The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-12

1859 amounted 10 about eg t thousand in 1880, when
the taken although not complete the returns
showed popoulation of 43, 400 Since then there
had been taken but he would say that the IN
crease had been going constantly from that time 10
the present In Douglas county, when the censs was
taken, there not three hundred families, no
towns and cities except little village OF halt
dozen houses. He TO Washington that fall, and
when he returned in the sprLS of iS5Ihe found coun
ty seat had been located at Rosebug with population
of about thousand. Previously they had 10 trans
port their -four 80 miles when he returned there were
two fine mills erected almost within sight of bis house,
and every quarter section of cutvaabe land had
been takenup The country had been settled at that
rate SINCE and it safe TO say that they had
population than requisite to entite them 10 one
representative and before the census could bo taken,
before the apportionment could be made for representa-
ton in Congress- he had doubt their representative
would represent am empire himself population OF more
than $50 600.
Mr. z0IIICoFFER of Tennessee, stated that the nil
nority report which he had presented TO the House fully
embraced his views. He had endeavored to investigate
the question free from any party bias and he salts
fled that he not controlled by any disposition 10 put
up put down any party in the country He argued that
there not sufficient popuation and regarded IL AS of
the highest consequence that commencing with the
1888, when the census was taen and when there were
but AZ 600 inhabitants and including the three elections
of 1885, 1851 and 1885, there had been increase OF
the popular vote He also contonded that the enabling
act passed by the House. and which failed in the Senate
not sufficient to justify the application for admission
They should have waited until both houses had acted
upon it, But admitting the enabling act, he held that
its provisions had been violated inasuch they pro-
vded that citizens alone should form the constitution
and the constitution of Oregon admitted alien suffrage.
Mr.. CoMlNS, of Massachusetts,, said that Oregon
settled To very great extent by Massachusetts, and
women some OF the blood of those whose memory was
dear to him flowed in the veins of those who first broke
its soil and planted its fields. He for one, would bid her
in with all his heart There provisions in her
constitution which, if called upon 10 vote, would never
receive his sanction but in the vote which he gave for
her admission he did regard himself responsible
for each and every item in her constitution He voted
for her admission general principles Her consttu
ton was republican in FORM and slavery was excluded
from her Territory but he regretted that the people OF Ore
gon should have deemed it expedent to adopt the section
relative to free negroes which he could not but regard
imperative. The candor compelled him to FAY
il but in accordance with the spirit which prevails
throughout the West with regard to free blacks.
Mr. WAStlBURNE, OF Illinois, inquired ii there
slave in Oregon, how was he to obtain his freedom
Why, was it not a slave State in point of fact
Mr. COMINS replied that the gentleman could proba-
bly, get the floor and discuss the question his leisure
lie entirely opposed to that clause in relation to alien
suffrage, and would never sanction the principles Involved
in h but it matter belonging to the State, and he
had made his record upon this point, and ready to
make it again whenever called upon to do
On motion of Mr. STANTON, OF Ohio debate upon
this question restricted to half an hour
Mr. DAWES, of Massachusetts, said he should vote
against the admission of Oregon under the constitution
which she presented The constitution did not command
them to admit new States, but simply authorized the
ercse of that power and left to each legislator the just
exercise OF his discretion, unburdened by single obi
cation and untrammelle'l by a single limitation
There might be- and doubtless there were considerations
which controlled the admission of Il State. The large
increase of population, civil cemmoton might have so
disturbed the order of things in Territory and the ter
ritoiia government might have failed discharge its
proper functions render itself acceptable the peo
pie, so that might feel constrained other things
being equal to vote for its admission In the case of
oregon he knew OF no such considerations His obec-
tions laid in her constitution itself 1t not epubli
can in FORM permitted alien suffrage and excluded free
maintaining suits in the courts 1t unconstitutional
under that provision of the constitution which guaranteed
to the citizens Of each State all the privileges and imnu
mites of citizens in the several States and in the
tenance OF that doctrine no need go further than the
Dred Scott decision selfa decision which struck more
fatal blows to human rights than fell upon innocent
and unotfending heads.
Mr.. THAYER, of Massachusetts, proposed TO gratifv
the curiosity OF his colleague Mr. DAWES by enabling
him to see how an honest representative from the State
OF Massachusetts could give his vote the admission of
Oregon He thought 1t was strange necessity that
compelled northern representatives to give Reasons
voting for the admission of another res State but there
seemed to be such necessity and that necessity he would
meet lie would vote for her admission without hesta-
ton, without reluctance, and without reserve and
as his votes could SO she should be welcomed and be
would extend To her such welcome became her prom
lse and her own high renown for magnanmity and JUS
tice These people came before them in accordance with
law and in compliance with the invitation of the House
IN the Senate on the 10th OF May last vote taken
upon this question: and republican senators voted for
the admission of Qregon while six only voted against il
and he had not heard of any attempt of the rcpubI
en senator's who voted or the rejection OF Oregon TO
read out of the republican party the ten senator's who
voted for her admission If that attempt to be
made they would whether it in the power of
minority to read out majority.
These people were the pilgrims of the Pacific coast If
wrong upon some subjects, refer to the Pilgrims
OF the Atlantic coast who also fanaiica upon some
questions and Judging from the change in the first pill
grims it was possible the pilgrims of the Pacific might
yet become right He briefly described the toll and hard
ships OF the early settlers who had gone Oregon nearly
quarter OF century ago, and the anxiety with which
they awaited she completion of their labor They brought
the trophies of their labor, the evidence of their
worth, the cities towns and villages they had founded
their schools churches, and workshops and placed snen
upon the altar of the Union. They pledged for te com
mon welfare the common defence, and Congress was
qbbing about things not essential about points which
they were TO be regarded to-day in Massachusetts he
thought would secure votes his side of the House
against her admission for Massachusetts, did allow the
negro TO be enrolled IN the militia of the State The law
Of reformation, these gentlemen wonM urge was the
phaiisaics,l law of distance and distrust
The republican party voted for the admission of Kansas
under the Topeka constitution with less half the
population Of Oregon and they vo.ol for the enabling net
for Oregon lie Ind 30 disposition and there
was no need TO inquire here how great Is the
pedaed 10 rule upon this question He opposea
did his colleagues and friends his side of the Hons
the restriction as to population that was put upon the
Territory of Kansas What the constitution WA. in CON
traventon Of 4he constitution of United States he
had not sworn that the people of Oregon should preserve
the constitution Of the United States but had sworn s
he would support it himself and was that State co +