Besides, Douglas’s hold on his own constituents and the West was contingent upon the favor of the strong New England element in the Northwest.  If this convention taught Douglas anything, it must have convinced him that narrow, sectional policies and undue favor to the South would never land him in the White House.  To win the prize which he frankly coveted, he must grow in the national confidence, and not merely in the favor of a single section, however powerful.[393]

Pledges aside, Douglas was bound to give vigorous aid to the party candidates.  His term as senator was about to expire.  His own fortunes were inseparably connected with those of his party in Illinois.  The Washington Union printed a list of his campaign engagements, remarking with evident satisfaction that Judge Douglas was “in the field with his armor on.”  His itinerary reached from Virginia to Arkansas, and from New York to the interior counties of his own State.  Stray items from a speech in Richmond suggest the tenuous quality of these campaign utterances.  It was quite clear to his mind that General Scott’s acceptance of the Whig nomination could not have been written by that manly soldier, but by Politician Scott under the control of General Seward.  Was it wise to convert a good general into a bad president?  Could it be true that Scott had promised the entire patronage of his administration to the Whigs?  Why, “there had never been a Democratic administration in this Union that did not retain at least one-third of their political opponents in office!"[394] And yet, when Pierce had been elected, Douglas could say publicly, without so much as a blush, that Democrats must now have the offices.  “For every Whig removed there should be a competent Democrat put in his place ...  The best men should be selected, and everybody knows that the best men voted for Pierce and King."[395]

The outcome of the elections in Illinois was gratifying save in one particular.  In consequence of the redistricting of the State, the Whigs had increased the number of their representatives in Congress.  But the re-election of Douglas was assured.[396] His hold upon his constituency was unshaken.  With right good will he participated in the Democratic celebration at Washington.  As an influential personage in Democratic councils he was called upon to sketch in broad lines what he deemed to be sound Democratic policy; but only a casual reference to Cuba redeemed his speech from the commonplace.  “Whenever the people of Cuba show themselves worthy of freedom by asserting and maintaining independence, and apply for annexation, they ought to be annexed; whenever Spain is ready to sell Cuba, with the consent of its inhabitants, we ought to accept it on fair terms; and if Spain should transfer Cuba to England or any other European power, we should take and hold Cuba anyhow."[397]