History of Oregon (Bancroft)/Volume 2/Chapter 18

by Frances Fuller Victor

CHAPTER XVIII.

POLITICS AND PATRIOTISM.

1859–1861.

Appointment of Officers of the United States Court—Extra Session of the Legislature—Acts and Reports—State Seal—Delazon Smith—Republican Convention—Nominations and Elections—Rupture in the Democratic Party—Sheil Elected to Congress—Scheme of a Pacific Republic—Legislative Session of 1860—Nesmith and Baker Elected U. S. Senators—Influence of Southern Secession—Thayer Elected to Congress—Lane's Disloyalty—Governor Whiteaker—Stark, U. S. Senator—Oregon in the War—New Officials.

 

The act of congress extending the laws and judicial system of the United States over Oregon, which passed March 3, 1859,^[1] provided for one United States judge, at a salary of twenty-five hundred dollars per annum, Matthew P. Deady being chosen to fill this office.^[2] Late in 1858 Williams had been appointed chief justice of the territory, with Boisé associate justice, and Walter Forward^[3] of Marion county United States marshal, McCracken having resigned. On the 20th of May the judges elect of the supreme and circuit courts met at Salem to draw lots for their terms of office, Boisé and Stratton getting the six years and Wait the four years term, which made him, as holder of the shorter term, by the provisions of the constitution, chief justice. The vacancy created by Deady's appointment was filled by P. P. Prim of Jackson county.^[4] Andrew J. Thayer was appointed United States district attorney in place of W. H. Farrar, and Forward continued in the office of marshal until September, when Dolph B. Hannah was appointed in his place. Joseph G. Wilson received the position of clerk of the supreme court,^[5] and J. K. Kelly was made attorney for the United States.

The supreme judges not being able to determine whether their decisions would be valid under the act passed by the state legislature before the admission of Oregon, Governor Whiteaker convened the legislature on the 16th of May, which proceeded to complete the state organization and regulate its judiciary. Among the acts passed was one accepting certain propositions made by congress in the bill of admission. By this bill, in addition to the munificent dowry of lands for school and university purposes, the state received ten entire sections of land to aid in completing the public buildings, all the salt springs in the state, not exceeding twelve in number, with six sections of land adjoining each, with five per cent of the net proceeds of the sales of all public lands lying within the state to be applied to internal improvements; in return for which the state agreed that non-residents should not be taxed higher than residents, and the property of the United States not at all; nor should the state in any way interfere with the primary disposal of the soil by the United States, or with any regulations which congress might find necessary for securing title in the soil to bona fide purchasers.^[6] A few acts, general and special, were passed,^[7] among others, one providing for the seal of the state of Oregon,^[8] and one for a special election to be held on the 27th of June for the choice of a representative to congress, after which the legislature adjourned.

One thing they had failed to do, its omission being significant—they had not elected Delazon Smith to return to the United States senate. Rather than do that, they preferred to leave his place vacant, which they did, Smith having shown himself while in Washington not only an adherent of Lane, dethroned, but a man altogether of whom even his party was ashamed.^[9]

Of their representative Grover, there was much to be said in his praise. His speeches were impressive, full of condensed facts, and he conducted himself in such a way generally as to command respect. It was said that there was more culture and ability in the one representative than in the two senators. But it was not upon fitness, but party requirements, that he had been elected; and before he had returned to offer him self for reëlection, new issues had arisen, and another man had been nominated in his place. Thus both of the men, prime favorites of the democratic party in Oregon, returned to the new state after less than one month of congressional honors, to find that their gains were only pecuniary.^[10]

On the 21st of April the republicans met in convention and brought out their platform; which was, in brief, devotion to the union, and the right of independent action in the states, subject only to the constitution of the United States; declaring the wisdom of the constitution in relation to slavery, yet opposed to its extension; recognizing the fact that the constitution vested the sovereignty of the territories in congress, yet not forgetting that congress might delegate the exercise of that sovereignty partly or wholly to the people of the territories, and favoring such delegation so far as consistent with free labor and good government. It declared the intervention of congress for the protection of slavery in the territories, demanded by leading democrats, a gross infraction of popular and national rights, which should be resisted by free men. It was opposed to placing large sums of money in the hands of the executive with authority to purchase territory as he chose without the consideration of congress; and while welcoming those of the white race who came to the United States to enjoy the blessings of free institutions, held that the safety of those institutions depended upon the enforcement of the naturalization laws of the country. These were the real points at issue. But in order to add strength to the platform, it was resolved by the convention that the interests of Oregon, as well as the whole union, demanded the passage of the homestead bill,^[11] and the speedy construction of the Pacific railroad. Internal improvements of a national character, a tariff sufficient to meet the current expenses of the government which should discriminate in favor of home industry, a free gift of a home to him who would cultivate and defend it, were announced as the measures which the republican party pledged itself to support. Lastly, congress was earnestly invoked to pay the war debt of Oregon, not holding responsible the people for any errors or misconduct of officers or individuals, whether truly or falsely alleged.

