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 FEDERAL RELATIONS OF OREGON

87

attempt to limit the operation of the measure to points south of 49. The Oregon men would specifically rather than by implication extend jurisdiction over

the disputed region, the title clear to the although J. defending Russian line thought that no action on this bill should take The House, place until the Senate had passed the notice.

Q. Adams,

all

in

mood to maintain a protracted so after two title, days' discussion the bill, with the mounted riflemen clauses dropped, was reported by the however, was apparently in no debate on the

Committee of the Whole in essentially the same form it had come from the Committee on Territories. In the final steps in the House Garett Davis' amendment for a fully organized territory and two amendments bearing on the slavery question were rejected, and the bill was passed, two days after the Senate resolutions on the notice were passed. The measure was received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Territories where

it rested although the President urged Benton to take charge of it and press it for he feared the Whigs, with a few Democrats, would be in-

clined to suppress it. Haywood also was consulted, but he was disinclined to act, whereupon Polk told him that the

House had shown the attitude of the country, and if the Senate should block the matter he, as President, would make it an issue before the nation. But Haywood could 4 The Senate's promise no more than look into the question. dilatoriness delayed House action on another bill which had action of the

been introduced to provide regulation of Indian affairs west of the Rockies. An ordinary measure of its kind it had passed to the third reading on April twentieth and then further action was postponed until the first of June when it should be seen

what the upper house did with the

jurisdiction bill. these measures dealing with Oregon, except the resolutions for notice, came to a standstill in the latter part of April. There was a disposition to wait and It is

see

to be noticed that

what would be the

all

the notice before further action 4 Polk, Diary,

I,

England of the passage of was taken.

result in

376-8 passim.