Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 12.djvu/135

 POLITICAL PARTIES IN OREGON 127 The Democratic papers were prompt to defend the new doctrine. 1 "The clamor of repeal may be raised," said Bush, "but the step is taken and Democracy never recedes." 2 Yet he found it advisable to conciliate and reassure the skeptical. In an editorial, "The Nebraska Bill a Measure for African Free- dom," he argued ingeniously that the measure would have no tendency to implant slavery in the new territories, from which it was excluded by nature; that the repeal of the Missouri Compromise would mollify the South, which, being no longer on the defensive, would inaugurate a policy of gradual eman- cipation. 3 Such was the vividness of Democratic imagination in attempting to justify the party policy in a way to satisfy free state Democrats. The reflection of the great contest at Washington in the spring of 1854 is clearly found in the Oregon legislature of '54-'55. The Democratic leader, Delazon Smith, introduced a long series of resolutions endorsing Pierce and the acts of the National Administration and especially the Kansas-Nebraska bill. He boldly affirmed that its passage was a virtual repeal of that part of Oregon's organic law which declared that slavery should never exist in Oregon. The house discussed these resolutions day after day with warmth and vigor, finally passing them, but the council offered amendments which it refused to accept. Prominent in opposing the Democratic position was Dr. A. G. Henry, of Yamhill County, the leading Whig member of the legislature. He introduced counter reso- lutions attacking the Kansas-Nebraska bill and his speech sup- porting them was remarkable, both for its accurate and vivid historical presentation of slavery legislation in the United States and for clear and cogent reasoning therefrom. 4 The marked ability of even the average member of legislative assemblies in those days to discuss the great political problems before the i "The Statesman and Standard are feeling their way into a support of the Kansas-Nebraska bill. The editors and assistants expect, no doubt, to get situa- tions as Negro drivers. New England apostates and former free soilers, make first-rate overseers, so far as whipping Negroes is concerned." Oregonian, July 22, 1854. ^Statesman, August 15, 1854. 3lbid., August 22. 4Reproduced in the Oregonian, February 17, 1855.