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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 14, 1909)
' TIIE-SUNDAY OREGOXIAy, FORTLAXD, FEBRUARY 14, 1909. 3 . ACCOUNT BT LEONE CASS BAER. TODAT 1 the semi-centennial of Ore gon as a state. A littlo less than M years ago. March 15. 1S39. the Brother Jonathan., a fine littlo steamer under command of Captain George H. 'Staples, arrived at the wharf In Portland, at 4:30 in the morning, bringing the news, by Overland mail, that the Senate bill for the admission of Oregon had passed the House of Representatives by a majority of 11 votes, on February 12. The steamer had sailed from San Francisco, bringing the latest reports which had reached there on March 10, having left St. Louis early !n the loom ing of February 14, several hours prior to the signing of the bill by President Buchanan. With the arrival at Portland, on March 22. of the- steamship Northner, com manded by Captain W. L. Dall. came the confirmation of the news, and that Presi dent Buchanan had. on February 14. signed the bill that made Oregon a slate. Art Fa.onibly on Bill. With the session of the House of Rep resentatives in 153. February 10. the chairman of the committee on territories. Mr. Stephens, of Georgia, mcle the an nouncement that the Senate bill for Ore gon's admission Into the t'nion had been favorably acted on., and made the re quest that a vote be taken on it. Imme diately pandemonium reigned. The ter ritory of Kansas was asking for admis sion, and In the midst if a hot mcu ment as to whether she should be a slave or free state. A large percentage of her Inhabitants had declared themselves as favoring a free state; on the other hand, the slaveholders in Missouri and adjoin ing states were demanding permission to take their slaves Into the territory of Kansas. Since Mr. Stephens was from Georgia, a slave state. It was thought matters were radically wrong somewhere, when he announced himself as a partisan in behalf of Oregon's admission, particu larly so since the territory of Oregon had declared itself as against slavery. An additional source of unrest was caused by the knowledge that both the United States Sfnators-to-be that" Oregon had sent to Washington Joseph Lane and Delazon Smith, were not only Demo crats, but friends of the pro-slavery people In the upper branch of Congress. A provision of the law at, this time, required that no territory could be ad mitted into the Union until it had a population of at lea 60.ax white resi dents. Joseph Lane made the declaration that there were more than 93,000 white people residing in Oregon and Stephens of Georgia declared that 100,000 white men and women were then living in the ter ritory. The fact is that the census of the United States, taken In 1S, a year later, showed a population of 52,405. Friends of the Kansas territory were Incensed because the constitution-of Ore gon prohibited free negroes from being residents of the state, and declared that Kansas contained a far larger population than the Oregon territory. Ohio Fights Oregon. A Representative from Ohio. Mr. Grow, was leader in the ptrenuous fight made against the Oregon bill, but when, on February 12, Stephens demanded a vote, the bill was carried Just as It came from the Senate, with 114 for ad mission and 103 against it. Oregon was the 33d state to be added to the growing family of states, and her admission to the Union witnessed the fourth change in her government during the 15 years prior to her becoming a state. The first change had been brought about with the institution of the triune executive government- The second change was the Republican provisional form of government. The third charge had been the adop tion of the United States territorial form, and now with the state's admission, came the people's representative repu blican form of Government in the highest degree. Xo Provision for Self-Support. Oregon was the first state admitted Into the Union, .with no provision having been made, or at least evidenced, of its power and ability for self-support and sustenance. In this one case the parent Government had entirely neglected its offspring, and the latter had been forced to fight unaided, in Its battles, to wag;. war against a common enemy, and proo fed itself as best it could. When, faint, starved and exhausted, it had clamored at the door for admission, the portal was reluctantly opened