" He was
plausible, popular, quick-witted, had winning manners, was most
skilful in the use of words, both to convince his hearers and, at
times, to hide his real meaning. He and Lincoln were old
antagonists. They had first met in the far-away Vandalia days of
the Illinois legislature. In Springfield, Douglas had been the
leader of the young Democrats, while Lincoln had been leader of
the younger Whigs. Their rivalry had not always been confined to
politics, for gossip asserted that Douglas had been one of Miss
Todd's more favored suitors. Douglas in those days had no great
opinion of the tall young lawyer; while Lincoln is said to have
described Douglas as "the least man I ever saw"--although that
referred to his rival's small stature and boyish figure, not to
his mental qualities. Douglas was not only ambitious to be
President: he had staked everything on the repeal of the Missouri
Compromise and his statement that this question of slavery was
one that every State and Territory must settle for itself, but
with which the Federal Government had nothing to do.
Unfortunately, his own party no longer agreed with him. Since
Buchanan had become President the Democrats had advanced their
ground. They now claimed that while a State might properly say
whether or not it would tolerate slavery, slavery ought to be
lawful in all the Territories, no matter whether their people
liked it or not.
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