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Lincoln v. Douglas MUNINN Volume 2 (2013)And finally, Lincoln requested to know if Douglas was in favor ofacquiring new territory even if it would affect the slavery question ofthe nation? 33 While Lincoln labored around the questions of Douglas,Douglas went straight to the point. He would not make Kansas anexception to the rule. He would not vote to admit Kansas into theUnion until the correct population was reached:I made that proposition in the Senate in 1856…in a bill providingthat no territory of the United States should…apply for admissionuntil it had the requisite population. On another occasion I proposedthat neither Kansas, or any other territory, should be admitteduntil it had the requisite population. 34Lincoln may have lured Douglas into overplaying his popularsovereignty strategy, as Douglas responded: “[I]n my opinion thepeople of a territory can, by lawful means, exclude slavery from theirlimits prior to the formation of a State Constitution.” 35 This alarmedSouthern Democrats. Douglas seemed confused by Lincoln’s thirdquestion and merely stated that it would be nearly impossible for thatsituation to occur since the Supreme Court would to follow theConstitution. Finally, Douglas said that he was in favor of acquiringnew territory as long as the people who inhabit that territory are free tochoose if they will admit slavery in their state or not. 36 Upon returningto the stage to conclude the debate, Lincoln was greeted with manycheers from audience members. Lincoln used his half hour rebuttal totell the listeners that he believed he answered the questions posed forhim at the Ottawa debate clearly and precisely. He continued byarguing the point he made in the “House Divided” speech—that theUnion cannot survive half slave and half free. 37 There were againmixed reviews. Democratic papers amused themselves over theFreeport debate with cynical remarks about Lincoln: “The LionFrightens the ‘Dog’!” and “Lincoln Routed! He can’t Find the Spot!” 38Republican papers, like the Weekly North-Western Gazette, made theirown headlines “Lincoln Defnines His Position” and “The Little GiantCornered” with their analysis: “Yesterday was a great day in our State,as it witnessed the full and complete triumph of our noble champion33Lincoln, 542. Editor’s note: President Franklin Pierce refused to recognize the FreeSoil government in Topeka in 1856, the same year that pro-slavery elements fromMissouri also burned the Free Soil stronghold of Lawrence as well as the physical attackon Free Soil Senator Charles Sumner in the Senate chamber by pro-slavery congressmen.34Lincoln, 550.35Lincoln, 551.36Lincoln, 554-555.37Lincoln, 573, 576.38Zarefsky, 57.17