for its admission into the Union, but tire newly-born common wealth was refused all aid or assistance in placing it in a position of self-protection. . Oregon was admitted but with no pro vision for the support of a state Gov - ernment. no revenue, no niblio buildings, no capitol and no library. There bad been no appropriation for the Indian de partment and no money provided to re pay the people what the then existing Government owed them. A war debt of $6,000,000 had been contracted, and there was no certainty that the United States would assume it. The Oregon people were groaning un der taxation. A long, dreary Winter had destroyed a large amount of stock and the Indian wars had left the people In debt and personally much embittered. In Oregon alone 700 white people had been massacred or become victims In other ways of hostile Indians, and more than 25"0 men had been under arms for the gTeater part of one entire year. All Industries Suffer. As a consequence, agricultural and in dustrial pursuits had suffered greatly. The new Pacific Railroad had not yet been opened, when the National question of Oregon's admission as a state into the Union, began to press on the people. In every best sense of the word, the Oregonian pioneers were common folk, of the plain middle-class, with common conceptions of life, and modest ambitions. Of the very wealthy class, as well as the poverty-stricken poor, there was none. Politically most of them were Demo crats, personal embodiments of the Jack sonian and Jeffersonian spirit "Xo one Is better than I am." Basing their ideas of Democracy on this sentiment, its follow ers clung through thick and thin to their party leaders, with all confidence and few questions. Again and again they had elected Joseph Lane as delegate to Washington, and Curry, after being appointed Terri torial Governor, in 1S.--4, was kept in . possession of this position until Oregon became a state. All Were Democrats. The Federal Judges. Deady, Williams. Nesmith and Olney. were all Democrats. Nesmith at that time being Indian -Superintendent. Asahel Bush, editor of the Salem Statesman, and R. P. Boise, a leading attorney and Judge, with many others from the territorial capital, were of the same party. Thomas J. Dryer, then editor of The Oregonian. and W. L. Adams, of the Oregon City Argus, were among the first exceptions, advocating Whig prin cipies vigorously and often bitterly, and later the doctrine of the Republican party. The Oregon common people possessed the marked . traits, prejudices and in stinctive sentiments against the. institu tion of slavery and refused to allow it ;n their territorial constitution. They hated and distrusted the system of slav ery, and long before they had the courage and conviction to antagonize the masters OF HOW i CAHKVI.XG -TIIR MiWS TO SALEM. On Tuesday. March 13, 1859. at 4 -30 in the morning, the steamer Rrother Jonathan arrived from i San Francisco bringing the news of the admission of Oregon as a state of the Union. The bill for I admission of the state had passed I Congress and received the signa i ture of the President February 14. 29 days before the news reached Portland. T The .lame morning the news I was carried to Oregon City by I river-boat, reaching there about half past 10 o'clock. A small party at Canemah. hearing the news, decided that it would be well to transmit it to Salem as early as wossible. A steamboat wu lying at Canemah just ready to start up the river: but it was suggested, that a rider on horse back might carry the news more quickly, and reach Salem before tne boat could arrive. A young man of tiie party, named Stephen Senter. volunteered to be the messenger. Quickly as possible lie ot a horse, saddled him and galloped off up the road to Sail in. but did not arrive there till very late that nigrkt. There had been heavy rains, the roads were very muddy and the streams were alf full to the top of their J banl.s. He arrived at Salem some I lmnrs ahead of the steamboat. The news was received at Salem with very little interest, and it was a number of days be T fore it was carried to John Whit J taker, the first Governor, who .had been elected in the preceding June in anticipation of the ad 7 mission of the state. It devolved on the Governor to call the Legis lature to put the state govern ment ill motion. As soon as practicable he issued his procla mation calling the Legislature to- I gether in special session. It I assembled May 16. 