Had Mr. Douglas been born four months sooner than he was, he would have been a Senator of the United States in 1842, when his age would have been thirty years; but owing to the fact that he would not be thirty until April of the following year, his friends found it would be unadvisable to elect him.  In November, 1843, however, he was elected to the House, after passing through one of the most exciting canvasses ever known in the West.  Everywhere he met the people on the stump.  That seemed to be his appropriate forum, and the only position in which he could indulge in his peculiarly popular style of oratory.  His greatest achievement during that Congress was his speech in defence of General Jackson,—­a speech begun when the seats and halls were comparatively empty, but concluded in the presence of an overwhelming audience.  After the adjournment of Congress, delegations from many of the States were sent to a monster Jackson Convention held at Nashville, and Mr. Douglas was a member of the Illinois Committee.  By invitation, he stopped at the Hermitage.  Hundreds of others were calling to pay their respects to the old hero, and to congratulate him upon his triumph, when Douglas entered.  He was short and plain, and attracted little attention, till presented by Governor Clay of Alabama.  On the announcement of his name, the General raised his still brilliant eyes, and gazed for a moment on the countenance of the Judge, still retaining his hand.

“Are you the Mr. Douglas of Illinois who delivered a speech last session on the subject of the fine imposed on me for declaring martial law at New Orleans?” he asked.

“I have delivered a speech in the House on that subject,” replied Douglas.

“Then stop,” said the General; “sit down here beside me; I desire to return you my thanks for that speech.”

And then, in the presence of that distinguished company, the aged soldier expressed his gratitude for the words so kindly and justly spoken, and assured him of his great obligations.  At the conclusion of the interview, Douglas, who was unable to utter a word, grasped convulsively the aged veteran’s hand and left the hall.

At his death.  General Jackson left all his papers to Mr. Blair, the editor of the Washington “Globe,” and among them was a printed copy of the speech, with this indorsement, written and signed by himself:—­“This speech constitutes my defence:  I lay it aside as an inheritance for my grandchildren.”

In the famous Compromise struggle of 1850, Judge Douglas developed great strength of will and wonderful executive ability.  With Henry Clay he was on the most friendly terms, and that statesman once said of him, that he knew of “no man so entirely an embodiment of American ideas and American institutions as Mr. Douglas.”  It is well known that to Senator Douglas belongs the credit of initiating the great “Compromise Bill,” and that, though reported by Mr. Clay as from the Select Committee of the Senate, it was in reality