He was recklessly bold.

His brother had been killed by a mob for preaching the doctrine of the Abolitionists, and he seemed almost to court the same fate.

He was daring enough to say to the Southern Democrats, at a time of great excitement in the House, in a speech delivered long before the war, that the negroes were destined to walk to emancipation, as the children of Israel had journeyed to the promised land, "through the _Red_ Sea." Among the Democrats the most conspicuous was William A.Richardson, who had been a devoted adherent of Douglas, and had co-operated with in the repeal of the Missouri Compromise.

A younger adherent of Douglas was John A.Logan, serving in his second term.

He remained however but a short time in the Thirty-seventh Congress.