18,"i, and sat' I until June 4, follo"ing. The t President of the Senate was t Luther Klkjns. of Linn: E. E. Haft, chief clerk. The Speaker of the House wa.. William G. T'Vault. of Jacksoi: chief clerk, f Chebter N. Terry. The Senators t were 1G in number; members of I the House 33. ' I The first regu'iir session of the State Legislature began Septem- ber 10. 1860. and ended October I 19, 1860. At this session James I W. Nesmith and Edward D. Baker i were elected Senators. and military types of society, they had desired and made effort to escape the system. The free Territory form of gov ernment had been instituted in Oregon, as elsewhere in the Uni.-d States, and in May, 1856, a meeting had been held in Lindley school house, of Eden district, Jackson County, in which a resolution was passed, declaring the sentiment of thf meeting to be "Freedom is National slavery sectional." Congress could not change the institutions in the states then existing, but could prevent slavery from being introduced Into the territories. That slavery was only an Institution of law, existing only by law or statute, and belonged not to the Nation, but to a section, wag one of the earliest ex pressions of the party anerward known as Republican. Aant State Constitution. Attention having been riveted on the question of statehood. In June, 1S5S, it was voted by over 7000 votes in a poll of less than 10.000, to form a state consti tution. Oregon at that time possessed a population embracing more than 50,000 people. With this strong vote the natural ques tion of "free" or "slave" state was brought vp for consideration. The Re publicans, still weak In number and in-, fluenre. wanted a "free" state. Only one Democrat is mentioned as publicly oppos ing slavery. Judge Williams. The Salem Statesman, of July 28, 1S57, contains. In OREGON! MY OREGON! Melody: Maryland. My Maryland. By May Beadle Frink. We shout thy praises near and far, Oregon! my Oregon! Thy name hath been a guiding star, Oregon! my Oregon! Safely led by unseen hand, Saved from many a hostile band. Our fathers fought to .win the land, Oregon! my Oregon! Proudly then to thee we sing, Oregon! fair Oregon! v Fondest memories round thee cling, Oregon! my Oregon! Hall thy valleys' living green, Hail thy vine-clad slopes between, Hail thy silvery lakelets sheen, Oregon! my Oregon! Tenderly to thee we sing, Oregon! loved Oregon! And tribute to our heroes bring. Oregon! my Oregon! 'Where roll thy rivers broad and deep, Where lofty pines their vigils keep. Thy saviors rest in dreamless sleep, Oregon! my Oregon! From ynow-crowned peak and vale and hill, Oregon! dear Oregon! From rock-ribbed stream and tinkling rill, Oregon! my Oregon! From forest depths, from wave-washed strand. From every hamlet in the land. Swell, the paean, loud and grand, Oregon! my Oregon! By thy great and honored name, " Oregon! my Oregon! By Marcus Whitman's deathless fame, Oregon! my Oregon! May thy sons, a loyal band, Firm as thy enow-capped mountains stand. For God and Home and Native Land! Oregon! my Oregon! Eugene, Or. A11 rlehta reserved.) OREGON r VFT ! " ' . ' t-L iff... a. cTOSEPH IiVJVTE ONE STATES S EfTA-TOK. 5 FIELST r3CVEIOrOR- OF IKE 3TATE IDE OBJE&OX-T an extended, article, an argument by ( Judge Williams against slavery as inex pedient in Oregon and inadapted to our form of labor. The constitutional convention met August 17, 1S?7, in Salem. Matthew P. Deady was elected president: Chester N. Terry, secretary; John Baker, sergeant-at-arms, and Asahel Bush, printer. The standing committees were as follows: Legislative department Boise, chair man; Lovejoy, Bahcock, Chadwick, Wat- kins and Elkins. Executive department Kelly, chairman: Farrar, Reed, Kelsey, Brattain of Lane. Dryer and McBride. Judicial department Williams, chairman; Olney, Boise, Kelly, Grover, Logan and Prim. Military affairs Kelsey, cnairman; Whitted. Burch, Moores. Scott, Coylo and Matzger. Education and school lands Peebles, chairman; Boise, Lockhart, Shat- tuck. Starkweather,' Kinney and Robbps. Seat of government and public buildings Boise, chairman: Prim", Campbell of Lane, Lewis, Olney, Chadwick, and Shannon. Corporations and internal improvements-; Meigs, chairman: Williams, Elkins, Hen- dershott. Campbell of Clackamas, Bristow and Miller. Stale boundaries Lovejoy, chairman: Meigs, Olney, Newcomb, Ap plegate, Anderson