Douglas, who had opposed these extravagant appropriations, having
distinguished himself as a debater, an organizer and a leader, was,
a few days after the adjournment, appointed Register of the United
States Land Office at Springfield, to which place he at once removed.

In the following November he was nominated for Congress. The
district, which included the entire northern part of the State,
was large enough for an empire, with sparse population and wretched
means of communication. The campaign lasted nine months, during
which, having resigned the office of the Register, he devoted himself
to the task of riding over the prairies, interviewing the voters
and speaking in school houses and village halls. The monotony was
relieved by the society of the rival candidate, John T. Stuart,
who as Lincoln's law partner. Stuart was declared elected by a
doubtful majority of five, and Douglas, after soothing his wounded
feelings by apparently well founded charges of an unfair count and
threats of a contest, abandoned it in disgust and returned to his
law office. He announced his determination to quit politics forever.

But in December, 1838, the legislature began a session at the old
Capital. The Governor declared the office of Secretary of State
vacant and appointed John A. McClernand to fill it. Field, the
incumbent, questioned the power of the Governor to remove him and
declined to surrender the office. Quo warranto proceedings were
instituted by McClernand, with Douglas and others as counsel. The
Supreme Court denied the Governor's power of removal. The Court
became involved in the partisan battle which raged with genuine
Western fervor for two years.

In the early weeks of 1841, a bill was passed, reorganizing the