The great mass of Northern Democrats began to consolidate in support of Douglas as determinedly as the mass of Northern Whigs had followed Seward.

The Southern Democrats began, at the same time, to organize their States against Douglas.

Until his break from the regular ranks in his opposition to the Lecompton Constitution, Douglas had enjoyed boundless popularity with his party in the South.

In every slave State, there was still a small number of his old supporters who remained true to him.

But the great host had left him.