In spite of this coquetting with the Saints, the Democratic candidate suffered defeat.  It was observed with alarm that the Mormons held the balance of power in the district, and might even become a makeweight in the State elections, should they continue to increase in numbers.[138] The Democrats braced themselves for a new trial of strength in the gubernatorial contest.  The call for a State convention was obeyed with alacrity;[139] and the outcome justified the high expectations which were entertained of this body.  The convention nominated for governor, Adam W. Snyder, whose peculiar availability consisted in his having fathered the Judiciary Bill and the several acts which had been passed in aid of the Mormons.  The practical wisdom of this nomination was proved by a communication of Joseph Smith to the official newspaper of Nauvoo.  The pertinent portion of this remarkable manifesto read as follows:  “The partisans in this county who expected to divide the friends of humanity and equal rights will find themselves mistaken,—­we care not a fig for Whig or Democrat:  they are both alike to us; but we shall go for our friends, our TRIED FRIENDS, and the cause of human liberty which is the cause of God....  DOUGLASS is a Master Spirit, and his friends are our friends—­we are willing to cast our banners on the air, and fight by his side in the cause of humanity, and equal rights—­the cause of liberty and the law.  SNYDER and MOORE, are his friends—­they are ours....  Snyder, and Moore, are known to be our friends; their friendship is vouched for by those whom we have tried.  We will never be justly charged with the sin of ingratitude—­they have served us, and we will serve them."[140]

This was a discomfiting revelation to the Whigs, who had certainly labored as industriously as the Democrats, to placate the Saints of Nauvoo.  From this moment the Whigs began a crusade against the Mormons, who were already, it is true, exhibiting the characteristics which had made them odious to the people of Missouri.[141] Rightly or wrongly, public opinion was veering; and the shrewd Duncan, who headed the Whig ticket, openly charged Douglas with bargaining for the Mormon vote.[142] The Whigs hoped that their opponents, having sowed the wind, would reap the whirlwind.

Only three months before the August elections of 1844, the Democrats were thrown into consternation by the death of Snyder, their standard-bearer.  Here was an emergency to which the convention system was not equal, in the days of poor roads and slow stage-coaches.  What happened was this, to borrow the account of the chief Democratic organ, “A large number of Democratic citizens from almost all parts of the State of Illinois met together by a general and public call”—­and nominated Judge Thomas Ford for governor.[143] It adds significance to this record to note that this numerous body of citizens met in the snug office of the State