Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-09-06


the debate between DOUGLAS and LINCOLN, at
Freeport, on Friday. The day was showery
and chilly. and the crowd about fifteen thou
sand strong. Lincoln opened. After the
usual preliminary phrases, he answered the
questions Douglas had asked him at Ottawa
LINCOLN.
/ will take up the Judges heterogeneous
as find them printed in the Chicago Tme..
and answer them Seyiqtim. In order THAI
there may be no mistake about it, l have
copied the interrogatories in writing, and
also my answers to them. The first one of
these interrogatories is in these words:
Question l. ~ desire to know whether Lin
coin to-day stands, as be did in 1854, in favor
OF the unconditional repeal of the fugitive
slave law?'
Answer. do not now, nor ever did, stand
in favor Of the unconditional repeal of the
fugitive slave law. [Cries of Good, !"
Q. 2 II desire him to answer whether
he stands pledged to-day, as he did in 1854,
against the admission of any more slave
States into the Union, even if the people
want them?'
A. do not now, nor ever did stand pledg-
ed against the admission of any more slave
States into the Union.
.. 3. II want tn know whether he stands
pledged against the admission of new
State into the Union with such q Constitution
as the people of that State may see fit to
make?'
A. | do not stand pledged against the adj
missien of a new State into the Union, with
such Constitution as the people of that
State may see fit TO make. [Cries of "good,
good.''1
Q. 4. II want to know whether he stands
to-day pledged tn the abolition of slavery in
the District of Columbian"
A. | do not stand to-day pledged to the
abolition of slavery in the District of Col
umbia.
@. 5. II desire him to answer whether he
stands pledged to the prohibition of the slave
trade between the different States?"
a. | do not stand pledged to the prohibi
ton of thesslave trade between the different
States.
Q. 6. ~ desire to know whether he stands
pledged to prohibit slavery in all the Ter
ritories of the United States, North as well
as South of the Missouri Compromise line''
A. am implicitly. if not expressly, pied
ged to belief in the right and duty OF Con
gress to prohibit slavery in all the United
States Territories [Great applause.1
Q. I. II desire him to answer whether b,
is opposed to the acquisition of any new
territory unless slavery is first prohibited
therein"
A. am not generally opposed to honest
acquisition of territory; and, in any given
case, would or would not oppose such ac-
QUESTION, accordingly as | might think such
acquisition would or would not agitate the
slavery question among ourselves! GCries of
good, good.l
GOES INTO DETAIL WITH THE QUESTIONS
Now. my friends. it will be perceived upon
an examination of these questions and an
swers, that so far / have only answered that
j was not pledged to this. that or the other.
The Judge has not framed his interrogatories
to ask me anything more than this, and
have answered in strict accordance with the
interrogatories, and have answered truly
that am not pledged at all upon any of the
points to which / have answered But | am
not disposed to hang upon the exact form of
his iuterrogatory. l am rather disposed to
take up at least some of these questions, and
state what really think upon them.
As to the first one, in regard to the Fugi.
tive Slave law, 1 have never hesitated to saw.
aud do not now hesitate to say, that think
under the Constitution Of the United States
the people of the Southern States are entitled
to Congressional Fugitive Slave Law.
Having said that, have had nothing to say
in regard to the existing Fugitive Slave Law
framed as to be free from some of the oh
jections that pertain to it, without lessening
its efficiency.-And inasmuch as we are not
now in agitation in regard to the alteration
or modification of that law, would not be
the man to introduce il as a new subject of
agitation upon the general question of
slavery.
In regard to the other question of whether
am pledged to the admission of any more
slave States into the Union, state to You
very frankly that L would be exceedingly
sorry ever to be put in position Of having
to pass upon that question. should be eX-
ceedingly glad to know that there never
would be another slave State admitted into
the Union; [applause;l bat L must add, Lsat If
slapeyy shall be kept out Of the Territories during
The territorial existence of any giren Territory.
and The people shall, har;ng far chance and a
clear field. ,chen they come 10 adopt The Cbnstif,i-
tion, do such extraordinary thing as 10 odopt a
Stare Consultation, uantueneed by he actual pre-
scnoe Of He institution among them, 4 SEE no alter
Mature, u lre ocn the country, but admit them INTO
the UNion.-l -APpia.,se.l
The third inIerrogatory is answered by the
answer TO the second. it being. as / conceive,
the same as the second.
The fourth one is in regard to the abolition
of slavery in the District of Columbia In
regard to that, have my mind very distinctly
made up. | should be exceedingly glad to
see slavery abolished in the District of Column
bia. lCries of good, good."1 | believe that
Congress possesses the constitutional power
10 abolish 1t. Yet. as a member of Congress.
should not with my present views be in fa-
vor OF ndearOrug to abolish slavery in the
District of Columbia. unless it would be upon
these conditions. Frs, that the abolition
should be gradual Second, that IL should be
x..fa of fha ma .f
of the District. and third, that Compensation
should be made 10 unwilling owners With
these three conditions, confess would b..
exceedingly glad 10 see Congress abolish sla-
very ia the District of Columbia. and In the
language of Henry Clay, sweep from our
Capital that foul blot upon our nation.n Loud
applause. 49,
In regard 20 the fifth interroeatory, must
say, here, thai ms to the question OF the abuli-
ton OF the Slave Trade between the ditferrni
States. can truly answer. as | have. that
am p,e,iged TO nothing about IL. Ii is a sub
ject to which have not given that mature
consideration that would make me feel an-
thoriz i to state position so as 10 hold my
self entirely bound by IL. In other words
that question has never been prominently
enough before me 10 induce me 10 Investigate
whether we really have the constitutional
power to do il. icould investigate il II had
sufficient time TO bring myself 10 a conclusion
upon that sutjeet, bat have not done 80, aud
| say so frankly 10 you here, and o. Judge
Douglas. ] must say, however, that II
shonld be OF opinion that Congress does pos
sess the constitutional power 10 abolish slavery
among the different States. should stsii mol
be in favor of the exercise ot that power IN
less upon some conservative principle as
conceive 10. akin ID what | have said In reia
ton 30 the abolition OF slavery Ia the District
Of Columbia 49, s - hss
Ny answer a. 10 whether desire that sia
very shoald b. prOhib.ted In al the T.rritorie'
s assrssg ssssse. - ssss4 -