766 TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT.
on striking out, resulted in a two-thirds majority against it, which was the end of that day's proceedings.
I need not follow the bill through the ensuing six weeks of discussion. On the 13th of July it was re- committed to a select committee on the organization of territorial governments in Oregon, California, and New Mexico, which reported a bill on the 18th to establish these several territories. This bill was in- tended to be a compromise, and granted to Oregon the right to organize by a popular vote, and by the "temporary adoption of their present laws prohibiting slavery, until the legislature could adopt some law on the subject;" while organizing the other two territo- ries without this privilege, by appointing governors, senators, and judges; their legislatures to have no power to make laws concerning slavery. 14 It did not take away the liberties granted by the 12th section of the original Oregon bill, the modifications being slight, but withheld from California and New Mexico even the right to send a delegate to congress. It was with this powerful sedative the committee proposed to quiet the agitation on the question of slavery in the terri- tories until Oregon could be organized without over- turning the free principles upon which the people had erected an independent government, which they might choose to retain rather than yield to the subversion of their rights enjoyed under their own organic laws.
The contest then continued upon the propriet}' of yoking Oregon, "a native-born territory," with terri- tories hardly a month old and peopled by Mexicans and half-Indian Californians. But after daily dis-
under the authority of the provisional government established by the people thereof, shall continue to be valid and operative therein so far as the same shall not be incompatible with the provisions of this act, or in violation of any rights by the law or constitution of the United States vested or secured to the citizens of the United States or any of them; subject nevertheless to be altered, modified, or repealed by the governor and legislative assembly of the said territory of Oregon; and the laws of the United States are hereby ex- tended over and declared to be in force in said territory, so far as the same or any provision thereof may be applicable.' Cong. Globe, 1847-8, 812.
14 Id., 950; Deadys Hist. Or., MS., 3; Clarke, in Overland Monthly x 411-13; Benton s Thirty Years' View, ii. 729-44.