DIARY 165
if the North acts upon its own judgment, providing that action is successful. The North, on the contrary, thinks the South is wrong, but don't abuse so freely, and in no case threatens the Union, even if the South does act successfully even upon its own judgment. The South will vote for no man unless he is to their minds an anti Wilmot Proviso man, while the great body of the North are willing to go for any Anti-Wilmot Pro- viso man, providing he is moderate and a fair man. While the South would not vote for Jesus Christ in person unless they were satisfied that he was with them on the slavery question. Here then is the difference. The House had one ballot, which lasted till after 4 P. M., when it adjourned. In the evening, my journals ordered yesterday still not coming, I read, wrote, etc., and went to bed at 11 in the eve.
December 14, 1849. This morning, after reading the pa- pers, I went and got some charts of the battlefields in Mexico, sent one to the Territorial Library and the balance to others in Oregon. I then ordered the journals of Congress under the Confederation, as I wanted to consult the ordinance of 1787 upon an Oregon question. After this I went to the post office for my papers, and found an extract from the Boston Courier, in the New York Sun, purporting to be a letter written from Vancouver, Oregon, in which both our country, rivers, and people were slandered. I immediately wrote to the Editor of the Courier, requesting him to forward me a copy of the paper containing this letter, and requesting him to publish what I might have to say in reply. I next bought fifty copies of the Daily Globe containing an act. [account] of the disgraceful proceedings of yesterday, and franked them home. I then tended the session of the House till nearly five P. M. There were many more boisterous speeches made, and two votes for Speaker, but no choice. Lynn Boid [Boyd] had the highest of anyone. The House next adjourned. I went to supper, and after that was writing in my room, when Mr. Whitney, the cele- brated railroad man, called on me and wished me to go to Gadsby's and see his plans. I did so, where we remained till after 8 P. M. I then returned home, when a letter was laid
