The absorbing interest of Douglas at this point in his career is perfectly clear.  To span the continent with States and Territories, to create an ocean-bound republic, has often seemed a gross, materialistic ideal.  Has a nation no higher destiny than mere territorial bigness?  Must an intensive culture with spiritual aims be sacrificed to a vulgar exploitation of physical resources?  Yet the ends which this strenuous Westerner had in view were not wholly gross and materialistic.  To create the body of a great American Commonwealth by removing barriers to its continental expansion, so that the soul of Liberty might dwell within it, was no vulgar ambition.  The conquest of the continent must be accounted one of the really great achievements of the century.  In this dramatic exploit Douglas was at times an irresponsible, but never a weak nor a false actor.

The session ended where it had begun, so far as Oregon was concerned.  The Senate failed to act upon the bill to establish a territorial government; the earlier bill to protect American settlers also failed of adoption; and thus American caravans continued to cross the plains unprotected and ignored.  But Congress had annexed a war.

* * * * *

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 186:  Message of December 3, 1844.]

[Footnote 187:  Globe, 28 Cong., 2 Sess., p. 85.]

[Footnote 188:  Globe, 28 Cong., 2 Sess., App., p. 65.]

[Footnote 189:  Ibid., p. 66.]

[Footnote 190:  Globe, 28 Cong., 2 Sess., App., p. 66.]

[Footnote 191:  Ibid., p. 67.]

[Footnote 192:  Globe, 28 Cong., 2 Sess., App., p. 68.]

[Footnote 193:  American Historical Review, VIII, pp. 93-94.]

[Footnote 194:  It was voted down 107 to 96; Globe, 28 Cong., 2 Sess., p. 192.]

[Footnote 195:  Globe, 28 Cong., 2 Sess., p. 193.]

[Footnote 196:  Linn’s Story of the Mormons, Chs. 10-20, gives in great detail the facts connected with this Mormon emigration.  I have borrowed freely from this account for the following episode.]

[Footnote 197:  Linn, Story of the Mormons, pp. 340-341.]

[Footnote 198:  Lyman, History of Oregon, III, p. 188.]

[Footnote 199:  See the letter of a New England Correspondent in the Peoria Register, May, 1839.]

[Footnote 200:  Peoria Register, June 8, 1839.]

[Footnote 201:  Globe,28 Cong., 2 Sess., pp. 198 and 201.]

[Footnote 202:  Greenhow, Northwest Coast of North America, p. 200.]

[Footnote 203:  Globe, 28 Cong., 2 Sess., p. 41.]

[Footnote 204:  Ibid., p. 173.]

[Footnote 205:  Globe, 28 Cong., 2 Sess., p. 63.]

[Footnote 206:  Globe, 28 Cong., 2 Sess., pp. 225-226.]