and Watts. Suffrage and elections Smith, chairman; Babcock, Brattain of Linn, Cox of Marion, Dryer, Olds and 'White. Bill of rights Grover, chairman: Reed, Waymlre. McCormick, Brooks, Shrum and Fitzhugh. The chief speakers of the convention were Deady, Logan, WMlliams, Smith, Boise. Kelly, Gnver. Waymire, Olney, Farrar and Dryer. The various provis- ( EMPIRE 3 fo DEIAZOrT SMITH . PJOWEE1K. 5ENATOE. OEOJRCrE ABE.H'KE. THY) FIE5T OOVERITORj OF TTJE TERBITOBT OF OK-EG-02ST ZA&tSmCr STOUT, "WHO ST72CEDED CrROVEBo A3 CCfN&B-Ei 3 SMAJbT ions of the constitution were taken up and amply discussed. Slavery Disturbed AH. The question of slavery gave evidence of proving so disquieting that a born pacificator Jesse Applegate moved that it should not be discussed. This motion failing to prevail, the matter was freely talked about and settled in the Demo cratic way, by referring it to the people. This was not done in order to avoid the issue but because the leaders of the Dem ocratic party felt sure of their voters. On September 18, 1857, the con stitution as a whole was adopted by a vote of 33 for to 10 against It. Those vot ing against it were Anderson, Dryer, Farrar, Hendershott, Kinney, Logan, Olds. White, Watts and Watkins. Those absent and not voting were: Applegate, Bristow, Campbell of Lane, Chadwick, Lewis, McBride, Meigs, Nichols, Olney, Prim, Reed, Short, Shrum, Shattuck and Scott. Slavery Badly Beaten. The constitution was adopted by a vote of 7195 for, and 3195 against it Slavery was defeated by a vote of 2645 for it, and 7727 against It. The exclusion of free negroes was carried also with a vote of 8640 for it, and 10S1 against it. Though the greater portion of these voters were identified with a party that nationally favored the sectional institu tion, and In spite of the fact that for some time they had been assiduously In structed by pro-slavery advocates still it is a matter of historic interest that the decision of the Oregonians was final and supreme, rejecting overwhelmingly the institution of slavery, with its sectional policies and ideas. On the side of slavery stood General Joseph Lane, then as always, the idol of the people. Still delegate to Congress it was an open fact that ho aspired to first place on, the Democratic ticket, the highest honor they could give him President of the United States. But not even the strong . personality, and Influence of this magnetic leader, this man who possessed lofty ambitions. and whose ascendency would be regarded In the light of a personal and state source of pride, could win the Oregonians to identify themselves with a sectional institution. On March 36, 1S58, a State Democratic Convention met at Salem, to nominate candidates to hold office under the new state government, in the event of Oregon being admitted. James W. Nesmith was chairman, and Shubrlck Norris secretary. L. F. Grover was nominated for Rep resentative .in Congress, John Whiteaker for Governor, L. Heath for Secretary of State, John D. Boon for Treasurer, Asahel Bush for State Printer, M. P. Deady for judge of the First district, R. E. Stratton for Judge of the Second dis trict, R. P. Boise for judge of the Third district, A. El Walt for Judge of the Fourth district, A. C. Gibbs Prosecuting Attorney for the First district, J. N. Smith for the Second, H- Jackson for the Third, C. R. Meigs for the Fourth. Republicans in Convention. On April 2. 1S58, a Republi can state convention met at Salem also. and nominated candidates for the new government. John Denny was chosen for Governor; John xt. Aictsnae ior rep resentative In Congress; Leander. Holmes, Secretary of State: E. L. Applegate, for State Treasurer, and X. w. Craig, state Printer. They denounced the Dred Scott Decision, the Kansas policy of Buchanan's administration, declared slavery a sec tional and not a National institution, antagonized the platform and "viva voce" ... . ........ . ..- - - I - K: . V . i - EN. ; i-;-P.