It seemed to an eyewitness of this encounter that the veteran statesman was decidedly worsted.  “The House was divided between admiration for the new actor on the great stage of national affairs and reverence for the retiring chief,” wrote a friend in after years, with more loyalty than accuracy.[229] The Whig side of the chamber was certainly in no mood to waste admiration on any Democrat who defended “Polk the Mendacious.”

Hardly had the war begun when there was a wild scramble among Democrats for military office.  It seemed to the distressed President as though every Democratic civilian became an applicant for some commission.  Particularly embarrassing was the passion for office that seized upon members of Congress.  Even Douglas felt the spark of military genius kindling within him.  His friends, too, were convinced that he possessed qualities which would make him an intrepid leader and a tactician of no mean order.  The entire Illinois delegation united to urge his appointment as Brigadier Major of the Illinois volunteers.  Happily for the President, his course in this instance was clearly marked out by a law, which required him to select only officers already in command of State militia.[230] Douglas was keenly disappointed.  He even presented himself in person to overrule the President’s objection.  The President was kind, but firm.  He advised Douglas to withdraw his application.  In his judgment, Mr. Douglas could best serve his country in Congress.  Shortly afterward Douglas sent a letter to the President, withdrawing his application—­“like a sensible man,” commented the relieved Executive.[231] It is not likely that the army lost a great commander by this decision.

In a State like Illinois, which had been staunchly Democratic for many years, elections during a war waged by a Democratic administration were not likely to yield any surprises.  There was perhaps even less doubt of the result of the election in the Fifth Congressional District.  By the admission of his opponents Douglas was stronger than he had been before.[232] Moreover, the war was popular in the counties upon whose support he had counted in other years.  He had committed no act for which he desired general oblivion; his warlike utterances on Oregon, which had cost him some humiliation at Washington, so far from forfeiting the confidence of his followers, seem rather to have enhanced his popularity.  Douglas carried every county in his district but one, and nearly all by handsome majorities.  He had been first sent to Congress by a majority over Browning of less than five hundred votes; in the following canvass he had tripled his majority; and now he was returned to Congress by a majority of over twenty-seven hundred votes.[233] He had every reason to feel gratified with this showing, even though some of his friends were winning military glory on Mexican battlefields.  So long as he remained content with his seat in the House, there were no clouds in his political firmament.  Not even the agitation of Abolitionists and Native Americans need cause him any anxiety, for the latter were wholly a negligible political quantity and the former practically so.[234] Everywhere but in the Seventh District, from which Lincoln was returned, Democratic Congressmen were chosen; and to make the triumph complete, a Democratic State ticket was elected and a Democratic General Assembly again assured.