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1848] Presidential election: the Slavery question. 399 bill providing territorial governments for Oregon, New Mexico, and California, prohibited slavery in Oregon, but left the question whether the Constitution permitted slavery in California and New Mexico to be decided by the Territorial courts, with the right of appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States. The bill passed in the Senate, but was tabled in the House. Thereupon the House prepared and sent to the Senate a bill prohibiting slavery in Oregon, to which the Senate added an amendment carrying the Missouri Compromise line of 3630' N. from the 100th meridian to the Pacific. The House disagreed with the amendment ; whereupon the Senate on the last day of the session gave way, and passed the bill with the express prohibition of slavery. In the meantime the National Conventions had nominated their presidential candidates. The first to act was the Democratic Con- vention (May 22, 1848), which was attended by two rival delegations from New York, the one representing the " Hunker " wing of the party, whose State convention had rejected a resolution approving the " Wilmot Proviso," the other representing the " Barnburner " wing, whose conven- tion had declared against the further extension of slavery in the Terri- tories. The National Convention seated both delegations and divided the State vote between them, which so displeased the "Barnburners'" that they left the Convention, while the " Hunkers " refused to take any part in the proceedings. Lewis Cass of Michigan and W. O. Butler of Kentucky were then nominated. The Whig National Convention met in June, nominated General Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore, shouted down a resolution con- demning the "extension of slavery by conquest," and adjourned amidst general confusion without adopting a platform. Henry Wilson, of Massachusetts, afterwards Vice-President under Grant, and many others left the Convention, and declared themselves no longer Whigs. These dissatisfied delegates met and called for an anti-slavery convention to meet at Buffalo in August. The " Barnburner " wing of the New York Democracy also called a convention, to meet at Utica in June. Martin Van Buren and Henry Dodge were nominated. It was decided to attend the Buffalo Convention, which was attended by delegates from seventeen States. Van Buren and Charles F. Adams were nominated; and a platform was adopted declaring that slavery was a State institution; that Congress had no more power to make a slave than to make a king ; that slavery should be excluded from all free territory; and that the answer to the slavery party should be " no more Slave States, no more Slave Territories," and " We will inscribe on our banners Free Soil, Free Speech, Free Labour, and Free Men, and under it we will fight on and fight ever till a triumphant victory shall reward our exertions." In November, 1847, the Liberty Party had nominated John P. Hale as a candidate for the Presidency. But when the anti-slavery party at Buffalo selected Martin van Buren as their candidate Hale withdrew; OH. XII.