FEDERAL RELATIONS OF OREGON resentation,
little
379
the
in
Legislature in the issue, especially after a convention, in the spring of 1857 to nominate a candidate for Delegate to Congress, had proclaimed that "We deny 1856-7.
although
weight,
The Democrats were divided over
the right of any state to interfere with such domestic institutions of other states as are recognized
by the constitution."
The
disruptive tendencies of this declaration were added to by an attempt of the dominant faction to gag all independent action within the party. In August, 1859, the constitutional convention
From
the first
it
was decided
that there should be
was held. no discus-
sion of the slavery issue in the convention, but that the question should be submitted to the people with the constitution which
should be framed. Accordingly two propositions went before the electorate in addition to the constitution Should there be
Oregon ? Should free negroes be permitted to live in Oregon? The constitution itself provided that no negro, mulatto, or Chinaman should be allowed to vote, neither could Chinese, slavery in
immigrating to Oregon after the adoption of the constitution, hold land or mining claims, or work the latter, and the Legislature was to enact suitable laws to enforce these prohibitions.
The
constitution fixed the boundaries of the State as
the Senate Committee on Territories had, except that for the 46th parallel eastward from the Columbia the line was placed farther north in order to bring the Walla Walla valley within the limits of Oregon. qualifying clause allowed the line to
A
be moved back to 46 if Congress should so will; and ConIn its general features the constitution was not gress did. materially different from most State constitutions framed in
one provision, however, is worthy of note, for it forbade making the property and pecuniary rights of women Half of liable for the debts or contracts of their husbands.
that period
each donation claim taken by a married man, then, was the absolute property of the wife. In November the people voted on the propositions and the In a poll of slightly over 10,000, slavery was constitution. a majority of 5,082; free negroes were debarred rejected by