On proceeding to ballot for congressmen, the names of David Logan, B. J. Pengra, and W. L. Adams were presented, Logan receiving a majority of thirteen over Pengra. Delegates were chosen to attend the national republican convention of 1860, who were instructed to vote for W. H. Seward for presidential candidate; but in case this were not expedient, to use their discretion in selecting another.^[12]

The republican party of Oregon was now fairly launched on the unknown sea of coming events. Logan was admitted by his opponents to be the strongest man of his party, one possessed of positive qualities, and an eloquent and satirical orator. He had, however, certain moral defects which dimmed the lustre of his mental gifts, and always stood in the way of his highest success. How near he came to a victory, which would have been unprecedented, Stout's majority of only sixteen votes pointedly illustrates.^[13]

Anything so near a republican triumph had not been anticipated, and both parties were equally astonished.^[14]

And now Joseph Lane aspired to the presidency of the United States. Pending the meeting of a democratic convention in November, which was to elect delegates to the national convention at Charleston, Grover and Curry made speeches throughout the state, the object of which was to obtain the nomination to the vacant senatorship; but dissensions in the party had gone too far to afford a hope of either being chosen by the next legislature. The mutual abuse heaped upon each other by the partisans of the two factions only contributed to widen the breach and complete the disruption of the party. The tyrannical and prescriptive course of the old Lane-Bush democracy was now practised by the Lane-Stout democracy. In 1858 the Statesman had upheld the measure of making Lane's majority the basis of apportionment in the several counties. In 1859 the central committee, following this example, declared that Stout's majority should be the basis of apportionment for delegates to the November convention. A general protest followed, the counties sending as many delegates as they thought fit. Only four were admitted from Marion, which sent ten, and eight counties withdrew,^[15] resolving not to elect delegates to the Charleston convention, but simply to pledge themselves to support the national nominee.

Upon the withdrawal of this body of delegates, the delegates of the eleven remaining counties made known their instructions concerning the presidental candidate, when it was found that Josephine county had named Stephen A. Douglas, and Yamhill Daniel S. Dickinson. Other counties refused to nominate Lane. In this embarrassing position those who had so determined, guided by L. F. Mosher, Lane's son-in-law, cut the gordian knot by moving to appoint a committee to report delegates to the national convention with instructions, which was done. The report of the committee named Joseph Lane, Lansing Stout, and Matthew P. Deady delegates, with John K. Lamerick, John F. Miller, and John Adair as alternates; with instructions to use all their influence to procure the nomination in the Charleston convention of Joseph Lane for the presidency. Blinded by partisan zeal and the dangerous flattery of southern men and women, Lane had staked all on this desperate hazard; while the unwise action of his friends in allowing eight counties to be driven out of the Eugene convention apparently deprived him of any reasonable expectation of carrying his own state should he receive such nomination.^[16]

Under the state constitution the legislature and state officers were to be elected biennially on the first Monday in June. The first election having been held in 1858, there could be no other before June 1860; therefore, after the democratic convention of November, the people might have enjoyed exemption from the noise of politics had it not been that a cloud of party journals had fallen upon the land.^[17] The only good thing that could be said of them was that they provoked free criticism of themselves, and were thus instrumental in emancipating the thought of the people.

