Page:The History of Oregon Bancroft 1888.djvu/431

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CHAPTER XVII.

OREGON BECOMES A STATE.

1856–1859.

Legislature of 1855–6—Measures and Memorials—Legislature of 1856–7—No Slavery in Free Territory—Republican Convention—Election Results—Discussions concerning Admission—Delegate to Congress—Campaign Journalism—Constitutional Convention—The Great Question of Slavery—No Black Men, Bond or Free—Adoption of a State Constitution—Legislature of 1857–8—State and Territorial Bodies—Passenger Service—Legislatures of 1858–9—Admission into the Union.

During these days Oregon was somewhat soured over the Indian question, and toward the United States generally. The savages should have been more quickly and cheaply killed; the regulars could not fight Indians; the postal service was a swindle and a disgrace; land matters they could manage more to their satisfaction themselves; better become a state and be independent. There was even some feeling between northern and southern Oregon; the former had labored and the latter had suffered, and both were a little sore over it.

About all the legislature of 1855–6[1] did was to move

  1. The councilmen elect were, for Multnomah, A. P. Dennison; Clackamas and Wasco, J. K. Kelly; Yamhill and Clatsop, John Richardson; Polk and Tillamook, J. M. Fulkerson; Marion, J. C. Peebles; Linn, Charles Drain; Umpqua, Douglas, and Coos, H. D. O'Bryant, democrats; and A. A. Smith of Lane and Benton, and E. H. Cleaveland of Jackson, whigs. Assemblymen, for Clatsop, Philo Callender; Wasco, N. H. Gates; Columbia, John Harris; Multnomah, G. W. Brown; Washington, H. Jackson; Clackamas, O. Risley, H. A. Straight, James Officer; Marion, L. F. Grover, William Harpole, J. M. Harrison; Yamhill, A. R. Burbank, Andrew Shuck; Polk, Fred. Waymire, R. P. Boisé; Linn, Delazon Smith, H. L. Brown, B. P. Grant; Benton, John Robinson, H. C. Buckingham; Lane, Isaac R. Moores, A.
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