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