Lincoln Douglas debate

After reading the 6th of Abraham Lincoln and Frederic Douglas's debate, i learned about what their stances on slavery were, and how similar it was to the modern presidential debates.
In the debate they talked about their opinions on weather slavery should be allowed in the United states, and about what Slaves natural rights should be, and are they equal to white people.
Lincoln had a very strong opinion on this subject. his view was that their should be no slaves in any of the states in America, and that black should be treated equally to whites."I will add this, that if there be any man who does not believe that slavery is wrong in the three aspects which I have mentioned, or in any one of them, that man is misplaced, and ought to leave us."
Douglas however, believed in popular sovereignty, which meant that each state should chose their own laws. In Douglas's way, slavery would be allowed in certain states, but he never specifies if he is for or against slavery."I hold that under the Constitution of the United States, each State of this Union has a right to do as it pleases on the subject of slavery."
One similarity i noticed between the Lincoln Douglas debates and the 2008 presidential and vice presidential debates was they always contradict each other. Douglas said that Lincoln was not being truthful about his opinions on slavery, and McCain is always contradicting Obama, by saying that he will increase taxes, when he actually wants to lower taxes for the lower class and small businesses, and increasing taxes for people who can afford them.



Lincoln Douglas senatorial debate 6 http://www.nps.gov/archive/liho/debate6.htm