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On August 27, 1858, in the second Lincoln-Douglas debate at Freeport, IL, Stephen A. Douglas declared that, contrary to the Dred Scott decision of The Supreme Court, the people of a territory did indeed have the power to allow or prohibit slavery in their territory prior to statehood. In saying this, Douglas managed to alienate people on both sides of the slavery issue (particularly pro-slavery folks) and the statement would contribute to his loss of the presidency in 1860. Douglas would not have had an easy road to victory regardless of his stance on slavery in the territories because he had built up a reputation on both sides of the Mason Dixon line for being luke warm about the slavery issue in general. His sticking to his "popular sovereignty" philosophy, though principled, was the main factor in his undoing. Voters on both sides apparently wanted their candidate to take one side or the other on the slavery question and Douglas kept his feet firmly planted smack in the middle.