Teritory of Oregon began its functions. But the little colony was not altogether satisfied, and already began to look forward to statehood.
In the first territorial legislative assembly, August 20, 1849, a bill was offered "to take the expression of the people for and against a convention to form a state government," but it was later laid upon the table. That session adjourned September 29, 1849, but in the proceedings in the next session held in May, 1850, a joint resolution was pending "to enquire into the propriety of calling a convention for the purpose of framing a state constitution, preparatory to admitting this Territory into the Union." However, according to the report in the Oregon Spectator, the proposal was "shoved off the track" by the adoption of a resolution requesting the delegate in congress to use his influence to have the Organic Law so amended that the governor and the secretary of the Territory be elected by the people.[1] The Spectator in a later issue said that the question of state Constitution was not referred to the people for the reason that the time of the election was too near, but that the measure was decidedly popular, and would undoubtedly be acted upon at the next legislative session.[2]
Up to this time there had been no division of the people of Oregon upon political party lines. The Spectator commenting on this condition said:
"It is usual on the assembling of legislative bodies to inquire into the political character of its members. But happily political parties have no existence in Oregon, and hence the persons elected to this legislature were chosen for other than party considerations, and during the whole of its session there was no question agitated
- ↑ Proceedings of May 13, 1850. Oregon Spectator, May 16, 1850. This issue is the only source of information as to this session, which is not mentioned in the official lists of legislative sessions.
- ↑ Oregon Spectator, May 30, 1850. In the issue of the Spectator of April 18, 1850, there was a long editorial, which began by saying: "We find the opinion that Oregon should be immediately erected into a state, much more prevalent than we had anticipated." All of the arguments in favor of statehood were presented.
