Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 16.djvu/392



SPEECH OF MR. ELI THAYER ON THE AD- MISSION OF OREGON AS A STATE.

Mr. Speaker: My colleague (Mr. Dawes) who has just addressed the House, is unable to see how an honest Repre- sentative of the State of Massachusetts can vote for the admis- sion of Oregon. Well, in the exercise of charity, I can see how a Massachusetts Representative, both honest and patriotic, can vote against the admission of Oregon. He can do it by not comprehending the question, or he may do it in obedience to party dictation. I will now show my colleague how an honest Representative can vote for admission, if he will listen to my argument and the reasons which I shall give in defense of my position.

Mr. Speaker, I think this is a strange necessity that compels the Northern Representatives upon this floor to give the reasons for their votes for the admission of another free state into this Confederacy. Sir, I shall vote for the admission of the State of Oregon without hesitation, without reluctance and without reserve. So far as my vote and my voice can go, I would extend to her such a welcome as becomes her history, as becomes her promise for the future, and such as becomes our own high renown for justice and magnanimity a welcome not based on contemptible political calculation, or still more con- temptible partisan expediency ; but such a welcome as sympathy and friendship and patriotism should extend to another new state, such, sir, as becomes the birthday of a nation.

This people comes before us in accordance with the forms of law, and upon the invitation of this House; and it is too late to apply a party test upon this question. On the 19th of May last, a vote was taken in the Senate upon the admission of Oregon, and eleven Republican Senators voted for her admission, while six Republican Senators only voted against her admission; and, sir, I have not heard of any attempt on