the life of stephen a. douglas-第7部分
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for they would lose their home constituencies； the worst fatality that can befall an American politician。 They could not hope to succeed by brave appeals to the earnest convictions of the North； for they had not yet authority as affirmative rules of political conduct。
The charge of dodging a vote on the Fugitive Slave bill had annoyed Douglas deeply。 Any doubt cast upon his fidelity to the South in its contest with the rising anti…slavery sentiment would be disastrous。 It was extremely distrustful of Northern politicians and ready to take alarm on the slightest occasion。 When the session was but three weeks old he spoke； defending himself against a series of political charges and boasting his partisan virtues in a way that plainly proclaimed the candidate and savored strongly of the stump。 He explained that he had been called to New York on urgent private business on the day of the passage of the law and that on his return he was taken seriously ill and confined to his bed during the latter part of the session and for weeks after adjournment。 He claimed credit for having written the original Compromise bills which Clay's Committee joined together with a wafer and reported as its own。 He denied vehemently having favored the Wilmot Proviso； excluding slavery from all territory acquired from Mexico； and declared that he had sought to extend the Missouri Compromise line to the Pacific。 He said that the legislature of Illinois had instructed him to vote for the exclusion of slavery from the Territories； and that； while he had cast the vote of his State according to instructions； he had protested against it； and the vote cast was that of the legislature。 He regarded the slavery question as settled forever and had resolved to make no more speeches on it。 He assured them that the Democratic party was as good a Union party as he wanted； and protested against new tests of party fidelity and all interpolations of new matter into the old creed。 He conjured them to avoid the slavery question； with the intimation that； if they did so； it would disappear from Federal politics forever。
Already the approaching presidential nominations were casting their shadows over the political arena。 Though not yet thirty…nine； Douglas was as eager for the Democratic nomination as Webster at seventy was for that of the Whigs。
His picturesque youthfulness； energy and aggressiveness； so strikingly in contrast with the old age； conservatism and timidity of the generation of statesmen with whom he now came in competition； aroused to the highest pitch the enthusiasm of the younger Democrats。 It is not impossible that he could have been nominated but for his own imprudence and that of his counselors； who seem to have been more richly endowed with enthusiasm than wisdom。 To make sure of getting him before the people in the most dramatic way； and at an early stage； they brought out in the January number of the 〃Democratic Review〃 a sensational article which immediately gave him great prominence as a presidential candidate and solidified against him an opposition which assured his defeat。
This famous article said that a new time was at hand； calling for new men； sturdy； clear…headed and honest men。 The Republic must have them even if it must seek them in the forests of Virginia or in the illimitable West。 It was necessary to have a more progressive Democratic Administration than theretofore。 The statesmen of a previous generation； with their antipathies； claims； greatness or inefficiency； must get out of the way。 Age was to be honored； but senility was pitiable。 Statesmen of the old generation were out of harmony with either the Northern or Southern wing of the party。 Those who were not so were men incapable of grasping the difficulties of the times； of fathoming its ideas or controlling its policy。 It had been in the power of these superannuated leaders to do much good； but their unfortunate lack of discreet and progressive statesmanship had ruined the party。 The next nominee for the Presidency must not be trammeled with ideas belonging to an anterior age； but a statesman who could bring young blood； young ideas and young hearts to the councils of the Republic。
〃Your mere general；〃 it continued； 〃whether he can write on his card the battle…fields of Mexico； or more heroically boast of his prowess in a militia review； your mere lawyer； trained in the quiddities of the court； without a political idea beyond a local election； your mere wire…puller and judicious bottle…holder； who claims preeminence now on the sole ground that he once played second fiddle to better men； * * * and above all； your beaten horse； whether he ran for a previous presidential cup as first or second or nowhere at all on the ticket； none of these will do。 The Democratic party expects a new man * * * * of sound Democratic pluck and world…wide ideas to use it on。 * * * Let the Baltimore Convention give to this young generation of America a candidate and we are content。〃
