majority, and adjourned to meet at Richmond on the same day.

Bitter thoughts filled the home-going delegates. Douglas' Northwestern
friends talked rancorously of the South; while, in their bitterness,
Yancey and his followers exulted in the defeat of the Illinois
Senator. "Men will be cutting one another's throats in a little
while," said Alexander H. Stephens. "In less than twelve months we
shall be in war, and that the bloodiest in history. Men seem to be
utterly blinded to the future."[532]

[Footnote 532: James F. Rhodes, _History of the United States_, Vol.
2, p. 453.]

"Do you not think matters may be adjusted at Baltimore?" asked R.M.
Johnston. "Not the slightest chance of it," was the reply. "The party
is split forever. Douglas will not retire from the stand he has taken.
The only hope was at Charleston. If the party would be satisfied with
the Cincinnati platform and would cordially nominate Douglas, we
should carry the election; but I repeat to you that is impossible."[533]

[Footnote 533: _Ibid._, p. 455.]

Between the conventions the controversy moved to the floor of the
United States Senate. "We claim protection for slavery in the
territories," said Jefferson Davis, "first, because it is our right;
secondly, because it is the duty of the general government."[534] In
replying to Davis several days later, Douglas said: "My name never
would have been presented at Charleston except for the attempt to
proscribe me as a heretic, too unsound to be the chairman of a
committee in this body, where I have held a seat for so many years
without a suspicion resting on my political fidelity. I was forced to
allow my name to go there in self-defence; and I will now say that had
any gentleman, friend or foe, received a majority of that convention
over me the lightning would have carried a message withdrawing my
name."[535]

[Footnote 534: _Ibid._, p. 453.]

[Footnote 535: James F. Rhodes, _History of the United States_, Vol.
2, p. 455.]

A few days afterward Davis referred to the matter again. "I have a
declining respect for platforms," he said. "I would sooner have an
honest man on any sort of a rickety platform you could construct than
to have a man I did not trust on the best platform which could be
made." This stung Douglas. "If the platform is not a matter of much
consequence," he demanded, "why press that question to the disruption
of the party? Why did you not tell us in the beginning of this debate
that