164 SAMUEL ROYAL THURSTON
went home, and the Journals of the House not being brought according to my orders, I was unable to pursue my researches on Oregon matters. So I read an address to the New Mex- icans & Californians by some men of New York, in which they showed successfully, I think, that a free country prospers better than a slave country.
December 13, 1849 After reading my papers this morning and directing the same to persons in Oregon, I went to the Capitol for the purpose of hunting up some public documents to send to Oregon. The folder assured me he would furnish me with all he could spare, and to begin with he let me have some 18 maps of Oregon by Lieut. Wilkes. 1 I sent one to the county commissioners of each county in Oregon, kept two for my use, and sent the others to gentlemen in Oregon. I told the folder that he must be liberal towards Oregon and he said he would. The House next commenced its session and the whole day was spent in a most disgraceful altercation. The Southern democrats made some 15 or 20 speeches, all declaring that if the Wilmot Proviso should be applied in the dispositions of the new territories, or if Congress should abolish slavery in the District of Columbia, in either case, they and the South would dissolve the Union. The North replied that they should do what they could to prevent the farther extension of slavery, but if the South outvoted them, they would not dissolve the Union for that.
From the discussion, I perceived that there were two sub- stantial questions between the South and North: 1st, whether Congress has the constitutional right to restrict slavery from the new territories ; and if so, 2d, whether under the circum- stances it would be expedient or just. The South say no to both ; the North in a body say yes to the first, and nearly all say yes to the second.
The South appear not to have patience to discuss these ques- tions upon the merits to be shown in argument ; but, laying it down that they are right and no mistake, fall to abusing the North because she thinks otherwise, and threaten the Union
Lieut. Charles Wilkes, of the U. S. exploring expedition of 1838-1842.
