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*.
