into certainty, the feelings of Douglas can be imagined, but not described.  He had committed himself, and,—­so far as in him lay,—­his party, to the line of 54 deg. 40’, in full confidence that Polk, party man that he was, would stubbornly contest every inch of that territory.  He had called on the dogs of war in dauntless fashion, and now to find “the standard-bearer of Democracy,” “Young Hickory,” and many of his party, disposed to compromise on 49 deg.,—­it was all too exasperating for words.  In contrast to the soberer counsels that now prevailed, his impetuous advocacy of the whole of Oregon seemed decidedly boyish.  It was greatly to his credit, however, that, while smarting under the humiliation of the moment, he imposed restraint upon his temper and indulged in no bitter language.

Some weeks later, Douglas intimated that some of his party associates had proved false to the professions of the Baltimore platform.  No Democrat, he thought, could consistently accept part of Oregon instead of the whole.  “Does the gentleman,” asked Seddon, drawing him out for the edification of the House, “hold that the Democratic party is pledged to 54 deg. 40’?” Douglas replied emphatically that he thought the party was thus solemnly pledged.  “Does the gentleman,” persisted his interrogator, “understand the President to have violated the Democratic creed in offering to compromise on 49 deg.?” Douglas replied that he did understand Mr. Polk in his inaugural address “as standing up erect to the pledge of the Baltimore Convention.”  And if ever negotiations were again opened in violation of that pledge, “sooner let his tongue cleave to the roof of his mouth than he would defend that party which should yield one inch of Oregon."[217] Evidently he had made up his mind to maintain his ground.  Perhaps he had faint hopes that the administration would not compromise our claims.  He still clung tenaciously to his bill for extending governmental protection over American citizens in Oregon and for encouraging emigration to the Pacific coast; and in the end he had the empty satisfaction of seeing it pass the House.[218]

Meantime a war-cloud had been gathering in the Southwest.  On May 11th, President Polk announced that war existed by act of Mexico.  From this moment an amicable settlement with Great Britain was assured.  The most bellicose spirit in Congress dared not offer to prosecute two wars at the same time.  The warlike roar of the fifty-four forty men subsided into a murmur of mild disapprobation.  Yet Douglas was not among those who sulked in their tents.  To the surprise of his colleagues, he accepted the situation, and he was among the first to defend the President’s course in the Mexico imbroglio.