FEDERAL RELATIONS OF OREGON

287

powers to the territory to the effect "that no law repealing the act of the provisional government of said Territory, prohibiting slavery or involuntary servitude, tion extending legislative

be valid until the same shall be approved by Congress." 40 Like most compromises the bill did not meet with ardent

shall

support

who had been responsible for it were disand Underwood was outspoken in his complete oppo-

even those

satisfied,

sition to the principle involved

the portion regarding Oregon,

any Senator without surpower of Conrendering a there to been over have ought compromise on gress slavery 36 30' but this had been defeated by the northern Senators. He urged his compatriots of the South to migrate to California and New Mexico and so settle the question in such a way that they would be satisfied. said he, could not be voted for by all

constitutional objections to the

On

the

morning of July 27th the

bill

was pushed

to the

a twenty-one-hour sitting of the Senate. Durthe all-night session the bill had been resolutely attacked ing final vote after

by the more radical northerners, the Free-Soilers, who wished to wear out their colleagues and force an adjournment before a vote could be taken. Senator Niles was interrupted by Foote

who

called his attention to the

dawning

light.

"Well, sir," calmly replied the gentleman from Connecticut, "then I shall proceed with my argument with renewed en-

...

I have ten distinct heads, containing distinct grounds of objection to the extension of slavery over those There is Territories, which I propose to consider seriatim. plenty of time before us, and I shall proceed very deliberately

ergy.

in this discussion." 41

Dickinson took occasion to taunt his Free-Soil colleagues with having given a portion of Oregon to Great Britain; the "Free-soils" objected to the bill, he said because it gave the people of

Oregon

the right to legislate for themselves

they

40 Appendix to Globe, XVIII, 1141-74, for the discussion. 41 At 2 A. M. Senator Niles was talking and only one Senator besides himself was in sight; he moved an adjournment, and the sleeping members were roused from sofas and chairs in the lobby and anterooms to vote down the Every other attempt to adjourn before the bill was voted on motion, 32 to n. met with the same fat*.