and it was passed largely by the young Stephen A. Douglas,

法案得到年轻的斯蒂芬·道格拉斯极大的支持
who took over the management.

他接过民主党的大旗
He was about 38-years-old at this point,

他当时才三十八岁
Senator from Illinois, a young titan--

一位年轻的巨人来自伊利诺斯州的参议员
small as he was, five foot six--

虽然个子矮小五英尺六(约一米六七)
a young titan of the Democratic Party from Illinois.

一位年轻的来自伊利诺斯州的民主党巨人
He was really the parliamentary manager

在1850年从三月开始
in the midst of the debates

持续到夏天的国会辩论期间
from March into the summer of 1850.

他是国会真正的经理人
There were threats of disunion from Southerners every other day--

每隔一天就有南方州威胁说要脱离联邦
brave threats in Southern newspapers.

在南方各州报纸上明目张胆地进行威胁
So what Douglas did is a classic parliamentary maneuver.

道格拉斯所做的是打场经典的国会策略战