Both parties now drew upon their reserves.  Douglas went to the front whenever and wherever there was hard fighting to be done.[114] He seemed indefatigable.  Once again he met Major Stuart on the platform.[115] He was pitted against experienced campaigners like ex-Governor Duncan and General Ewing of Indiana.  Douglas made a fearless defence of Democratic principles in a joint debate with both these Whig champions at Springfield.[116] The discussion continued far into the night.  In his anxiety to let no point escape, Douglas had his supper brought to him; and it is the testimony of an old Whig who heard the debate, that Duncan was “the worst used-up man” he ever saw.[117] Whether Douglas took the field as on this occasion, or directed the campaign from headquarters, he was cool, collected, and resourceful.  If the sobriquet of “the Little Giant” had not already been fastened upon him, it was surely earned in this memorable campaign of 1840.  The victory of Van Buren over Harrison in Illinois was little less than a personal triumph for Douglas, for Democratic reverses elsewhere emphasized the already conspicuous fact that Illinois had been saved only by superior organization and leadership.

* * * * *

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 36:  Joseph Wallace in a letter to the Illinois State Register, April 30, 1899.]

[Footnote 37:  Illinois State Register, April 30, 1899.]

[Footnote 38:  Sheahan, Life of Douglas, pp. 16-17.]

[Footnote 39:  Sheahan’s account of this incident (pp. 18-20) is confused.  The episode is told very differently in the MS. Autobiography.]

[Footnote 40:  MS. Autobiography.]

[Footnote 41:  In the Autobiography, Douglas makes a vigorous defense of his connection with the whole affair.]

[Footnote 42:  Just when he dropped the final s, I am unable to say.  Joseph Wallace thinks that he did so soon after coming to Illinois.  See Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society, 1901, p. 114.]

[Footnote 43:  Joseph Wallace in the Illinois State Register, April 30, 1899.]

[Footnote 44:  Douglas tells the story with great relish in his autobiography.  The title of the act reads “An Act creating M’Lean County,” but the body of the act gives the name as McLean.  Douglas had used the exact letters of the name, though he had twisted the capital letters, writing a capital C for a capital L.]

[Footnote 45:  Ford, History of Illinois, pp. 285-286; see contemporary newspapers.]

[Footnote 46:  Illinois Advocate, May 4, 1835.]

[Footnote 47:  Ibid., May 6, 1835.]

[Footnote 48:  Illinois Advocate, Dec. 17, 1835; Sangamo Journal, Feb. 6, 1836.]

[Footnote 49:  Sangamo Journal, February 6, 1836.]

[Footnote 50:  There was one exception, see Sheahan, Douglas, p. 26.]