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THE "BARGAIN OF 1844" AND THE WILMOT PROVISO 139

leader had negotiated that treaty, and had announced during the negotiation that the chief purpose of the proposed annexa- tion was the preservation of slavery and the extension of slave soil. The Northeastern and Northwestern groups were united in their opposition to the Tyler treaty, but differed in their reasons for opposition to it; the Northeastern group opposing it because Texas was slave soil, the Northwestern group be- cause it was offered without compensating addition of free soil to the northward.

To meet the demands of the Northeastern Democrats Van Buren declared against immediate and unconditional annexa- tion. To satisfy the Southern Democrats Calhoun meditated bolting the regular Baltimore convention and standing for election as a Southern candidate on a straight Southern plat- form. Then the Northwestern Democrats suggested that if the Southern Democracy were willing to combine Oregon, with Texas in the party platform, campaign,. and subsequent congressional action, such a balancing of free and slave soil expansion would satisfy the Northwestern and some of the Northern Democrats, and bring about party harmony and victory instead of party division and defeat. So originated the "bargain of 1844" the "Oregon and Texas" plank of the Democratic platform of 1844; not as a mere appeal to the Northern States in general, but as a definite means of party harmony and unity without the sacrifice of vital principle or interest by either the Southern or the Northwestern group of the party. The fact that such a bargain had been made was not published broadcast; in fact, it was kept most secret, but party leaders in the Northwest and Calhoun's lieutenants, if not Calhoun himself, knew of its arrangement and content. 1

The "bargain" having been made and ratified by their party convention, the Southern Democrats at once almost be- fore the campaign opened pressed for the completion of their half of the bargain, and demanded the immediate ratification of the Tyler treaty of annexation. 2 But the Northwestern

1 It is intended to make the "bargain" itself the subject of another paper at a later date.

2 Letter from Glenville, Alabama, July, 1844. Niles' Register, LXVI, 314.