LESTER BURRELL SHIPPER
268
were unwilling that a decisive step should be taken with Oregon. "The territories of the United States belong to the several States composing this Union," read the resolutions, "and are held in common by them as their joint and common property" no discrimination between the States could be made by
Congress, their common agent, so that any State should be deprived of its full and equal rights in any territory, acquired or to be acquired.
"The enactment of any law which should
directly, or by deprive the citizens of any of the States of this Union from emigrating, with their property, into any of the territories of the United States, will make such discrimination, and would therefore be a violation of the Constitution, and the rights of the States from which such citizens emigrated, and in derogation of that perfect equality which belongs to them as members of this Union, and would tend directly to subvert the Union itself." its effects,
Moreover, Calhoun went on to state in his declaration of faith, it was a fundamental principle of the American political creed that a people has the right to form that sort of a government which seems best adapted to its needs; this principle is embodied in the Constitution, consequently any attempt on the part of Congress to place upon a people any other restrictions than that its government shall be republican would be not only against the Constitution but "in direct conflict with
the principle on which out political system rests." The skirmish of 1846-7, therefore, but presaged the bitter strife which waged in 1847-8 about Oregon and its territorial
organization but not with reference to it as such. With such a fate for the most important measure recommended by the President it is not surprising that the minor
suggestions were not followed out. some little discussion of the Senate
There was, to be bill
sure,
intended to provide
for a survey of the lands in Oregon and to make grants to It did not pass, although it reached the third reading, for it was recommitted on account of two features; no
settlers. 12
12 Globe,
XVII,
219,
255-6,
266,
275-6, 293-4.
