The reply of Douglas was dignified and guarded. He would not speak for or against slavery. The institution was local and sustained by local opinion; by local sentiment it would stand or fall. "In the North it is not expected that we should take the position that slavery is a positive good--a positive blessing. If we did assume such a position, it would be a very pertinent inquiry. Why do you not adopt this institution? We have moulded our institutions at the North as we have thought proper; and now we say to you of the South, if slavery be a blessing, it is your blessing; if it be a curse, it is your curse; enjoy it--on you rest all the responsibility! We are prepared to aid you in the maintenance of all your constitutional rights; and I apprehend that no man, South or North, has shown more consistently a disposition to do so than myself.... But I claim the privilege of pointing out to you how you give strength and encouragement to the Abolitionists of the North."[246] * * * * * FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 223: See Garrison, Westward Extension, Ch. 14.] [Footnote 224: _Globe_, 29 Cong., 1 Sess., p. 815.] [Footnote 225: February 1, 1848.] [Footnote 226: See Bancroft's History of Mexico, pp. 173-174 note.] [Footnote 227: Niles' _Register_, Vol. 50, p. 336.] [Footnote 228: _Globe_, 29 Cong., 1 Sess., pp. 816-817.] [Footnote 229: Forney, Anecdotes of Public Men, I, p. 52.] [Footnote 230: Polk, MS. Diary, Entry for June 22, 1846.] [Footnote 231: Polk, MS. Diary, Entry for June 23, 1846.] [Footnote 232: Even the Alton _Telegraph_, a Whig paper, and in times past no admirer of Douglas, spoke (May 30, 1846) of the "most admirable" speech of Judge Douglas in defense of the Mexican War (May 13th).] [Footnote 233: The official returns were as follows: Douglas 9629 Vandeventer 6864 Wilson 395 ] [Footnote 234: The Abolitionist candidate in 1846 showed no marked gain over the candidate in 1844; Native Americanism had no candidates in the field.] [Footnote 235: Polk, MS. Diary, Entry for September 4, 1846.] [Footnote 236: _Globe_, 29 Cong., 2 Sess., pp. 13-14.] [Footnote 237: Polk, MS. Diary, Entry for December 14, 1846.] [Footnote 238: Ford, History of Illinois, p. 390.] [Footnote 239: Polk, MS. Diary, Entry for January 6, 1847.] [Footnote 240: Forney, Anecdotes of Public Men, I, pp. 146-147.] [Footnote 241: _Globe_, 30 Cong., 1 Sess., p. 92.] [Footnote 242: _Globe_, 30 Cong., 1 Sess., App., p. 222.] [Footnote 243: _Globe_, 32 Cong., 2 Sess., App., p. 172.] [Footnote 244: The debate is reported in the _Globe_, 30 Cong., 1 Sess., App., pp. 500 ff.] [Footnote 245: _Globe_, 30 Cong., 1 Sess., App., p. 506.] [Footnote 246: _Ibid._, p. 507.] CHAPTER VII THE MEXICAN CESSION