Soon after this well-ordered convention in the little Western town of Pittsfield, came the national convention of the Democratic party at Baltimore, where the unexpected happened.  To Douglas, as to the rank and file of the party, the selection of Polk must have come as a surprise; but whatever predilections he may have had for another candidate, were speedily suppressed.[180] With the platform, at least, he found himself in hearty accord; and before the end of the session he convinced his associates on the Democratic side of the House, that he was no lukewarm supporter of the ticket.

While the Civil and Diplomatic Appropriations bill was under discussion in the House, a desultory debate occurred on the politics of Colonel Polk.  Such digressions were not unusual on the eve of a presidential election.  Seizing the opportunity, Douglas obtained recognition from the Speaker and launched into a turgid speech in defence of Polk, “the standard-bearer of Democracy and freedom.”  It had been charged that Colonel Polk was “the industrious follower of Andrew Jackson.”  Douglas turned the thrust neatly by asserting, “He is emphatically a Young Hickory—­the unwavering friend of Old Hickory in all his trials—­his bosom companion—­his supporter and defender on all occasions, in public and private, from his early boyhood until the present moment.  No man living possessed General Jackson’s confidence in a greater degree....  That he has been the industrious follower of General Jackson in those glorious contests for the defence of his country’s rights, will not be deemed the unpardonable sin by the American people, so long as their hearts beat and swell with gratitude to their great benefactor.  He is the very man for the times—­a ’chip of the old block’—­of the true hickory stump.  The people want a man whose patriotism, honesty, ability, and devotion to democratic principles, have been tested and tried in the most stormy times of the republic, and never found wanting.  That man is James K. Polk of Tennessee."[181]

There could be no better evidence that Douglas felt sure of his own fences, than his willingness to assist in the general campaign outside of his own district and State.  He not only addressed a mass-meeting of delegates from many Western States at Nashville, Tennessee,[182] but journeyed to St. Louis and back again, in the service of the Democratic Central Committee, speaking at numerous points along the way with gratifying success, if we may judge from the grateful words of appreciation in the Democratic press.[183] It was while he was in attendance on the convention in Nashville that he was brought face to face with Andrew Jackson.  The old hero was then living in retirement at the Hermitage.  Thither, as to a Mecca, all good Democrats turned their faces after the convention.  Douglas received from the old man a greeting which warmed the cockles of his heart, and which, duly reported by the editor of the Illinois State Register, who was his companion, was worth many votes at the cross-roads of Illinois.  The scene was described as follows: