The third debate was held in Jonesboro, in the southern tip of the state, the region known as “Egypt.” It was Democratic country but also the area of [President James] Buchanan’s greatest strength. This region had the most homogeneous population, and the greatest aversion to Negroes, of the state. There were few Republican votes to be had; [John C.] Freemont had received but 3.8 percent of the country’s total vote in 1856.

At Freeport, Lincoln was clearly more in charge than he had been at Ottawa, only a week earlier. Before this sympathetic “vast audience as strongly tending to Abolitionism as any audience in the State of Illinois,” he turned first to answering the interrogatories Douglas posed at Ottawa. His answers contained no surprises…Then, finally taking the offensive, he posed to Douglas four questions of his own – four questions that were much like those that his Chicago advisers had recommended.