Abraham Lincoln and Steven Douglas are having debate number 3 in Jonesboro, Illiniois when Douglas quotes Lincoln from his party acceptance speech where Lincoln makes it clear that the issue of slavery agitation is a deterrent to his idea of a unified America - not slavery itself.  In fact will confess in later years that he would not have messed with the institution of slavery where it existed if he could keep the union together.  Above all else, Lincoln wanted the union to stay together and he would sacrifice the lives of over 650,000 Americans to make it happen.

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=26380742)