A democratic convention for the nomination of a representative was called, to meet at Eugene in April, the call being declined by Marion, Clatsop, Curry, Washington, Polk, and Tillamook. George K. Sheil was nominated,^[18] and the convention adjourned without choosing candidates for presidential electors, which was a part of the business. Two days later the republicans held a convention, at which delegates from seventeen counties were present. At this meeting spoke E. D. Baker,^[19] a prominent politician, who came from California, where his star was not propitious, to Oregon, where he hoped to have a finger in the new politics. He made many speeches during the summer campaign, Logan being again the republican candidate for congress, the Seward plank in their platform, however, being abandoned, Nesmith took the field against Sheil, while Kelly, who had returned to his party, Smith, and Sheil himself, advocated the principles of the southern democracy. Whatever the cause, there was a slight reaction from the congressional campaign of 1859, and Sheil received a majority over Logan of 104 votes, while the legislature was more solidly democratic than at the last election.^[20]

The election was not long past when the final news was received of the proceedings of the Charleston and Baltimore conventions, the secession of the extreme southern states, and the nomination by them of Lane to the vice-presidency, causing a strong revulsion of feeling among all of the democratic party not strongly pro-slavery in principle.

Oregon was still less prepared to receive a scheme of government said to be entertained by the senators of the Pacific coast, which was to establish a slave-holding republic, on the plan of an aristocracy similar to the ancient republic of Venice, which, while providing for an elective executive, vested all power in hereditary nobles,^[21] repudiating universal suffrage. Labor was to be performed by a class of persons from any of the dark races, invited to California, and subsequently reduced to slavery. Such was the bold and unscrupulous scheme to which Lane had lent himself, the discovery of which caused mingled indignation and alarm. The alarm was not lest the plan should succeed, but lest an internecine war should be forced upon them to prevent its success. But this was not all. The war debt still remained unpaid. The next congress would be largely republican. Oregon was democratic, and with such a record—of having voted in the Charleston convention for secession—how was the payment of that debt to be secured? It was thus the people reasoned, while those whose places depended upon the will of the administration, now openly in sympathy with the seceders, were deeply troubled what course to pursue in the approaching crisis. In the mean time, the republican national convention at Chicago had nominated to the presidency Abraham Lincoln, and the keenest interest was felt throughout the union in an election which was to decide the fate of the nation. For it was well understood that if the republicans carried the country against Douglas, as the Breckenridge and Lane nomination seemed to promise, and as it was believed to be intended, the south would make that a pretext for disunion.

As soon as the full results of the Charleston, Baltimore, and Washington conventions became known, a meeting of the state democratic central committee was held at Eugene City, which, having a majority of Lane democrats, proceeded to indorse the Breckenridge and Lane nominations. This action alarmed the opposite faction, which called a convention to protest against the indorsement, and to nominate presidential electors, to be held in September. The convention was fully attended, indorsed the Douglas platform, declared the Oregon democracy loyal to the union of the states, denouncing secession. Anything so earnest and unsectional had not been enunciated by the Oregon democracy in all its previous history. Comparing their new platform with that of the republicans, there was no essential difference.^[22]

On the 10th of September the legislature met at Salem, and the preponderance of Lane men among the democrats caused a fusion between the Douglas democrats and the republicans, which gave the fusionists a majority in the house of twenty-one to fifteen.^[23] An attempt to organize in the senate was defeated by the difficulty of electing a president, the Douglas men having nominated Tichenor, and the Lane men Elkins, another Douglas democrat; and the vote standing seven to seven without change for the first day. On the morning of the second day it was discovered that six senators, Berry, Brown, Florence, Fitzhugh, Monroe, and McIteeney, had left Salem, and were keeping in concealment, with the intent to defeat the election of United States senators, which in the then impending crisis was of unusual importance. The Lane faction were determined, if not able to elect their favorites, to prevent any election being held. The aspirants to the senatorship were Smith and Lane, democrats, Judge Williams and J. W. Nesmith, independents, and E. D. Baker, republican. Strong influences were brought to bear by the Lane democrats, who besieged the lobby and had their spies at every street corner.

On the 13th the senate organized without a quorum, Elkins being chosen president. A motion was made to adjourn sine die, which was defeated, and a resolution offered authorizing the president to issue warrants for the arrest of the absconding members, which was adopted. They continued, however, to elude the sergeant and his assailants for nine days, when after an unsuccessful ballot for senators in joint convention, in which the Douglas democrats voted for Nesmith and Williams, and the republicans for Baker and Holbrook, the legislature adjourned sine die. Governor Whiteaker then made an appeal through the public prints to all the members of that body to reassemble and attend to their duty; which they finally did on the 24th, but it was not until the 1st of October that balloting for senators was resumed, Deady, Curry, and Drew being added to the nominees. The contest was decreed by the Lane men to be between Smith and any one of the Douglas democrats on one side, and any two of the Douglas men on the other; but the democratic party in the legislature revolted against Smith, and rejected him on any terms. With equal scorn the Lane democrats rejected Nesmith, whom they hated, but intimated that they would vote for him if Smith could be elected. The Douglas men offered if the Lane men would give two votes for Nesmith to elect Curry in place of Smith, but they refused. On the eighteenth ballot the Douglas democrats reluctantly gave up the hope of electing two democratic senators without accepting Smith, and elected Nesmith and Baker, the former for the long and the latter for the short term.

