The Great Debates

Stephen Douglas sought reelection to the Senate from Illinois - Abraham Lincoln sought to unseat him. The issue was slavery. Carl Sandburg's description of their debates is engrossing. At that time the election was by the state legislature. Final vote - Douglas 54 - Lincoln 46. Sandburg said Lincoln sat in his law office for awhile, then blew out the light and started home. He slipped on the way, caught himself, and said "its a slip not a fall." He had lost the election but with his rare combination of vision, principle, dedication, humor, and humility, he had awakened the conscience of the nation. The year was 1858.