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tion and threatened to disrupt the party。
As Douglas； anxious but unfaltering； rose to speak； there was a hush in the crowded Chamber。 After a sneering allusion to his controversy with Black； he announced his purpose to defend himself against the attack made by Davis。 The speech occupied two days in its delivery and was a unique and artistic piece of senatorial politics。 It was addressed less to the Senate than to the adjourned Charleston Convention。 He exhaustively proved the soundness of Democracy and repelled the charge of heresy by rehearsing the history of Democratic Conventions and platforms since 1848； quoting the declarations of the party and its leaders in Convention； on the platform and through the press。
Cass； he said； the author of the now deadly doctrine of popular sovereignty； was nominated in 1848。 The Compromise of 1850 embodied that principle。 The Kansas…Nebraska struggle was settled by expressly adopting it。 The Cincinnati platform； on which all Democrats had stood for four years； distinctly affirmed it。 The Charleston Convention； within a few days； had reaffirmed it。 His own speeches showed that he had adhered to it constantly from the beginning of his career。 The change was not in him but in the Southern wing of the party。 He protested that he did not desire the nomination and only permitted his name to be used that he might be vindicated against the presumptuous efforts of a little coterie to cast doubt upon his Democracy and their attempt to proscribe him as a heretic might be rebuked。
The most hostile critic must feel some sympathy for him in his new and indefensible position。 His now heretical opinions had but recently borne the authentic stamp of Democracy。 His party； following its real sentiments and the judicial interpretation of the Constitution； had silently abandoned its old creed to which he still clung with tenacity and ardor。
Davis； answering； asked him the blunt question； whether； if elected President； he would sign a bill to protect slave property in States； Territories； or the District of Columbia。 He declined to answer suggesting the impropriety of declaring in advance what he would do if elected。
Congress adjourned on June 25th。
Chapter XVIII。 A Noontide Eclipse。
While events in Washington in the spring of 1860 were full of historic interest； greater and more memorable events were occurring in Charleston。 The Democratic Convention met in that city on April 23rd； which brought to the surface a state of feeling at the South that had long been suspected but not certainly known。
There was but one prominent candidate in the field。 Douglas was incomparably the most eminent Democratic statesman of the time。 According to the settled custom of the party； the South； which did not ask the Presidency itself； should have supported him。 But the Southern delegates had resolved that in no event should he be nominated on any platform。
He had a clear majority of the Convention。 But the Democrats； though still wearing a common badge； now constituted two distinct and antagonistic parties； held together not so much by common beliefs as by habits； traditions and sentimental attachment to an old and venerable name。 The Northern Democrats were wholly estranged from those of the South。 The two sections of the party quarreled about the platform； yet the Southerners cared little about that matter if they could name the candidate。 They did not demand a Southern man； for he could not be elected。 They wanted a 〃Northern man with Southern principles；〃 like Pierce or Buchanan。 Of all living men the dexterous and domineering Douglas least suited their demands。 He was probably the only man who could have carried a large enough Northern vote to be elected。 But they could not forget that his popularity at the North was； in part； the result of his great battle against the South which had caused their disastrous defeat。
The Northern delegates insisted on merely approving the Cincinnati platform； while the Southern delegates； who hoped to render Douglas' candidacy impossible； insisted on radical pro…slavery declarations and a denial of all right of the people of a Territory to prevent the holding of slaves。 After a fierce struggle the Northern platform was adopted by a small majority。 Immediately the delegates from Alabama； Mississippi； South Carolina； Louisiana； Florida； Texas； Arkansas and three…fourths of that from Georgia refused to abide by it and withdrew。
The seceders organized another Convention； adopted the radical platform which had been rejected and adjourned to meet at Richmond on the 11th of June。
The regular Convention； meanwhile； found itself unable to do anything。 The settled rule required a vote of two…thirds of all the delegates to select a candidate。 The chairman ruled that in order to be nominated Douglas must have two…thirds of all the delegates elected； notwithstanding the secession。 This required 202 votes。 He had but 152 and the other 50 were not to be had。 On May 3rd； after 57 ballots； the Convention adjourned to meet at Baltimore on June 18th。 Davis； Toombs and the other leaders of the Southern junta in Congress issued an address approving the course of the seceders at Charleston； advising them to take no action at Richmond； but to await the result of the Baltimore Convention and expressing the conviction that； if fair concessions were not made to the South； other delegations would join them。
They accordingly came to Baltimore and demanded their seats in that Convention。 But some of the States had elected new delegations which claimed them。 For days confusion prevailed。 Douglas sent two messages suggesting that his candidacy be dropped。 But there were suppressed by his friends； who inexorably demanded his nomination。 Five more States withdrew and the chairman resigned and joined the seceders。 The Convention reorganized itself and proceeded to ballot。 Douglas received all but thirteen votes； less； however； than the required two…thirds of all the delegates elected。 But a resolution was passed declaring him nominated on the ground that he had received the votes of two…thirds of all delegates present。 Senator Fitzpatrick of Alabama was nominated for Vice…President and the Convention adjourned。 He declined and the Committee placed Herschel V。 Johnson of Georgia in his place。
The seceders； joined by the recent recruits； held their Convention in Baltimore on the 28th of June and nominated John C。 Breckenridge of Kentucky for President and Joseph Lane of Oregon for Vice…President。
This did not bring about a new condition； but revealed one which had existed for many years。 The South was technically right in it demand that the Convention declare itself explicitly in favor of the honest and faithful maintenance of its constitutional rights in the Territories。 These rights had been vehemently denied by the Republicans； but triumphantly established on a solid basis by the decision of the Supreme Court。 Douglas had quibbled over the decision and explained it away until it seemed doubtful whether it in fact settled anything。 The platform adopted by his supporters in the Convention recited the differences of opinion among Democrats as to the exact limits of the powers of the territorial legislature and those of Congress and referred the question again to the Court with a pledge to abide by its decision。 They seemed to forget that the whole question had already been decided in the most sweeping terms in favor of the extreme Southern demands。 It is not impossible that； had the South consented tot his vague and disingenuous platform and vigorously supported Douglas； he might have been elected。 But 〃the South was implacable towards him and deliberately resolved to accept defeat rather than secure a victory under his lead。〃
The Republicans； meanwhile； had held their memorable Convention at Chicago； where； on May 18th； Lincoln had been nominated。 When the news arrived in Washington； it made a great stir。 The Republican Senators and Members gathered around Douglas to hear his judgement of the new statesman who had risen in the West。
〃Gentlemen；〃 he said； 〃 you have nominated a very able and a very honest man。〃
On the adjournment of Congress； disregarding the decorous custom of seventy years； he entered the campaign； making speeches in his own behalf。 He knew from the outset that with only a fraction of his party at his back； his chances of election were slight。 But he fought on fiercely； partly from temperament and partly from conviction that he ought； if possible； to prevent Lincoln's election。 Besides； there was a shadowy possibility of an election by the House of Representatives。 At times his old Democratic enthusiasm returned。 He told one audience that had his party given him undivided support he would have carried every State in the Union against Lincoln； except two。
He was sincerely alarmed for the safety of the Union in case of Lincoln's election； which he believed probable。 He urged upon the South the duty of submitting to the result whatever it might be。 At Norfolk； Virginia； he was asked whether； if Lincoln was elected； the Southern States would be justified in seceding from the Union？
To this he sai