Before starting out on his circuit Douglas gave conspicuous proof of his influence in the lobby, and incidentally, as it happened, cast bread upon the waters.  The Mormons who had recently settled in Nauvoo, in Hancock County, had petitioned the legislature for acts incorporating the new city and certain of its peculiar institutions.  Their sufferings in Missouri had touched the people of Illinois, who welcomed them as a persecuted sect.  For quite different reasons, Mormon agents were cordially received at the Capitol.  Here their religious tenets were less carefully scrutinized than their political affiliations.  The Mormons found little trouble in securing lobbyists from both parties.  Bills were drawn to meet their wishes and presented to the legislature, where parties vied with each other in befriending the unfortunate refugees from Missouri.[134]

Chance—­or was it design?—­assigned Judge Douglas to the Quincy circuit, within which lay Hancock County and the city of Nauvoo.  The appointment was highly satisfactory to the Mormons, for while they enjoyed a large measure of local autonomy by virtue of their new charter, they deemed it advantageous to have the court of the vicinage presided over by one who had proved himself a friend.  Douglas at once confirmed this good impression.  He appointed the commander of the Nauvoo Legion a master in chancery; and when a case came before him which involved interpretation of the act incorporating this peculiar body of militia, he gave a constructive interpretation which left the Mormons independent of State officers in military affairs.[135] Whatever may be said of this decision in point of law, it was at least good politics; and the dividing line between law and politics was none too sharply drawn in the Fifth Judicial District.

Politicians were now figuring on the Mormon vote in the approaching congressional election.  The Whigs had rather the better chance of winning their support, if the election of 1840 afforded any basis for calculation, for the Mormons had then voted en bloc for Harrison and Tyler.[136] Stuart was a candidate for re-election.  It was generally believed that Ralston, whom the Democrats pitted against him, had small chance of success.  Still, Judge Douglas could be counted on to use his influence to procure the Mormon vote.

Undeterred by his position on the bench, Douglas paid a friendly visit to the Mormon city in the course of the campaign; and there encountered his old Whig opponent, Cyrus Walker, Esq., who was also on a mission.  Both made public addresses of a flattering description.  The Prophet, Joseph Smith, was greatly impressed with Judge Douglas’s friendliness.  “Judge Douglas,” he wrote to the Faithful, “has ever proved himself friendly to this people; and interested himself to obtain for us our several charters, holding at the same time the office of Secretary of State.”  But what particularly flattered the Mormon leader, was the edifying spectacle of representatives from both parties laying aside all partisan motives to mingle with the Saints, as “brothers, citizens, and friends."[137] This touching account would do for Mormon readers, but Gentiles remained somewhat skeptical.