LESTER BURRELL SHIPPEE
294
made up
already
mind
his
Senate had acted.
to
He had
approve the
bill
even before the
consulted his Cabinet and had
found its m/embers unanimous for approval since Oregon was north of 36 30'. Then, asked he, should he accompany the by a message explaining that this was the reason All agreed that some explanation should be made, although Buchanan qualified his assent by stating that its effect upon Cass' chances of election should be considered, and Walker inclined to think that a statement in the Union would serve the purpose better than a message. Acsigned
bill
for his approval?
cordingly Polk requested Buchanan and Walker to prepare a draft which was read and discussed in Cabinet on the twelfth
had receded from its amendthe draft and with the advice of all his Polk revised ments, official family, except Buchanan, took it with the bill to the on the
thirteenth, after the Senate
Capitol.
When
he arrived at his room there he found the Senate
whether the rules relating to for the measures president's signature on the last presenting should be a of session suspended. Polk frankly told many day
engaged
in a discussion as to
of the Senators that
if
the rule should not be suspended
it
would defeat not only the Oregon bill but many other important measures, and in that case he would immediately issue a proclamation for an extra session of Congress. This threat was sufficient to cause the rules to be suspended, for not only had Congress been in session more than eight months, but the presidential campaign was in full swing and many fences needed immediate attention. Calhoun made one final appeal and urged the President, if he was bound to sign the bill, to do so in the usual manner and not accompany the signature with a mteasure. The request was of no avail and the President signed both bill and message and sent them by his private 49 secretary to the House. 50 Polk reviewed the course of the statesmen In this message of earlier days on the slavery issue including the framing of Globe, XVIII, 49 Polk, Diary, IV, 76-7. 50 Richardson, Messages, IV, 606-10.
1083-4.
