Douglas Lincoln Debate Museum
Charleston, United States
The fourth Lincoln-Douglas debate was the most significant historical event in Charleston. The debate took place on September 18, 1858, and eleven railroad cars of people from Indiana were among the approximately 12,000 in attendance. Answering Douglas' charge made in Jonosboro that he favored racial equality Lincoln explained his views on race. Lincoln then charged that Douglas was plotting to create a constitution for Kansas without allowing it to be voted upon by the people of Kansas. Lincoln gave a detailed "history" of the 'Nebraska Bill' [Kansas-Nebraska Act] and explained a conspiracy existed to nationalize slavery. Douglas denied any conspiracy with Roger Taney, Franklin Pierce, and James Buchanon and restated the charge that Lincoln favored equality of the races.