As soon as practicable after the reassembling of the legislature the house passed a bill providing for the election of a representative in congress to supersede the unauthorized election of Sheil, but the measure was defeated in the senate, the Lane members voting solidly against it. The democratic state central committee then called a meeting, with the intention of electing another representative in November, when the presidential election would occur, and nominated A. J. Thayer.^[24] This action caused the senate to reconsider their opposition to a legal election bill; and an act was passed authorizing the governor to issue a writ of election to fill vacancies that might occur in the office of representative to congress. The law went into effect two days after the meeting of the state central committee, and the brief interval between the adjournment of the legislature and the day fixed for the presidential election was devoted to canvassing for a congressman. Nesmith and Benjamin Hayden, one of the democratic presidential electors, took part in it, the candidates being Thayer and Sheil.

Before the 6th of November arrived, the pony express began to bring stirring news of great republican victories in the northern and western states. The successes of the new party were almost too great to be believed. Even in Oregon the contagion spread until all other interests were swallowed therein. On the 6th the vote was cast. Sufficient returns were in by the 9th to make it certain that the state had gone republican.^[25] Not only was there a republican plurality for president, but Shell was defeated.^[26] On the 5th of December the republican presidential electors T. J. Dryer, W. H. Watkins, arid B. J. Pengra met at Salem and cast the electoral vote for Lincoln, appointing Dryer to carry the vote to Washington. Thus ended the political revolution of 1860 in Oregon.

 

Slowly, reluctantly, regretfully came home the truth to the people of Oregon that Joseph Lane was a secessionist; that he had offered his services and those of his sons to fight in battle against his government, and against his late friends in Oregon. The news of the fall of Fort Sumter did not reach Oregon till the 30th of April, 1861. By the same steamer that brought the thrilling intelligence of actual war came Lane back to his home in Oregon. What a pitiful home-coming! Hatred and insult greeted him from the moment he came in sight of these Pacific shores. At San Francisco it was so, and when he reached Portland, and a few personal friends wished to give a salute in his honor, they were assured that such a demonstration would not be permitted in that town. Even the owner of a cart refused to transport his luggage to the house of his son-in-law. It consisted of two or three stout boxes in which were being conveyed to southern Oregon arms for the equipment of the army of the Pacific republic! But this fact was not known to the cartman, or it might have fared worse with the ex-senator. Proceeding south after a few days with these arms in a stout wagon, but unsuspected, he was met at various parts of the route by demonstrations of disrespect. At Dallas he was hanged in effigy. A fortunate accident arrested him in the perpetration of the contemplated folly and treachery,^[27] and consigned him to a life of retirement from which he never emerged.^[28]

That a considerable class in Oregon were in favor of secession is undeniable. That there were some who would have fought for the extension of slavery had they been upon southern soil is undoubted. But there were few who cared enough for what they called the rights of the southern states to go to the seat of war and fight for them.^[29] On the other hand, there were many who fought for the union.^[30] Party lines were blotted out as quickly in Oregon as in New York, and soon there was but one party that amounted to anything—the union party. By reason of lack of sympathy with the people at this juncture, Governor Whiteaker was requested to resign.

The first despatches transmitted across the continent entirely by telegraph shocked the whole Pacific coast with the message that at the battle of Ball's Bluff, on the 21st of October, 1861, fell Oregon's republican senator, E. D. Baker.^[31] The seat in the senate left vacant by Baker was filled by the appointment by Governor Whiteaker of Benjamin Stark, one of the original owners of the Portland land claim. Information was forwarded to Washington of the disloyal sentiments of the appointee, and for two months the senate hesitated to admit him; but he was finally, in February 1862, permitted to take the oath of office by a vote of twenty-six to nineteen, Senator Nesmith voting for his admission. But the matter was not allowed to rest there. A committee being appointed to examine the evidence, Stark was finally impeached, but was not expelled, his term ending with the meeting of the Oregon legislative assembly in September.

