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er be disturbed by fanatical agitation of moral questions。
And yet there were murmurs of anger against the detested law。 It was hard to compel the descendents of the Puritans to hunt down the fleeing slaves when they believed that the curse of God rested on the institution and that the rights of the fugitive were as sacred as those of his pursuers。 There were outbreaks of defiance； violent rescues； occasional riots。 But resistance was sporadic。 The people were disposed to wash their hands of all responsibility for the law； to deprecate its existence； but； since it had been pronounced a final Compromise； to pray that it might prove so。 In the South the general opinion was that the danger was past and that years of peace were in prospect。 Enthusiastic meetings approving the compromise were held everywhere outside of South Carolina and Mississippi。
While the entire moral victory of the Compromise rested with the people of the South； they had won nothing substantial but the Fugitive Slave Law； which was of questionable value。 The great object for which they had conspired； sinned and fought had slipped from their grasp。 California was a free State。 New Mexico with indecent haste had called a Convention； adopted a Constitution prohibiting slavery； and now demanded admission。
The Compromise； however； bade fair to endure。 Fillmore in his annual message in December said； with perfect truth； that a great majority of the people sympathized in its spirit and purpose and were prepared in all respects to sustain it。 In Congress an optimistic feeling prevailed。 Clay complacently congratulated the country on the general acquiescence in the law and said that it had encountered but little resistance outside of Boston。 Douglas assured the Senate that Illinois in good faith discharged its duty under the late Act。 It was flanked on the east and west by the slave States of Kentucky and Missouri。 It did not intend to become a free negro colony by offering refuge to the fleeing slaves of neighboring States and； not relying on the action of the Federal Government alone for protection； had enacted severe laws of its own to prevent it。 When a Judge in that State he had imposed heavy penalties on citizens convicted of the offense of harboring fugitives from service。 It was the duty of all citizens to sustain and execute the law； a duty imposed by patriotism and loyalty to the Constitution。 But there was an organization in the North to evade and resist the law； with men of talent； genius； energy； daring and desperate purpose at its head。 It was a conspiracy against the Government； and men occupying seats in the Senate were responsible for the outrages the Boston mob perpetrated in resistance of the law。 The Abolitionists were arming negroes in the free States and inciting them to murder anyone who attempted to seize them under the provisions of the law。
Already he aspired to the Presidency and began to jealously guard his reputation against the sinister suspicions which in those days haunted the ambitious statesman。 The great problem which then taxed the ingenuity of the aspiring politician was； how to win the South without alienating the North； or how to hold the North without losing the South。 Irreconcilable differences of opinion on fundamental questions； deepening ominously into passionate hostility of sentiment； were already manifesting themselves。 The task of the politician was to steer his dangerous course between this Scylla and Charybdis。 If he gave color to the suspicion that he even tolerated the growing anti…slavery sentiment of the North； the South would reject him with horror。 If he espoused too warmly the cause that had become so dear to the heart of the South； the North； goaded by its over…sensitive conscience； would spurn him with disgust。 In the existing state of party organization the highest success was not possible without at least partial reconciliation of these irreconcilable forces。 Northern statesmen could not hope to succeed by brave appeals to the passions and prejudices of the South； 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 hear