The candidate thus presumptuously demanded by 〃Young America〃 was； of course； Douglas。 the superannuated statesmen； incapable of grasping difficulties； trammeled by the ideas of an anterior age and sinking into pitiable senility； were clearly； Cass； Buchanan and Marcy。 The description of them as the hero of a militia…review； the mere lawyer with his quiddities； the political wire…puller playing second fiddle to better men； was so clear that greater offense could not have resulted from the use of their names。
On June first； 1852； while Congress was still sweltering in the tropical heat of the Capital； the Democratic Convention met at Baltimore； and began its five days of debating and balloting。 There was a general belief that the nominee was certain to be elected。 The Whigs in their Compromise measures had given the Democrats substantially what they wanted。 The chief desire of the latter was to hold fast what they had and secure the administration of the offices。 They proposed no reforms； made no complaint against the Administration。 Their platform endorsed its chief measure。 It pledged the party to the Compromise； including the Fugitive Slave Act； and to 〃resist all attempts to renew the agitation of the slavery question in congress or out of it； under whatever shape or color the attempt might be made。〃 Like most political platforms； it was made to win votes； not to announce moral truths； and the four statesmen who were competing for the nomination believed that platform best which would offend the fewest prejudices。
The speeches were delivered。 the first ballot gave Cass 116； Buchanan 93； Marcy 37 and Douglas 20 votes。 Day after day the managers of the three veteran politicians plotted and counter…plotted and 〃Young America〃 shouted for Douglas。 On the fourth day he had risen to second rank among the candidates； having 91 votes； while Cass had 93。 On the fifth day the four distinguished statesmen were dropped and Franklin Pierce； an inoffensive New Hampshire politician； was nominated。
The Whig convention met at Baltimore on June 16th。 Already the Whigs； though in power； were demoralized。 Their mission； never very glorious； was ended。 In the North； tinctured with the old Puritanism and sincere reverence for the primary rights of man； there was a widely diffused feeling that a party responsible for the Fugitive Slave Law could be spared without great loss to civilization。
In the South slavery had definitely placed itself under the protection of the Democratic party as the more reliable； if not the more subservient； of the two。 There was an appropriate funereal air about the Convention as it struggled with the question of who should stand on its platform of pitiful negations。 The platform solemnly declared that the Compromise Acts； including the Fugitive Slave Law； were acquiesced in by the Whig party as a settlement of the dangerous and exciting questions which they embraced。 It insisted upon the strict enforcement of the Compromise and deprecated all further agitation of the question thus settled。 If further evidence of the collapse of the party were required； it was furnished by the attitude and character of the candidates。 Fillmore was a passive candidate。 Webster； his Secretary of State； was an eager competitor。 General Scott； though without experience in civil affairs； was the third candidate and received the nomination。
This was the last serious appearance of the Whig party on the stage of national politics。 The election resulted in the overwhelming defeat of Scott and the gradual dissolution of the party。
Chapter VI。 The Repeal of the Missouri Compromise。
In January； 1853； Mrs。 Douglas died。 In 1856 he married Miss Adele Cutts of Washington； a Southern lady of good family。
He was reelected Senator in 1853 without serious opposition。 He had hitherto been one of the most earnest defenders of the sacredness of the Missouri Compromise。 He had strenuously sought to extend it to the Pacific。 In 1848 he had declared it as inviolable as the Constitution； 〃canonized in the hearts of the American people as a sacred thing which no ruthless hand would ever be reckless enough to disturb。〃 But events had moved fast and he moved with them； adjusting his opinions to the advancing demands of the dominant wing of his party。
During half a century the people of the South had been in control of the Government； but Nature and advancing civilization had been steadily against them。 They had won a brilliant victory in the Southwest； but found it barren。 The only remaining territory in which they could hope to plant slavery was that stretching westward from Missouri； Iowa and Minnesota to the borders of Utah and Oregon。 It was wholly unorganized； devoted mainly to Indian reservations。 The plan was to organize this region； embracing the present States of Kansas； Nebraska； South Dakota； North Dakota； Montana； and parts of Colorado and Wyoming； into a Territory to be called Nebraska。 The final contest between freedom and slavery for the possession of the public domain was now to be waged。
The South was at this time in peculiarly favorable situation。 The right to recover runaway slaves was secured。 Both the political parties had declared in favor of maintai