--.hSt:im; ' ':r?ira 'X " ISSlilillOTS WAS WELDED INTO first catr&sjEcScjMArr TR&trL OREGOisr 1 XEKXTORLAI GOVERN"- . OB-VvTrfEN" QI (SON" yiDJVLLXTED JWTO T1TEL TJNTOtT mode of voting adopted by the Democrats and favored the building of the Pacific Railroad. The breach between the Oregon people and Joseph Iibne was the forerunner of a division which arose in the Democratic party, in ISoS; there were "Oregon Demo crats" and "National Democrats." The Republicans, however, were as yet too weak in numbers and party influence to profit materially by this Debate Over Admission of Oregon Pro-Slavery Democrats Opposed It feca use Oregon Had Declared for Free Soil.s From The Weekly Oregonian, March 19, 1859. THE bill for the admission of Oregon passed the House of Representa tives precisely as it came from the Senate. We give the' principal points brought forward in the previous debate. On the 10th of February, Mr. Stephens, of Georgia, from the committee on ter- 1 rltories. reported back, without amend ment, the Senate bill for the admission of Oregon into the Union. He said there can be no question that there is sufficient population In Oregon to admit her into the Union. Under the existing law and compact there must be at least 60.000. and in his opinion there were about 100,000, according to the ratio of Increase Mr. . Grow said that the question of population, though a safe1 rule, would not always control his action. He would take into consideration the time and clr cumstances of the application; but Con press had recently set the example riot to admit a state with less population than was required for a Representative In Congress. Kansas could not come in unless as a slave state. Congress would not give her an opportunity to throw off Federal oppression and wrong. Ihe population of Kansas is much larger than that of Oregon. He would never give his sanction to such an unjust dis crimination as is now proposed in favor of Oregon. On the 11th, consideration of the bill was resumed, when Mr. Clark, or Mis souri, said that the regulation of alien suffrage and exclusion of free negroes and mulattoes concerns Oregon alone. and under all circumstances she ought to be admitted without regard to popu lation. Mr. Zolllcoffer, of Tennessee, opposed the admission of Oregon, because of In sufficiency of population, and its alien suffrage law. v Mr. Comins, of Massachusetts, being ready to vote for the admission of Kan sas with a free Republican constitution, was also ready to vote for the admis sion of Oregon with such a constitution aa her beoplo may adopt Mr. Dawes of Massachusetts said that objections to the admission of Oregon lie in the constitution itself. He could not agree with his colleague, Mr. Comins, that it is Republican In. its conditions. It was palpably a violation of the Fed eral Constitution under that provision which guarantees citizens f each state all the privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states. Oregon has no right to drive from her borders free colored people. Not only is it pro posed to exclude them from Oregon, but to prevent them from suing in the courts, from holding property, and from eating the bread of life. On February 12, consideration of the bill was resumed. Mr. Vallandigham said that when Kansas should come here as Oregon had come, peaceably and orderly, and with the consent of her people, he should vote for her immediate admission. But Kansas was not here and Oregon was. There was no possible connection between the two, and he would not vote to establish any. Both would be free states. He found Oregon here and he would take the first that came, and vote for her admission. o was opposed to Mr. Grow's amendment and to all others which only delayed or embarrassed the bill, but he thanked Mr. Grow and his Republican friends for opposing the ad mission of Oregon. They stood unveiled now and had squared up and wiped out the last session. Mr. Lane related the circumstances at tending the formation of Oregon, and earnestly urged Its admission. He said he had no doubt that Its white popula tion was over 93,000. Mr Stanton, of Ohio, said that admis sion of Oregon was only a question of time. He was glad that his colleague. 