Douglas faced the critical question without the slightest hesitation.  “It matters not what way the Supreme Court may hereafter decide as to the abstract question whether slavery may or may not go into a Territory under the Constitution, the people have the lawful means to introduce it or exclude it as they please, for the reason that slavery cannot exist a day or an hour anywhere, unless it is supported by local police regulations.  Those police regulations can only be established by the local legislature; and if the people are opposed to slavery, they will elect representatives to that body who will by unfriendly legislation effectually prevent the introduction of it into their midst.  If, on the contrary, they are for it, their legislation will favor its extension.  Hence, no matter what the decision of the Supreme Court may be on that abstract question, still the right of the people to make a slave Territory or a free Territory is perfect and complete under the Nebraska Bill.  I hope Mr. Lincoln deems my answer satisfactory on that point"[726]

The other three questions involved less risk for the advocate of popular sovereignty.  He would vote to admit Kansas without the requisite population for representation in Congress, if the people should frame an unobjectionable constitution.  He would prefer a general rule on this point, but since Congress had decided that Kansas had enough people to form a slave State, she surely had enough to constitute a free State.  He scouted the imputation in the third question, that the Supreme Court could so far violate the Constitution as to decide that a State could not exclude slavery from its own limits.  He would always vote for the acquisition of new territory, when it was needed, irrespective of the question of slavery.[727]

Smarting under Lincoln’s animadversions respecting the Springfield resolutions, Douglas explained his error by quoting from a copy of the Illinois State Register, which had printed the resolutions as the work of the convention at the capital.  He gave notice that he would investigate the matter, “when he got down to Springfield.”  At all events there was ample proof that the resolutions were a faithful exposition of Republican doctrine in the year 1854.  Douglas then read similar resolutions adopted by a convention in Rockford County.  One Turner, who was acting as one of the moderators, interrupted him at this point, to say that he had drawn those very resolutions and that they were the Republican creed exactly.  “And yet,” exclaimed Douglas triumphantly, “and yet Lincoln denies that he stands on them.  Mr. Turner says that the creed of the Black Republican party is the admission of no more slave States, and yet Mr. Lincoln declares that he would not like to be placed in a position where he would have to vote for them.  All I have to say to friend Lincoln is, that I do not think there is much danger of his being placed in such a position....  I propose, out of mere kindness, to relieve him from any such necessity."[728]