, Foster, 1860), Internet Archive OCR text)
The second of four questions Lincoln puts to Douglas, designed to set popular sovereignty against the Dred Scott decision.
Citation: "Can the people of a United States Territory, in any lawful way, against the wish of any citizen of the United States, exclude slavery from its limits prior to the formation of a State Constitution ?" — Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas, The Lincoln-Douglas Debates, Second Joint Debate, Freeport (August 27, 1858), Lincoln's opening speech, Question 2 (Political Debates Between Lincoln and Douglas (Columbus: Follett, Foster, 1860), Internet Archive OCR text). (id lincoln-douglas-debates-q4)
Portrait: Abraham Lincoln O-77 matte collodion print, Alexander Gardner, Public domain.
