The evident purpose was to lay down doctrines and prescribe tests which Douglas could not accept, and thus to exclude him, not only from candidacy, but from further participation in the councils of the party.
QUARREL OF DEMOCRATIC FACTIONS.
The courage of the Northern Democrats was more conspicuously shown in their resistance to these demands than in the declarations which they desired to substitute.

They quietly abandoned all their assertions in regard to popular sovereignty, refrained from any protest against the doctrine that the Constitution carried slavery as far as its jurisdiction extended, and contented themselves with a resolution that "inasmuch as differences of opinion exist in the Democratic party as to the nature and extent of the powers of a Territorial Legislature, and as to the powers and duties of Congress under the Constitution of the United States over the institution of slavery within the Territories, the Democratic party will abide by the decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States upon questions of Constitutional law." This was perhaps the best device practicable at the time; and had it been adopted with Douglas as the candidate, and a united Democracy supporting him, it is not improbable that a successful campaign might have been made.

But it was a makeshift, uncandid, unfair, cunningly contrived to evade the full responsibility of the situation.

It was a temporizing expedient, and did not frankly meet the question which was engaging the thoughts of the people.

Had it succeeded, nothing would have been settled.