Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 20.pdf/296

 LESTER BURRELL SHIPPEE

280

posed that the question be postponed) a few days, although he said there would be slaves in Oregon unless Congress kept them out. Westcott gave notice that he would move a substitute for the bill, the

Senate

bill

of the last session.

The next day the bill was up with the question of Hale's amendment the immediate point of discussion. He withdrew it

since he

had been accused of casting a fire-brand into the

Senate although he announced that he would renew it or not as circumstances should seem to direct. This action brought

up Westcott't amendment (the substitute bill) the personal guaranties of the Northwest Ordinance should apply, and the laws of the Provisional Government would continue in force

end of the first session of the legislature provided by with this priviso 27 bill, "But no provisions of such laws, or of any act hereafter passed by the Legislative Assembly of said! Territory shall be construed to restrict citizens of any of the United States, or of any Territories thereof, from immigrating with their

until the

the



property to, and settling and residing in, said Territory, and holding and possessing their property therein, and fully participating in all the benefits, advantages, privileges, and immunities thereof as a Territory of the United States, with such property, on an equal footing with the citizens of any of the United States and all laws and parts of laws which shall operate in restraint of, or detriment to, the full enjoyment of such rights, are hereby declared to be null and

void."

This

restriction,

which

in

so

many words would

allow

slavery in Oregon, was in direct contravention of the laws of the Provisional Government. While Hale's amendment, which

might be renewed

at any time, presented the radical antislavery views, Westcott's voiced the opinions of the pro-slavery men. Those who wished to see the bill passed in some form

joined with those who desired to keep the real issue submerged in attempting to dodge the issue if possible. They were willing bill the 12th section by which, since continued the laws of the temporary organization, slavery

to see struck out of the it

27 Globe, Append., 690.