A similar leniency was exercised by congress towards Sheil, who contested the election of Thayer. The latter was admitted to his seat, and occupied it during most of the special term of 1861, but upon the right to it being contested, Thaddeus Stevens maintained that since there was at the time no authority for a congressional election in Oregon, the seat was really vacant. The contestants being thus placed upon an equality as to legal rights, a preponderance was left of such right as might be in favor of the first man elected. The republicans in the house could have kept out Sheil by insisting upon the illegality of his election, had not congress taken every occasion to show such magnanimity as could be ventured upon toward men of disunion predilections in the hope of conciliating the south.

 

With a change of administration there was a change in the official list. William L. Adams of the Argus was appointed collector of customs at Astoria. W. W. Parker^[32] became his deputy. B. J. Pengra supplanted W. W. Chapman as surveyor-general; T. J. Dryer was appointed commissioner to the Hawaiian Islands; Simeon Francis, paymaster in the army, with the rank of major;^[33] W. T. Matlock, receiver of the land office at Oregon City; and W. K. Starkweather, registrar of the same; W. H. Rector received the appointment of superintendent of Indian affairs, and A. L. Lovejoy the office of pension agent.

When Nesmith first took his seat in the senate he had some feeling in favor of the south, and spoke accordingly; but in due time his utterances became more moderate, and when he returned to Oregon in the autumn of 1861 he was well received. Stout represented Oregon with fidelity, industry, and ability. At his first session he introduced a bill to remove the obstructions in the Missouri and Columbia Rivers, with a view to opening a line of travel across the continent. He urged the protection of immigrants, and the restoration of the military department of Oregon, which was depleted by the call for troops, and labored for the payment of the Indian war bonds, the issuance of which was delayed by Secretary Chase until the loans necessary for the civil war had been negotiated.

After issue, they sold at about ninety cents on the dollar, when the bond amounted to five hundred dollars, without a market for the smaller bonds. Some of the scrip exchanged for these bonds had been purchased at thirty, forty, and even as low as thirteen cents on the dollar.

