In the North it was impossible for the Democrats to succeed with the Southern platform, but in the South it was, in their judgment, entirely easy to carry the Douglas platform.

From the committee the contest was transferred to the convention, and there the Douglas men were in a majority.

They did not hesitate to use their strength, and by a vote of 165 to 138 they substituted the minority platform for that of the majority.

It was skillfully accomplished under the lead of Henry B.Payne of Ohio and Benjamin Samuels of Iowa.

The total vote of the convention was 303,--the number of Presidential electors; and every vote had been cast on the test question.