I have supposed myself, since the organization of the Republican party at Bloomington, in May, 1856, bound as a party man by the platforms of the party, then and since.  If in any interrogatories which I shall answer I go beyond the scope of what is within these platforms, it will be perceived that no one is responsible but myself.

Having said thus much, I will take up the Judge’s interrogatories as I find them printed in the Chicago Times, and answer them seriatim.  In order that there may be no mistake about it, I have copied the interrogatories in writing, and also my answers to them.  The first one of these interrogatories is in these words: 

Question 1.—­“I desire to know whether Lincoln to-day stands, as he did in 1854, in favor of the unconditional repeal of the Fugitive Slave law?” Answer:—­I do not now, nor ever did, stand in favor of the unconditional repeal of the Fugitive Slave law.

Q. 2.—­“I desire him to answer whether he stands pledged to-day, as he did in 1854, against the admission of any more slave States into the Union, even if the people want them?” Answer:—­I do not now, nor ever did, stand pledged against the admission of any more slave States into the Union.

Q. 3.—­“I want to know whether he stands pledged against the admission of a new State into the Union with such a constitution as the people of that State may see fit to make?” Answer:—­I do not stand pledged against the admission of a new State into the Union, with such a constitution as the people of that State may see fit to make.

Q. 4.—­“I want to know whether he stands to-day pledged to the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia?” Answer:—­I do not stand to-day pledged to the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia.

Q. 5.—­“I desire him to answer whether he stands pledged to the prohibition of the slave-trade between the different States?” Answer:—­I do not stand pledged to the prohibition of the slave-trade between the different States.

Q. 6.—­“I desire to know whether he stands pledged to prohibit slavery in all the Territories of the United States, north as well as south of the Missouri Compromise line?” Answer:—­I am impliedly, if not expressly, pledged to a belief in the right and duty of Congress to prohibit slavery in all the United States ’Territories.

Q. 7.—­“I desire him to answer whether he is opposed to the acquisition of any new territory unless slavery is first prohibited therein?” Answer:—­I am not generally opposed to honest acquisition of territory; and, in any given case, I would or would not oppose such acquisition, accordingly as I might think such acquisition would or would not aggravate the slavery question among ourselves.

Now, my friends, it will be perceived, upon an examination of these questions and answers, that so far I have only answered that I was not pledged to this, that, or the other.  The Judge has not framed his interrogatories to ask me anything more than this, and I have answered in strict accordance with the interrogatories, and have answered truly, that I am not pledged at all upon any of the points to which I have answered.  But I am not disposed to hang upon the exact form of his interrogatory.  I am rather disposed to take up at least some of these questions, and state what I really think upon them.