1. U. S. Pub. Laws, 437, 35th cong. 2d sess.
2. Grover says that Hendricks of Indiana, who was then commissioner of the general land office, and was afterward U. S. senator for 6 years, and a candidate for the vice-presidency, was among the applicants for the place, and personally his preference, but that the Oregon people were opposed to imported officers, and hence he recommended Deady. Pub. Life in Or., MS., 57. It was said at the time that Lane made the recommendation to keep Deady out of his way in future elections. However that might be, the appointment was satisfactory, and Judge Deady has done much to support the dignity of the state, and to promote the growth of moral and social institutions.
3. He was a nephew of Walter Forward of Penn. and of Jeremiah Black U. S. atty-gen. Amer. Almanac, 1857–9; Or. Statesman, Dec. 21, 1858.
4. Prim's Judicial Affairs, MS., 11; Ashland Tidings, June 7, 1878. The district court held its sessions in the methodist church in Jacksonville. Or. Argus, Nov. 22, 1856; Overland Monthly, xiv. 377–81.
5. Or. Reports, ii. 8–9. Deady made him special U. S. attorney in the spring of 1860.
6. Gen. Laws Or., 1859, 29–30.
7. An act providing for the election of presidential electors, and to prescribe their duties. An act providing for the registration of the property of married women, according to the constitution. An act providing for the leasing of the penitentiary. An act raising the state tax to two mills on a dollar, etc.
8. 'The description of the seal of the state of Oregon shall be an escutcheon supported by thirty-three stars divided by an ordinary, with the inscription "The Union."' In chief—mountains, an elk with branching antlers, a wagon, the Pacific ocean, on which is a British man-of-war departing and an American steamer arriving. The second quartering with a sheaf, plough and pick-axe. Crest, the American eagle. Legend, State of Oregon. Deady's Laws Or., 496–7.
9. They used to call him Delusion Smith.
10. The men put in nomination at the democratic convention in April were W. W. Chapman, George L. Curry, George H. Williams, L. F. Grover, and Lansing Stout. The contest was between Stout and Grover, and Stout received 7 more votes in convention than Grover. Lansing Stout, lawyer, was a native of N. Y., came to Cal. in 1852, and was elected to the legislature in 1855. He afterward removed to Portland and was elected county judge. He had ability, particularly in the direction of politics. He died in 1871 at the age of 43 years. Walla Walla Statesman, March 11, 1871; Olympia Wash. Standard, March 11, 1871.
11. This had been before congress at the last session, Lane voting against it. This fact was used by the republicans against him; and it is difficult to understand his motive, unless it was simply to oppose northern senators.
12. The delegates were W. Warren, Leander Holmes, and A. G. Hovey.
13. Stout's election was questioned on account of some irregularity, but Logan failed to unseat him.
14. The county of Marion, hitherto solidly democratic, gave Logan nearly 800 majority. Linn, the home of Delazon Smith, gave Stout but 100 majority; Polk, the home of Nesmith, gave 30 majority for Stout; Lane gave a majority of 20 for Logan. Multnomah, Clatsop, Washington, Yamhill, and Tillamook, all went for Logan. The southern counties generally went for Stout, and saved the democratic party in the Willamette Valley from defeat; for although they contained some of the strongest opponents of the democracy, the majority were intensely devoted to Lane, and they had not had the light on his recent course in congress which had been given by the Statesman to the northern counties.
15. Marion, Polk, Wasco, Clatsop, Washington, Umpqua, Coos, and Curry.
16. Sacramento Union, in Or. Statesman, Jan. 17, 1860.
17. Concerning the newspapers which sprung into existence about the time of the admission of Oregon, I have gathered the following chiefly from the Statesman, Argus, and Oregonian. Many of them had a brief existence, or so frequently changed their titles that it is difficult to follow them. Early in 1858 the Democratic Standard, which was established by Alonzo Leland in 1854, changed hands, and was edited by James O'Meara, as we have seen. It suspended in January 1859, but resumed publication in February. Not long after, the press was removed to Eugene City, where a paper called the Democratic Herald was started by Alex. Blakely, to be devoted to the interests of the Lane democracy. It survived but one year. Previously to this removal to Eugene, there had been a neutral paper published at that place called the Pacific Journal. This paper was purchased in 1858 by B. J. Pengra, and published as a republican journal under the name of The People's Press. A semi-weekly, called the Franklin Advertiser, was for a short time published in Portland by S. J. McCormick. Subsequently, in 1859, Leland of the Standard stated a paper at Portland, called the Daily Advertiser, 'got up as the Standard was, to crush out the Salem clique.' It was pro-slavery and anti-Bush. After running a few months it passed into the hands of S. J. McCormick as publisher, Leland withdrawing from the editorial chair. Geo. L. Curry became connected with it, when it was enlarged and published weekly as well as daily, McCormick introducing a steam press into his printing establishment. Previous to starting the Advertiser Leland had established the Daily News, the first daily paper in Oregon, in connection