3Ir. Vallandigham, had. found something to be thankful for. So far as he was con cerned his colleague was welcome to ail he could make out of it In Ohio. It was division of the forces of their oppo nent. At this stage, the Legislature, antici pating that the territory would in all probability become a state, elected a Congressman, Lafayette Grover, a man or integrity and power. Two Senators were also chosen, and John Whiteaker was elected Governor, to serve in the event of Oregon's statehood. The members of the Legislature of 1858 were as follows:" Senates Jackson, A. M. Berry; Lane, W. W. Bristow and A. B. Florence; Washington, Clatsop, Columbia and Til lamook. T. R. Cornelius; Marlon, E. K. Colby and J. W. Grimm; Linn, C. Drain and L. Elkins; Douglas, J. F. Gazley; Yamhill, J. Lamson; Benton, J. S. Mclteeny Wasco. J. S. Ruckel; Josephine, S. R. Scott; I'mpqua, Coos and Curry, a Mr. Wells; Multnomah, J. A. Williams; Polk, F. Waymire. House D. B. Hannah, of Clackamas; Robert Morrison, of Clatsop and Tilla mook; Nelson Hoyt, of Columbia and Washington; William Tichner, of Coos and Curry; L. Norris and A. .7. McGee, of Douglas; James H. Slater and Henry B. Nichols, of Benton; John W. McCau ley. Daniel Newcomb and W. G. T'Vault, of Jackson; D. S. Holton, of Josephine: A. J. Crugan, R. B. Cochran and A. S. Patterson, of Lane; L. H. Cranor, T. J. Crooks, E. E. McMich and T. T. Thomas, of Linn: B. F. Bonham, B. F. Harding, J. H. Lasater and John Stevens, of Ma rion; T. J. Dryer and A. D. Shelby, of Multnomah; B. F. Burch and J. K. Wait, of Polk; J. M. Cozad, of Umpqua; Wil son Bowlby. of Washington: Vic Tre vett, of Wasco; Andrew Shuck, of Yam hill. These members met at Salem, July 5, 1858. Luther Elkins was President of the Senate; E. Carpenter, secretary; W. G. T'Vault, Speaker of the House and C. N. Terry, chief clerk. Confusion Then Arose. Here a singular confusion and seem ing hesitancy on the part of the party leaders begun to be evidenced. Lane, then in Washington, did not appear to push the admission bill, as had been expected 6f him, and there also seemed an unwillingness on his part to secure the recognition of the war debt. The Assembly had been convoked by Governor Curry, who was still serving the territorial government in this ca pacity, pending the taking of office of John Whiteaker. At this session Gov ernor Curry gave out the singular doc trine, that Oregon, by adopting a con stitution had made herself a state with no action of the United States Gov ernment. The only sane conclusion to be derived from his statement, being that of her own volition Oregon had become a state, but was not in the Union. . This serves simply as an illustration of the confusion existing at that stage, a confuBion which had a certain influ ence on many minds, prominent among which were representative men of both parties. In marked contrast to the executive movements of talented party leaders, the calm level judgment and clear fore sight of the common people stands out. It was at length decided to proceed last year by the almost united voice of the Democratic party said, that Kansas should not be admitted with a constitu tion of her own making without having her right of representation in Congress ascertained by a census. This was rec ognized and spread on the records of the country as a part of the Democratic prin ciples, and there was no escape from it. I If Kansas had been admitted under the rilxenaen-jyioiiLgoiiiei y aineiiuiiieiii., it. in very well known that she would' have sent Republican Senators. All he asked was, that when a state came .here pro fessing to be free, with Democratic Sen ators elected to serve during the next Presidential term, that there should be meted to her the same rules as were ap plied to Kansas, and not adopt one rule for the admission of a Democratic state and a different one for a Republican state. This Is the true secret of the question. He Indicated his objections to the Oregon Constitution, and eald that he would not, by voting admission under it, give vi tality to the Dred Scott decision. Mr. Stephens, of Georgia, was glad that he had an opportunity of showing the utter groundlessness of the charge made against the Democratic party, that last year applied one rule of admission in one case and a different one in another. He held that the people of Oregon could justly lay claim to admission under the previous ordinances and compacts. If the Republicans had believed that their opponents had done wrong in regard to Kansas, why should they pursue a sim ilar course and keep a free state out of the Union? Two wrongs do not make one right. The gentlemen on the Republican side had found fault with the Oregon Constitution because it excludes free negroes and mulattoes, and denies them the privilege of suing in the courts; but the political friends of these very gentle men framed the Topeka Constitution, -which makes a similar provision. He then answered the various objections to the Oregon Constitution, and eloquently appealed to the progress, glory and pros