This distant territory was a Democratic stronghold, and acceptance of the post would have disrupted his legal and political career in Illinois, so he declined and resumed his law practice.
ðɪs dˈɪstənt tˈɛɹɪtˌoːɹi wʌzɐ dˌɛməkɹˈæɾɪk stɹˈɔŋhoʊld, ænd ɐksˈɛptəns ʌvðə pˈoʊst wʊdhɐv dɪsɹˈʌptᵻd hɪz lˈiːɡəl ænd pəlˈɪɾɪkəl kɚɹˈɪɹ ɪn ˌɪlənˈɔɪ, sˌoʊ hiː dᵻklˈaɪnd ænd ɹᵻzˈuːmd hɪz lˈɔː pɹˈæktɪs.