<P> Douglas was the obvious nominee for the Democrats in the election of 1860, despite the opposition of President Buchanan . Although Douglas was not reappointed chairman of the Senate Committee on Territories, his allies defeated Buchanan for control of the party throughout the North, and in early 1860 he was the front runner for the nomination . </P> <P> However, Douglas faced implacable opposition in the Deep South . When the 1860 Democratic National Convention met in Charleston, South Carolina, on April 23, Douglas supporters included half of the delegates, but very few from the South . Many Southerners openly predicted the collapse of the party and the election of Republican front - runner William H. Seward . </P> <P> The Southern - controlled platform committee explicitly endorsed Dred Scott, and called for Congress to enact a slave code for all the Territories . (That is, Federal law prohibiting any Freeport - style "hostile legislation" by any Territory, and committing Federal authority to protect slavery there .) Douglas supporters responded that with such a platform, they would lose every Northern state . The Convention adopted the committee's minority report, which evaded Dred Scott and rejected a slave code, prompting 50 delegates from seven Southern states to withdraw . </P> <P> The remaining delegates now voted on a Presidential nominee . Douglas received just over 150 votes out of 250 cast, but the Convention's rules required a 2 / 3 majority for a nomination, and chairman Caleb Cushing ruled that 2 / 3 of the entire convention was needed . After 57 ballots, the convention adjourned on May 3 . </P>

In 1854 this illinois senator decided to run for president