perity of the country, concluding with some patriotic remarks, which were loud ly applauded, especially by the members. The Speaker reminded the House that their own sense of propriety ought to pre clude such demonstrations. Mr. Grow offered to substitute for the bill, defining the boundaries of Oregon and Kansas, and authorizing the citizens of the United States who are legal voters, and resident in each territory, to take the necessary steps to establish a state gov ernment, the respective Constitutions being subject to the approval and satis faction of the people. Mr. Sandlge, of Louisiana, raised the question of order, which the Speaker sustained, ruling out the substitute. Mr. Grow appealed from the decision of the Chair. Mr. Stephens moved to lay" the appeal on the table. This was decided In the affirmative 136 against 92. Mr. Grow then offered an amendment to repeal the prohibitory clause in the. Kan sas compromise bill, which the Speaker ruled out of order. Mr. Davis, of Indiana, moved that the bill be recommitted to the committee on territories, with instructions to add an other section, repealing the prohibitory clause of the Kansas bill, and providing that Oregon be not-admitted until it Is ascertained , by a census that she has population enough for one Representative In Congress. The Speaker decided it out of order. Mr. Davis appealed from the decision. On motion of Mr. English the motion was tabled 118 against 95. Mr. Hill offered an amendment to the first section of the bill, defining the boun daries of Oregon, and requiring the as certainment by census of sufficient popu lation for one Representative In Con gress, preliminary to admission. Reject ed 32 against 173. Mr. Maynard's amendment requiring the population as above and American citizenship was rejected. Mr. Washburne, of Illinois, moved to A STATE with the regular. form of admission, and on February 14 1859. the bill passed Congress, and Oregon became a state. Lafayette Grover took his place in the House of Representatives, and the elect ed Senators, Delazon Smith and Joseph Lanev took their seats in the Senate. Lane having drawn the slip of paper marked "two," was in that class of Sen ators whose terms expired March 30, 1SS1; Smith, having drawn slip "one," was identified with the class whose term ex pired March 9, 1S59, allowing him but 17 days to serve. Special Session Is Called. Of Interest is the historical fact that Governor Whiteaker called a special ses sion in May following to elect a Senator to fill out Smith's term, hut it met with out effecting an election, and thus brought into existence a precedent that has since been followed with general per sistency. In the month of April. IST'9. a Demo cratic convention held at Salem resulted in the nomination of Lansing Stout for Congress. The party resolutions in dorsed the Died Scott decision, and the administration of James Buchanan, and set the stamp of their approval upon the national Democratic platform of the pre vious year. Also, in April, a Republican convention was in session In Salem. At this meeting David Logan received the nomination for Congressman, and W. Warren, Leander Holmes and A. G. Hovey were chosen as delegates to the National Republican Convention with instruction to vote for William H. Seward, then the party's nominee for President. In this conven tion resolutions were passed as favoring the Pacific Railroad, internal improve ments and a protective tariff, with dis approval of slavery in the territories. Owing to the party split among the Democrats, their candidate for Congress, Lansing Stout, was elected by a very narrow margin, and in the following year their candidate, George K. Shell, was elected by only a small majority. In both instances the unsuccessful can didate was David Logan. Oregon's record in the past 50 yeara might be .summed up in two words "prosperity" and "progress" written with capital letters. She has more than amply fulfilled any promises or destiny foreseen in her early days and the treasures and harvests she has yielded are the products of her own fertile self. The fastnesses of her resources are, even today, not known. Vast tracts of her lands are rich in minerals, whose value is not to be approximated. The soil of her domain and her valleys in particu lar is of unsurpassed fertility, and there is no climate in all God's workhouse so kindly, so salubrious and so healthful