Page:Oregon, her history, her great men, her literature.djvu/173

d per mit the Territorial Government to proceed uncmbarraascd. Under the constitution the State Legislature should have met in September; but at the appointed time only nine representatives and two senators made their appearance in Salem, and these adjourned after two useless meetings. On the sixth of December the Territorial Legislature again assembled and held its regular session. Soon after the legislature adjourned, news was received that Oregon had been admitted into the Union. Senator Smith and Representative Grover had gone to W ashington, and when Congress assembled had joined with Delegate Joseph Lane in urging the passage of an enabling act for Oregon. It early passed the Senate, but met with bitter opposition in the House, being supported by the Democrats and opposed by the Republicans. Finally, on the twelfth of February, 1 859, the Oregon Enabling Act was passed." Two days later it received the sip^nature of President Buchanan; and the thirty-third star was placed in the American flag.