defeated by Richard Williams, the republican candidate. He retired from public life March 3, 1877, and for nineteen years thereafter practiced his profession at Roseburg, taking such interest in political affairs as his failing health would permit. He was kind-hearted, genial, brilliant, and eloquent. He had many qualities of head and heart that made General Lane famous, popular, and strong. In brilliant repartee and sharp retort he had but few superiors. In his relations in private life he was a courtly gentleman of the old school—generous and warm-hearted, but strong in his political convictions and fearless in their defense and advocacy.
Benjamin F. Harding, James W. Nesmith, Henry W. Corbett, James K. Kelly, and John H. Mitchell were the senators during this period. Senator Harding was born in Pennsylvania January 14, 1823; came to California in 1849; located in Salem, Oregon, in 1850, where he resided many years, and was regarded as one of the brightest democratic party leaders of the state. He was trained a lawyer, but did not practice his profession for any great length of time, except while United States attorney before the organization of the state government. He was elected three times to the territorial legislature, appointed secretary of the territory by President Pierce, and held the office from January 27, 1855, to March 3, 1859. He was chosen, as we have already seen, United States Senator in 1862 to succeed Stark, and was succeeded March 4, 1865, by Judge Williams. The leading Douglas democrats of Oregon in 1862 were Benjamin F. Harding, George H. Williams, James W. Nesmith, and Asahel Bush, and the issues of the war made them all war democrats, logical followers of Senator Douglas, and ultimately drove Judge Williams to the republicans. Senator Harding was appointed circuit judge of the third judicial district by Governor
