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elonging 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 maintaining and faithfully executing the Compromise。 The people of both sections were in favor of maintaining and faithfully executing the Compromise。 The people of both sections were in favor of standing by their bargain in good faith； the South enjoying its slavery and the North its freedom in peace。 There is no apparent reason why this could not have lasted for many years。 But the South could not rest easy under the sense of increasing hostility to slavery and wanted to entrench it more strongly against assault。 It would like more Senators and was ready to stake everything on the capture of this last territory out of which new States could be carved。
Congress met for a memorable session on December 5th； 1853。 Douglas was chairman of the Committee on Territories； and his trusted lieutenant； Richardson； was chairman of the Territorial Committee of the House。 He was thus in position to control the legislation of deepest importance and greatest political interest。 During the closing days of the last session Richardson had pushed through the House a bill to organize the Territory of Nebraska。 It was reported to the Senate； referred to the Committee on Territories and Douglas attempted in vain to hurry it through。
Dodge of Iowa； now introduced in the Senate a bill for the organization of the Territory which was a copy of the House bill of the last session。 It was referred to the Committee on Territories。 Douglas as chairman on January 4th reported it to the Senate in an altered form； accompanied by an elaborate report。 It provided that when the Territory or any part of it should be admitted as a State it should be with or without slavery as its Constitution should provide。 The report justified this non…committal attitude by citing the similar provisions in the Utah and New Mexico bills。 It declared it a disputed point whether slavery was prohibited in Nebraska by valid enactment。 The constitutional power of Congress to regulate the domestic affairs of the Territories was doubted。 The Committee declined