144 CLARK E. PERSINGER
frequently in short, sharp interchange of sentiments, occa- sionally in the form of a lengthy colloquy. In one way and another the charge of "bargain" and "breach of faith" was reiterated by Douglas, Wentworth, and Ficklin of Illinois; Hannegan, C. B. Smith, and Cathcart of Indiana; Brinkerhoff and McDowell of Ohio. Southwestern Democrats joined in. Johnson of Tennessee asserted the binding character of the union of the two issues by the Baltimore convention; 1 Sevier of Arkansas and Atchison of Missouri admitted that Han- negan of Indiana "certainly had some grounds for his opinion" as to the "integrity" of the Southern Democrats on the Texas- Oregon bargain. 2 Even the Southern Democrat, Haywood of North Carolina, "cited the impossibility of getting Texas through until the two questions had been made twin sisters by the Baltimore convention," and announced himself "thank- ful" that North Carolina was adhering to that union of issues and repudiating "factions * * * demagogues * * * dictating to the Senate." 3
Finally, by the signing and ratifying of the Oregon boundary treaty with Great Britain in June, 1846, president and senate accepted the Calhoun policy and its consequences as to the "whole of Oregon." Their action left the "North- western Senators * * * excited and in a bad temper;" "lashed into a passion" against all who had any part in the compromise transaction. 4 But in less than two months after their humiliation by the Oregon treaty, opportunity for revenge seemed to be offered the Northwestern Democrats. The President asked for two millions to negotiate a peace with Mexico. The purpose of the appropriation and of the pro- posed negotiation was well understood to be the acquisition of Mexican territory to the south of the traditional line of 36 30'. "All was going as merrily as marriage bells toward its consummation," reported the National Intelligencer. 5 when suddenly "the friends of the administration from the
1 Ibid., 288-289.
2 Ibid., 388.
3 Ibid., 459.
4 Statements of Polk, Quaife, "Diary of Polk," I, 474, 487.
5 Quoted in Niles' Register, LX, 374 (Aug. 15, 1846).
