Answer:
Third Option: U.S. Senators were not elected by the people, but by the state legislatures.
Explanation:
It is the only statement which is supported by the given text. The last sentence of the text, <em>"Though the debates were well publicized and discussed around the, a vote of the state legislature elected Douglas over Lincoln" </em>supports this inference. Hence, it is a logical inference.
First option is incorrect as it is opposite of what is stated in the text, i.e <em>"Douglas defended the idea of popular sovereignty"</em>
Second option is incorrect because, nowhere in the text is this statement supported. The election of Douglas over Lincoln was not necessarily based wholly on winning the debates.
Fourth option is incorrect because, according to the text, he (Douglas) was criticized for being indifferent to expanding slavery.
