Stephen Douglas believed in popular sovereignty. He said in the debate, "I ask you to reflect on these things, for I tell you that there is a conspiracy to carry this election for the Black Republicans by slander, and not by fair means."
http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/the-Lincoln-douglas-debates-4th-debate-part-i/
https://www.nps.gov/liho/learn/historyculture/debate1.htm
....The Lincoln Douglas Debates
The key issue in the Lincoln-Douglas debates was slavery. Lincoln and Douglas were viewed as contenders for the 1860 presidential election.
In the 1858 election for senator. During this event, Lincoln and Douglas held a series of debates, known as the Lincoln-Douglas debates.
(an abolitionist)
slavery
1858
U.S. senator
antislavery forces
Aswer
slavery
Ilinois
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates - 1976 TV was released on: USA: 8 October 1994