SECOND JOINT DEBATE AT FREEPORT, AUGUST 27, 1858

Ladies and Gentlemen; On Saturday last, Judge Douglas and myself first
met in public discussion. He spoke one hour, I an hour and a half, and
he replied for half an hour. The order is now reversed. I am to speak
an hour, he an hour and a half, and then I am to reply for half an
hour. I propose to devote myself during the first hour to the scope of
what was brought within the range of his half-hour speech at Ottawa.
Of course, there was brought within the scope of that half-hour's
speech something of his own opening speech. In the course of that
opening argument Judge Douglas proposed to me seven distinct
interrogatories. In my speech of an hour and a half, I attended to
some other parts of his speech, and incidentally, as I thought,
answered one of the interrogatories then. I then distinctly intimated
to him that I would answer the rest of his interrogatories on condition
only that he should agree to answer as many for me. He made no
intimation at the time of the proposition, nor did he in his reply
allude at all to that suggestion of mine. I do him no injustice in
saying that he occupied at least half of his reply in dealing with me
as though I had _refused_ to answer his interrogatories. I now propose
that I will answer any of the interrogatories, upon condition that he
will answer questions from me not exceeding the same number. I give
him an opportunity to respond. The Judge remains silent. I now say
that I will answer his interrogatories, whether he answers mine or not;
and that after I have done so, I shall propound mine to him.

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