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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1888)
THE WEST SHORE. 15 vate individual, representing, in an unofficial manner, was introduced and placed upon its passage. This the governor and many of the prominent citizens of i bill contained a clause prohibiting human slavery, Oregon. In fact, the legislature, deeming its func- j and for this reason was as objectionable to the Blave- tions infringed by this action of the governor, passed ! holding force in congress as had been the provious 1 I 1 J L ' J 11.. 1 J i TT 1 i I V .1 f l.m TJTsvin Tnwts HTlil resolutions embodying their idea of the harm done the colony by the officiousness of " secret factions." There was not ready money in the treasury to have paid the passage of Mr. Thorton, even had it been at his disposal. A collection was taken up, con tributions being made partly in coin, but chiefly in flour, clothing, and anything that could be of service or was convertable into money. A contract was made with Captain Ro- land Gel8ton,of the bark Whiiton, to convey Mr. Thorn ton to Panama, and the vessel sailed at once for San Fran cisco, and thence to San Juan, on the coast of Lower Cal ifornia. Here the . captain informed r o . ,,,'' ,,, t, V VV.I 'W.i l. Ml . 17 . A L V: 1 .1 ' i 'Mi . he must decline to fulfill his contract, as he desired to en gage in the coasting trade. From the perplexing dilemma X ne was exincaiea by Captain Mont comerv, command ing the United States sloop of war, Portsmouth, then lying at anchor in the harbor. This gentleman deemed the mission of Mr. Thornton of enough importance to the government to justify him in leaving his station and returning with his vessel to the Atlantic coast He accordingly tendered the delegate the hospitalities of his cabin, and set sail as soon as preparations could be made for the voyage. The Portsmouth arrived in Boston harbor on the second of May, 18-18, and Mr. Thornton at once has tened to Washington to consult with President Polk and senators Benton and Douglas, those warm cham pions of Oregon, as to the proper course to pursue. By them he was advised to prepare a memorial, to be presented to congress, setting forth the condition and needs of the people whom he represented. This ho did, and the document was presented to the senate by Mr. Benton, and was printed for the use of both branches of congress. Mr. Thornton also drafted a bill for organizing a territorial government, which iHwH vv. . -.w- n?tf&vi'.,.-.- .... ii.u one. Under the lead ot senators deuerson lwyib anu John 0. Calhoun, this wing of the national legisla ture made a vigorous onslaught upon tho bill, and fought its progress, step by step, with unabated do termination, resort .s.oV'f'Cv ing to all tho legis- )tv'; v ; : J 1tiv tactics known .y v . i. u ' ' V'.V' fi; ii'Tl, ''V in on AfAav lla fnn. sideration that it could not bo finally passed by tho hour of noon on tho four teenth of August, tho timo fixed by joint resolution for lift fAnaft ft illftt 5 $ session of congress. Tho contest dur ing tho last two days of tho session was exciting in tho extreme, and tho feeling intomo throughout tho Union. The friends of tho bill had decided upon a policy of "masterly inactivity," re- training entirely from debate, and yielding mo iioor absolutely to tho "filibusters;' who were, therefore, much distressed for means to consume tho slowly passing hours. Though silent in siccch, they wero constantly present in person to prevent tho opposition from gaining timo by an adjournment Tho bill was then on its second passage in tho senato for tho pur pose of concurrence with amendments, which had been added to it by tho house. On Saturday morn ing, August 12, tho managers of tho bill decided to prevent an adjournment until it had been dinged of, having a sufficient majority to pass it Tho story of that memorable contest is thus told by Mr. Thornton, who sat throughout tho scene, a deeply interested spectator : , " I re-entered tho senato chamber with tho deep est feelings of solicitude, and yet boxful Ucauuo of tho assurance which had ken given to ino by the gentlemen I have named Douglas, Benton and Half. I aoon saw, however, that Calhoun and Butler, of South Carolina; Davis and Foote.of Mississippi; ana Hunter and Mason, of Virginia, as leaders of tho op position, had girded up their loins and Lad buckh d on their armor for tho battle. Tho friends of tho bill, led by Mr. Benton, having taken their position, wait ed calmly for tho onset of their adversaries, who spent