MoFed, I believe a lot of Lincoln's comments in the Lincoln-Douglas debates had to do with Democratic charges that Republican policy would lead to "race mingling". Lincoln in a sarcastic refrain brought up Douglas' friend...one time vice president Richard Mentor Johnson...who unlike many...openly lived with his slave, Julia Chinn. Ms. Chinn was said to be an Octoroon, but still a slave. Johnson also took credit got killing Tecumseh in battle. Johnson did treat his two daughters by Ms. Chinn as his own and had them married to white men....along with quite a bit of property as a dowry...However when Johnson died, the State ruled that he had no wife or children and his estate was divided between his two brothers.