with S. A. English & Co., publishers. Hardly had it begun before it passed into the editorial charge of E. D. Shattuck, and a little later into the hands of W. D. Carter. The News then published a weekly, independent in politics, which had a brief existence. In December 1860 the Portland Daily Times issued one or two numbers, and suspended. It was revived in 1861, and supported the government. In the latter part of 1860 Henry L. Pittock, the present publisher of the Oregonian, purchased that paper, and started a daily, which appeared for the first time Feb. 4, 1861. In 1859 a journal called the Roseburg Express was published in Roseburg, on the press of the Chronicle of Yreka, L. E. V. Coon & Co. publishers, which ran for a year and failed. Corvallis had had, after the removal of the Statesman, the Occidental Messenger and Democratic Crisis, both of which were dead in 1859. T. H. B. Odeneal was publisher of the latter. In place of this a secession paper called The Union was being issued in 1860 by J. H. Slater. In 1859 W. G. T'Vault withdrew from the Jacksonville Sentinel, selling to W. B. Treanor & Co., who employed the ubiquitous O'Meara as editor until 1861, when he was succeeded by Dellinger and Hand. About the beginning of 1859 The Dalles Journal was established by A. J. Price, afterward controlled by Thomas Jordan, an army officer, whose interference with state politics was not regarded with favor. It passed into the hands of W. H. Newell in 1861, who started The Mountaineer. About the close of 1859, Delazon Smith caused the Oregon Democrat to be established at Albany for his own purposes. It was published by Shepard, made war on the Salem clique, and sustained Lane. Early in 1861 it was taken in charge by P. J. Malone, an able writer, and in 1865 became the State Rights Democrat, with O'Meara for editor. The Pacific Christian Advocate was removed from Salem to Portland about this time, its editor, Thomas H. Pearne taking great interest in politics. In fact, no paper could gain a footing without politics; and with the exception of the Oregonian, Argus, and People's Press, every paper in the state was democratic. At Roseburg the Oregon State Journal was started in June 1861 on the materials of the Roseburg Express, which had not been long in existence. In August 1861 O'Meara and Pomeroy began the publication of the Southern Oregon Gazette, a secession journal, which lived but a brief period. As an evidence of the increased facilities for printing, it might be here mentioned that T. J. McCormick, who was the publisher of the first literary magazine in Oregon, styled the Oregon Monthly Magazine, in 1852, and the Oregon Almanac, in the spring of 1859, published in good style a novel of 350 pages by Mrs Abigail Scott Duniway, called Captain Gray's Company. The Statesman was first published on a power press, May 17, 1859. After this printing improved rapidly, and newspapers multiplied. The first daily Statesman was published July 20, 1864.
18. The other candidates before the convention were J. K. Kelly, S. F. Chadwick, John Adair, and J. H. Reed. Or. Statesman, April 24, 1860.
19. Born in London in 1811; came to America in 1816; learned cabinet-making, and in 1828 went to Carrollton, Ill., where he began the study of law. In 1832 he was major in the Black Hawk war. For ten years he was a member of the Ill. legislature, and in 1845 of the U. S. house of representatives. During that year he raised a regiment for the Mexican war and joined Taylor at the Rio Grande. In Dec. 1846 he returned, made a speech on the war in congress, after which he resigned and went back to Mexico, where he participated in the capture of San Juan de Ulúa and the battle of Cerro Gordo; taking the command in that battle after the wounding of Gen. Shields. The state of Illinois presented him with a sword. In 1849 he was again elected to congress; and in 1851 he undertook some work on the Panamá railway, but was driven by the fever to Cal. in 1852, where he practised law and made political speeches. Or. Argus, Jan. 4, 1862.
20. There was an increase in the poll of 1,823 since June, 1859. Or. Statesman, June 26, 1860.
21. It was the common belief that Gwin of California was at the bottom of this scheme. Should the southern states succeed in withdrawing from the union and setting up a southern confederacy, and could a line of slave territory be kept open from Texas to the Pacific, the Pacific coast would combine with the south. But in view of the probable wars in which the aggressive policy of the southern states was likely to involve their allies, Gwin was in favor of a separate empire or republic. The plan pointed out the means of procuring slaves, which was to invite the immigration of coolies, South Sea Islanders, and negroes, who were to be reduced to slavery on their arrival. It was the discovery of this conspiracy which gave the California senator the title of Duke Gwin. S. F. Times, in Or. Statesman, Dec. 10, 1860.
22. See republican state platform, in Or. Argus, Aug. 25, 1860.
