Of this doctrine Mr.Breckinridge was the Southern representative, and he had for that very reason been associated with Mr.Buchanan on the Presidential ticket.

On the other hand, the North was consoled, it would not be unfair to say cajoled, with the doctrine of popular sovereignty as defined by Mr.Douglas; and this gave to the people of the Territories the absolute right to settle the question of slavery for themselves at any time.

The doctrine had, however, been utterly destroyed by the Dred Scott decision, and, to the confusion of all lines of division and distinction, Mr.Douglas had approved the opinion of the Supreme Court.
Douglas had little trouble in making answer in an _ad captandum_ manner to all Mr.Lincoln's questions save one.

The crucial test was applied when Mr.Lincoln asked him "if the people of a Territory can, in any lawful way, against the wishes of any citizen of the United States, exclude slavery from their limits prior to the formation of a State constitution ?" In the first debate, when Douglas had the opening, he had, in the popular judgment, rather worsted Mr.Lincoln.

His greater familiarity with the arts if not the tricks of the stump had given him an advantage.