is necessary to its enjoyment.  The judicial authority, as provided in the Constitution, must be sustained, and its decisions implicitly obeyed and faithfully executed.  The laws must be administered, and the constituted authorities upheld, and all unlawful resistance to these things must be put down with firmness, impartiality, and fidelity.”  “The Constitution and the equality of the States,” wrote Breckinridge, “these are symbols of everlasting union.  Let these be the rallying cries of the people.”  Bell declared that, if elected, all his ability, strength of will, and official influence should be employed “for the maintenance of the Constitution and the Union against all opposing influences and tendencies.”  Even President Buchanan, in a little campaign speech from the portico of the Executive mansion, hastened to purge himself of the imputation of suspicion or fear on this point.  He declared that neither of the Democratic conventions was “regular,” and that therefore every Democrat was at liberty to vote as he thought proper.  For himself, he preferred Breckinridge.  The Democratic party, when divided for the moment, “has always closed up its ranks, and become more powerful even from defeat.  It will never die whilst the Constitution and the Union survive.  It will live to protect and defend both.”

No progress was made, however, towards a reunion of the Democratic party.  The Buchanan faction everywhere waged unrelenting war on Douglas, both in public discussion and in the use of official patronage.  The contest was made with equal obstinacy and bitterness in the Northern and the Southern States.  Douglas, on his part, was not slow to retaliate.  He immediately entered on an extensive campaign tour, and made speeches at many of the principal cities of the Northern States, and a few in the slave-States.  Everywhere he stigmatized the Breckinridge wing of the Democracy as an extremist and disunion faction,[2] charging that it was as obnoxious and dangerous as the Republicans.  Whatever be his errors, it must be recorded to his lasting renown that he boldly declared for maintaining the Union by force.  At Norfolk, Virginia, the question was put to him in writing.  “I answer emphatically,” replied Douglas, “that it is the duty of the President of the United States, and all others in authority under him, to enforce the laws of the United States passed by Congress, and as the courts expound them, and I, as in duty bound by my oath of fidelity to the Constitution, would do all in my power to aid the Government of the United States in maintaining the supremacy of the laws against all resistance to them, come from what quarter it might.  In other words, I think the President, whoever he may be, should treat all attempts Douglas, to break up the Union by resistance to the laws, as Old Hickory treated the nullifiers in 1832.”

  [Sidenote] Douglas, Norfolk Speech, August 25, 1860.