How did Abraham Lincoln represent republican principles during the Lincoln-doughlas debates?

Answer 1

As a candidate for the senate seat held by Democrat Stephen Douglas, Republican Abraham Lincoln provided a moderate position on the issue of slavery. He did this because earlier in the 1850's the radical Republican view that slavery needed to be abolished at once throughout the nation was just "too radical" for many citizens to bear. Lincoln was opposed to the national sovereignty policy created by Douglas. The result of this policy, which Douglas did not approve, was the violence it created in Kansas. There as per the Act passed by Congress, people would vote as to whether the state would be a free one or a slave state. It must be noted however, that although most Republicans and even Democrats in Illinois did not believe slavery was "Just", Lincoln and Douglas believed at that time that Blacks were not equal to whites.