as is Oregon's. Her commercial Interests, internal and foreign, are active and ex tensive, wuu every year a noticeable in crease. Her institutions and her people are representative typos of all that Is best and cleanest in American ideals and learning. All this is the record of a mere handful of years a paltry fifty in number what may she not accomplish ere another fifty years have crowned her? take ' the whole subject. Disagreed to 94 against 104. Mr. Marshall, of Kentucky, offered an amendment for admission on a census ascertainment, taken by order of the Governor, of sufficient population, and on the fundamental condition that the suffrage clause of the Constitution shall not be construed to authorize persons of foreign birth, and not naturalized, to vote for members of the House of Rep resentatives of the United States. The people of Oregon assenting to this, the state to be admitted by a proclamation of the President. The amendment was rejected 18 against 189. Mr. Bingham offered a substitute for the bill, declaring that the Constitution of Oregon does not conform to the Con stitution and laws of the United States, and submitting the question of admission to the people, and if they decide in favor of Immediate admission, to have one Representative until the next Congres sional apportionment of that state. Rejected 84 against 132. The question was then taken on the preamble, viz. Whereas, the people of Oregon having formed, ratified and adopted a constitution and state govern ment, which is republican in form and in conformity with the Constitution of the United States, and having applied for ad mission into the Union on an equal foot ing with the original states, therefore, resolved. ' etc., and agreed to 113 against 95. The bill passed precisely as It came from the Senate 114 against 103. Yeas Messrs. Adrian, Ahl, Arnold, Atkins, Avery, Barksdale, Barr, Billing hurst, Bocock. Bowie, Branch, Burnett, Barnes, Caruthers, Case. Caskie. Cava naugh. Chapman. Clark of Missouri, Clay, John Cochrane, Cockerill, Colfax, Commlns. Corning, Cox, Cragin. Cral of North Carolina, Craig of Missouri. Curtis, Davidson, Davis of Indiana, Davis of Mississippi, Dewart, Dlmmoch, Edmondson. Elliott, English, Florence, Foley, Foster, Gartrill, GIUls, Green wood, Gregg, Groesbeck, Hall of Ohio, Hatch, Hawkins, Hodges. Hopkins, Hor ton, Hughes, Huyler, Jackson. Jenkins, Jewett, Jones of Tennessee, Owen Jones, Kilgore, Kunkle of Pennsylvania, Lamar, Landy, Lawrence, Lelty, Leiter, Letcher, Maclay, McKIbben, McKee, Marshall of Illinois, Mason, Miller, Montgomery. Morris of Illinois. Niblack. Nichols, Pen dleton, Petitt. Peylon. Phelps of Missouri, Phelps of Minnesota, Phillips, Powell, Regan, Rellly, Ruffln, Shaw of Illinois, Singleton, Russell, Sandige, Savage, Scott, Searing, Seward, Smith of Illinois, Smith of Tennessee, Stevens, Stevenson. Stewart of Maryland, Talbott, George , Taylor, Taylor of Louisana, Thayer, Val landigham, Ward, Watkins, White. Whitely, Winslow, Wood. Wortendyke, Wright of Georgia. Wright of Tennessee. Nays Abbott, Andrews. Bingham. Blair. Bonham. Boyce. Brayton. Bryan. Buf flngton, Burlingame, Burroughs, Chaffee, Clark of Conn., Clark of N. Y., Ciawson, Cobb, C. B. Cochrane, Covode, Crawford, Curry, Davis of Md., Davis of Ind.. Dawes, Dan, Dick, Dodd, Dowdell, Dur fee, Edie, Farnsworth, Fenton, Giddings, Gilman, Gilmer, Gooch, Goodwin,- Gran ger, Grow, Hall of Miss., Harlin, Harris, Haskin, Hill. Hoard. Houston, Howard, Kelm, Keitt, Kellogg, Kelsey, Knapp, Leach. Lovejoy. McQueen. Marshall of Ky., Matteson, Mills, Milson. Moore. Mor gan, Morrell, Morris of Pa., Morse of Me., Morse of N. Y., Mott. Murray, Olin, Pal mer, Parker, Pike, Potter, Prattle, Pur viance, Ricaud. Ritchie, Robbins, Rob erts, Royce, Scales, Shaw of S. C Sher man, Shorter, Smitn of Va., Spinner, Stal wortb, Stanton, Stewart of Pa., Tappan, Thompson. Tompkins. Trippe, Underwood, Vance. Wade, Walbridge, Waldron, Wal ton, Washburne of 111., Washburne of Wis., Washburne of Me., Wilson, Wood son, Zolllcoffer. The announcement of the result was greeted with applause and much con fusion prevailed, amid which Mr. Steph ens moved that the Representatives frora Oregon be admitted to a seat. Mr. Phelps, of Missourt. ineffectually moved that the House go Into Committee of the Whole for the purpose of allow- ine gentlemen to Indulge in general de bate, when the House adjourned.