1. “Every man must be for the United States or against it. There can be no neutrals in this war; only patriots and traitors.” -Stephen A. Douglas
2. “Lincoln maintains there that the Declaration of Independence asserts that the negro is equal to the white man, and that under Divine law, and if he believes so it was rational for him to advocate negro citizenship, which, when allowed, puts the negro on an equality under the law. I say to you in all frankness, gentlemen, that in my opinion a negro is not a citizen, cannot be, and ought not to be, under the Constitution of the United States.” -Stephen A. Douglas
3. “I do not regard the Negro as my equal, and positively deny that he is my brother, or any kin to me whatever.” -Stephen A. Douglas
4. “Slavery is not the only question which comes up in this controversy. There is a far more important one to you, and that is, what shall be done with the free negro?” -Stephen A. Douglas
5. “Abolitionism proposes to destroy the right and extinguish the principle of self-government for which our forefathers waged a seven years’ bloody war, and upon which our system of free government is founded.” -Stephen A. Douglas
6. “Slavery cannot exist for a day or an hour anywhere, unless it is supported by local police regulations.” -Stephen A. Douglas
7. “I deny the right of Congress to force a slaveholding State upon an unwilling people. I deny their right to force a free State upon an unwilling people. I deny their right to force a good thing upon a people who are unwilling to receive it. The great principle is the right of every community to judge and decide for itself, whether a thing is right or wrong, whether it would be good or evil for them to adopt it; and the right of free action, the right of free thought, the right of free judgment upon the question is dearer to every true American than any other under a free government.” -Stephen A. Douglas
8. “If there is any one principle dearer and more sacred than all others in free governments, it is that which asserts the exclusive right of a free people to form and adopt their own fundamental law, and to manage and regulate their own internal affairs and domestic institutions.” -Stephen A. Douglas
9. “I hold that a Negro is not and never ought to be a citizen of the United States. I hold that this government was made on the white basis; made by the white men, for the benefit of white men and their posterity forever, and should be administered by white men and none others.” -Stephen A. Douglas
10. “I care more for the great principle of self—government, the right of the people to rule, than I do for all the negroes in Christendom.” -Stephen A. Douglas
11. “I hold that this government was established…for the benefit of white men and their prosperity forever, and should be administered by white men, and none others.” -Stephen A. Douglas
12. “I have become a Western man, have imbibed Western feelings, principles, and interests, and have selected Illinois as the favorite place of my adoption.” -Stephen A. Douglas
13. “We must try to save the Union. I will go South.” -Stephen A. Douglas
14. “I am not here tonight to ask for your votes for the presidency. I am here to make an appeal to you for the Union and the peace of the country.” -Stephen A. Douglas
15. “I’ve known Mr. Lincoln a longer time than you have, or than the country has. He’ll come out all right, and we will all stand by him.” -Stephen A. Douglas
A few words about Stephen A.Douglas
Stephen A.Douglas was an American politician, lawyer, and the biggest rival of Abraham Lincoln during the 1860 US Presidential Elections.
Unlike Lincoln, who favored abolitionism, Douglas advocated for the principle of popular sovereignty.
He thought, that the crucial matter of slavery should be determined by each state, according to their own laws, and not by the Federal Government.
Despite losing the 1860 elections, Douglas stayed loyal to the Union cause and continued to rally support for it.