Speech of Hon. S. A. Douglas, of Illinois, in the Senate, January 30, 1854, On the Nebraska Territory

I shall write the speech for you. You will leave the city tomorrow afternoon, and you will not come back. The more reluctant you seem, the more frantic the people will be for your recall. You will be our Cincinnatus, fetched from his plow to save the country from disaster. It is one of the most potent myths in politics, believe me.БЂ«Some of those present were opposed to such a dramatic tactic, considering it too risky. But the idea of appearing modest appealed to PompeyБЂ™s vanity. For is this not the dream of every proud and ambitious man? That rather than having to get down in the dust and fight for power, the people should come crawling to him, begging him to accept it as a gift? The more Pompey thought about it, the more he liked it. His dignity and authority would remain intact, he would have a comfortable few weeks, and if it all went wrong, it would be someone elseБЂ™s fault. БЂњThis sounds very clever,БЂ«said Gabinius, who was dabbing at his split lip. БЂњBut you seem to forget that it is not the people who are the problem; it is the Senate.БЂ«БЂњThe Senate will come around once they wake up to the implications of PompeyБЂ™s retirement ...»