The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-03-31
The Admission of Oregon.
SPEECH OF HON. ELI THAYER,
OF MASSACHUSETTS,
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Ernnnanv 1870
FEBRUARY IL, 1859.

| who has lust addressed the House is unable to
see how an honest Representative of the State
of Massachusetts, can vote for the admission OF
Oregon. Well, in the exercise of charity,
can see how Massachusetts Representative,
both hohest and patriotic, can vote against the
admission of Oregon. He can do it by not
comprehending the question, or he may do it in
obedience to party dictation. / will now show
my colleague how an honest Representative can
vote for the admission, if he will listen to my
| argument and the reasons which shall give in
defence of my position.
| Mr.. Speaker, l think this is strange ne
cessity that compels the Northern Represent
atives upon this floor to give the reasons
for their votes for the admission of another
free State into this Confederacy Sir, | shall
vote for the admission of the State of Ore
gon without hesitation, without reluctance, and
without reserve. So far as my vote and my
voice can go, l would extend to her such well
come as becomes her history, as becomes her
promise for the future, and such as becomes
our own high renown for Justice and magma.
nimity-a welcome not based on contemplate
political calculation, or still more contemplate
partisan expediency; but such a welcome as
sympathy and friendship and patriotism should
extend to another new State; such, sir, as be-
comes the birthday of nation.
This people comes before US in accordance with
the forms flaw, and upon the invitation of this
House. and it is too late to apply party test upon
this question. On the 18th Of May last, vote was
taken in the Senate upon the admission of Ore
gon, and eleven Republican Senators voted for
her admission, while six Republican Senators
only voted against her admission and, sir,
have not heard of any attempt on the part of
the six Senators who voted for the rejection of
Oregon to read out of the Republican party the
eleven Senators who voted for her admission (;
and if that attempt is now to be made, we will
see whether it is in the power of a minority of
the people to read a majority out of the party.
But, sir, who are these people of Oregon, who
come here now, asking admission? They are
the pilgrims of the Pacific coast If they are
fanatics upon some subjects we can refer to the
pilgrims of the Atlantic coast who also were
fanatics upon some subjects. But sir if the
pilgrims of the Atlantic coast finally became
examples to the world in all that exalts our
race, may we not hope that the pilgrims of the
Pacific coast may yet become worthy of our es-
TEEN ?
Nearly one-quarter of a century ago, in
my boyhood, | studied the adventures of those
men, who founded upon the western shore
of the American continent what are now the
cities of Oregon and Astoria. These men, who
were then in the vigor of their lives, are now
Their work of life is nearly completed; and this
day they are sitting by their hearthstones, wait
ing to know what is to be the result of our de-
iberations waiting to know whether the proud
consummation to which they have aspired for
the last twenty years is now reached; and
whether Oregon, which, in toll and trial, in de-
fance of danger and of death, and with persist
ence and endurance such as belong only to our
race, they have brought to her present proud
and prosperous condition, is now to be placed
upon an equality with the original States of this
Confederacy.
These are the men who have carried our insti-
tutions to the remotest boundaries of our Repub-
lie. These are the veterans of the art of peace.
American valor with conquering arms has car
ried our flag by Monterey and Chepultepec,
until it was planted upon the halls Of the Mon
tezumas. But far beyond those halls have these
heroes borne the victorious arts of peace. In
the Territory of Oregon they have Established
our free institutions. There, sir, strong and
deep, they have laid the foundations of free
State, and they come here, like the wise men of
the East, not asking gifts, but bringing gifts !;
in that respect unlike our military men, who
expect and receive honors and rewards for their
services. What do they bring? Why, sir, the
trophies of their own labor, the evidences of
their own worth. They present before US the
cities and towns which they have founded.
They present schools, churches, and workshops.
They bring all, all the products Of their labor,
and place them upon the altar of the Union,
pledge for the common welfare and the com
mon defence. And what are we doing here
Why, sir, quibbling about things which are
comparatively unessential, and which pertain
exclusively to the people of Oregon, and not to
us or our duties here quibbling about points
which, if New York or Massachusetts were in
the place OF Oregon, would secure some votes on
this side of the House against their admission.
Massachusetts, which you know, sir, j never de-
fend anywhere, even Massachusetts does. not al
low the negro to be enrolled in the militia of the
State. These, then, are the men who come
here; and what if they have some ideas and
sentiments with which we do not agree-is that
a reason why we should excommunicate them :;
that we should have nothing hereafter to do
with them2
What law Of reformation is this 4? 1t is the
pharisaical law Of distance, distrust, and de-
rision. 1t is not the Christian law of contact,
confidence, and communion. The Pharisees
denounced the Founder of Christianity as the
friend of publicans and sinners" That class
would repel all who do not agree with them to
the fullest extent. Shall we pursue a similar
course in relation to the people of Oregon Is
it wise to do so? Is it expedient to reject their
application on such grounds?
What objections do Republicans present to
this application? They say there is not sufi-
cient population, and they claim that it is their
mission to see that the Democratic party shall
recover its consistency. AT whose expense
AT the expense of the consistency of the Repub-
lican party. | submit that it is better for the
Republican party to preserve for itself the con-
sistency which it possesses, rather than attempt
10 fbo IL,
which they have lost.
Then, sir, in relation to this qualification of
population, what is the position of the Repub
lican party and what has it been? This party,
by its Representatives, voted for the admission
of Kansas under the Topeka Constitution, with
less than onehalf of the present population of
Oregon. The Republican party in the House,
without one exception, so far as ] know, voted
for the enabling act inviting Oregon to come
| here, with Constitution, to be admitted as
State. have no disposition, and there is no
need, to inquire here what is the population of
| Oregon; for, as Republican, / am pledged to
no rule on this subject. l opposed, as did my
colleague, and my friends on this side of the
House, the restriction which was put upon the
Territory of Kansas. We protested against it
then, and protest against it now. We have no
| sympathy whatever with that restriction, and
are ready, at any time, to give an honest vote
for its repeal.
Another objection is urged against the clause
in the Constitution of Oregon which excludes
negroes and mulattoes from that Territory and,
in addition, provides that they shall not bring
any suit therein. 1t is said that this is in con.
travention of the Constitution of the United
| States. This l do not admit But what if it
is2 The Constitution presented by the people
of Oregon is not submitted to our vote. we can
not amend it; all we have to do about it Is