[439] MS. Letter to the editors of the Illinois State Register, dated November 11, 1853.
[440] Washington Union, December 3, 1853. See also item showing the interest in Nebraska, in the issue of November 26.
[441] Senate Bill No. 22. The bounds were fixed at 43° on the north; 36° 30' on the south, except where the boundary of New Mexico marked the line; the western line of Iowa and Missouri on the east; and the Rocky Mountains on the west.
[442] Illinois State Register, December 22, 1853.
[443] New York Journal of Commerce, December 30, 1853.
[444] Two years later, Douglas flatly denied that he had brought in the bill at the dictation of Atchison or any one else; and I see no good ground on which to doubt his word. His own statement was that he first consulted with Senator Bright and one other Senator from the Northwest, and then took counsel with Southern friends. See Globe, 34 Cong., 1 Sess., App., pp. 392-393; also Rhodes, History of the United States, I, pp. 431-432. Mr. Rhodes is no doubt correct, when he says "the committee on territories was Douglas."
[445] Senate Report No. 15, 33 Cong., 1 Sess.
[446] The northern boundary was extended to the 49th parallel.
[447] The first twenty sections are written on white paper, in the handwriting of a copyist. In pencil at the end are the words: "Douglas reports Bill & read I & to 2 reading special report Print agreed." The blue paper in Douglas's handwriting covers part of these last words. The sheet has been torn in halves, but pasted together again and attached by sealing wax to the main draft. The handwriting betrays haste.
[448] Globe,34 Cong., 1 Sess., p. 1374.