Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 12.djvu/321

POLITICAL PARTIES IN OREGON 313 National Democratic Central Committee, of the Southern wing, and managed the campaign for Breckinridge and Lane. 1 Of Oregon's representatives at Charleston and Baltimore, Gen. Stevens and Steinberger joined the Union cause, the former being killed in battle in 1862. Miller was the secession Demo- cratic candidate for governor of Oregon in 1862. Lamerick became commissary of the Louisiana Confederate regiment and Metcalf a lieutenant in the Southern army. In the meantime, the National Republican Convention had been held at Chicago. The delegates from Oregon, neither of whom were in attendance, had been authorized to appoint their own alternates. The Argus of March 31 spoke of the change of time of the Convention to May 16, one month earlier than it had been announced, saying it would cause inconvenience to the Oregon delegates, adding, "We learn that Leander Holmes, in consequence of his inability to attend, has empowered Horace Greeley to act in his stead and cast his vote for Ed- ward Bates." As to the other alternates and whom they repre- sented there is a little confusion. Frank Johnson of Oregon City, who was then studying theology in New York, was in attendance representing Oregon. It is generally understood that Joel Burlingame, father of Anson Burlingame and who had just returned East from Oregon, held a proxy at Chicago. This accounts for the number and yet Eli Thayer of Massa- chusetts, was credited with being a proxy delegate from Ore- gon. 2 Through Greeley, Oregon wielded a very potent and far-reaching influence at the Chicago Convention. This is clearly brought out in a very interesting letter from Johnson to the Argus, extracts of which follow : 3 "The first hearty outburst of enthusiasm was on the an- nouncement of Horace Greeley as member of the com- 1 Statesman, July 24. "The Governor undertook the herculean task. In a single night he wrote th party address to the country an address covering a whole page of a large metro- politan newspaper, a feat for which Gen. Lane years afterward expressed un- bounded admiration and astonishment, both for its ability and for its ease and rapidity with which it was dashed off. During the next four months GOT. Stevens drove on the canvas with his accustomed energy and ability." Hazard Stevens, "Life of Gen. Isaac I. Stevens", Vol. II., p. 305. 2 Statesman, July 24. 3 Argus, July 14.