23. Senators: Clackamas and Wasco, J. K. Kelly; Multnomah, J. A. Williams; Washington, Columbia, Clatsop, and Tillamook, Thos R. Cornelius; Yamhill, J. R. McBride; Polk, William Taylor; Marion, J. W. Grim, E. F. Colby; Linn, Luther Elkins, H. L. Brown; Lane, A. B. Florence, James Monroe; Benton, J. S. McIteeney; Douglas, Solomon Fitzhugh; Umpqua, Coos, and Curry, William Tichenor; Josephine, D. S. Holton; Jackson, A. M. Berry. Representatives: Wasco, Robert Mayes; Multnomah, A. C. Gibbs, B. Stark; Clatsop and Tillamook, C. J. Trenchard; Columbia and Washington, E. Conyers; Washington, Wilson Bowlby; Clackamas, A. Holbrook, W. A. Starkweather, William Eddy; Yamhill, S. M. Gilmore, M. Crawford; Marion, B. F. Harding, S. Parker, C. P. Crandall, R. Newell; Polk, Ira F. M. Butler, C. C. Cram; Linn, B. Curl, A. A. McCally, J. P. Tate, J. Q. A. Worth; Lane, John Duval, Joseph Bailey, R. B. Cochrane; Benton, H. M. Walker, R. C. Hill; Umpqua, J. W. P. Huntington; Coos and Curry, S. E. Morton; Douglas, J. F. Gazley, R. E. Cowles; Josephine, George T. Vining; Jackson, J. B. White, G. W. Keeler, J. N. T. Miller. Or. Statesman, June 26, 1860. In the whole body the Lane men numbered 16, anti-Lane men 24, republicans 10.
24. Born in N. Y., spent his boyhood on a farm, acquired a common English education, and studied and practised law, emigrating to Oregon in 1853. In 1855 he was appointed territorial auditor in place of J. A. Bennet, who had declined. His reputation as a lawyer and a man was excellent. In 1870 he was elected to the supreme bench, and as a judge was fearless and impartial. His death occurred in 1873. Or. Reports, 4, xi.–xv.; Albany Democrat, May 2, 1873; Salem Mercury, May 2, 1873.
25. Lincoln's plurality was 270. The whole vote of the state was 14,751. Lincoln, 5,344; Douglas, 4,136; Breckenridge, 5,074. Bell, of the Bell and Everett party, had 197 votes.
26. The whole vote for congressman was a little over 4,000. Of these Lane received 5, Logan 8, Sheil 131, and Thayer the remainder.
27. Jesse Applegate testifies as follows: In crossing the Calapooya Mountain with only his Irish teamster, by some mischance a pistol was discharged, wounding Lane in the arm. The Irishman, frightened lest it should be thought that he had inflicted the wound with murderous intent, fled to the house of Applegate, at Yoncalla, and related what had occurred. Applegate at once went to Lane's relief, taking him to his house, where he remained for several weeks. During this visit Lane revealed to his friend the nature of his scheme concerning Oregon, and was dissuaded from the undertaking.
28. For many years Lane lived alone with a single servant upon a mountain farm. In 1878, to gratify his children, he removed to Roseburg, where, being cordially welcomed by society, the old fire was awakened, and he nominated himself for the state senate in 1880 at the age of 79 years. Being rather rudely rejected and reproved, he wept like a child. His death occurred in May 1881. Whatever errors he may have committed, whatever vanity he may have displayed concerning his own achievements, he was ever generous in his estimate of others, and the decline of his life was full of kindness and courtesy.
29. John Lane, son of Joseph Lane, became a colonel in the confederate army. Captain Thomas Jordan, for a time U. S. quartermaster at The Dalles, resigned to take service in the south. He was said to have accepted a colonelcy in the Culpepper cavalry. Major Garnett, for several years stationed in Oregon and Washington, also resigned, and was commissioned brigadier by Jefferson Davis. John Adair of Astoria, Oregon, son of the collector and post master, who graduated from West Point in 1861, was commissioned lieutenant of dragoons and ordered to join his regiment at Walla Walla, and afterward to report at Washington, instead of which he deserted, and went to Victoria, V. I. He was dismissed the service. Or. Statesman, Aug. 25, 1862. The place left vacant by John Lane at West Point was filled by Volney Smith, son of Delazon Smith, who failed in his examination. He was appointed a lieutenant in a New York cavalry regiment, but did not long remain in the service. Adolphus B. Hannah, who had been U. S. marshal in Oreon, offered his services to the confederacy. J. B. Sykes, Indian agent at the Siletz reservation, resigned and went east to serve in the rebel army. He was captured with a portion of Jackson's command, and sent to Columbus, Ohio. John K. Lamerick, once brigadier-general of the Oregon militia, went to Washington to dispose of his Indian war scrip, and joined the rebel army as a commissary. C. H. Mott, who in 1858 was sent to Oregon to examine into the Indian accounts, joined the rebel army and commanded the 19th Mississippi at Bull Run. He was killed in front of Hooker's division May 5, 1862.
30. Notable among whom was Captain Rufus Ingalls, who came to Fort Vancouver in 1849. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel on McClellan's staff, and placed in charge of the quartermaster's department at Yorktown. Colonel Joseph Hooker, then living at Salem, offered his services, and was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general. The other officers who had served in Oregon and were promoted to the rank of major or brigadier-general were Grant, Sheridan, Augur, Ord, Wright, Smith, Casey, Russell, Reynolds, and Alvord, besides Baker and Stevens, who had received a military education, but were not in the army. Captain Hazen, who was formerly stationed at Fort Yamhill, was placed in command of a volunteer infantry regiment at Cleveland, Ohio, in the beginning of the war. Lieutenant Lorraine, who was stationed at Fort Umpqua, was assigned to a new regiment in the field, and was wounded at Bull Run. Captain W. L. Dall of the steamship Columbia was appointed a lieutenant commanding in the U. S. navy. Roswell C. Lampson of Yamhill county, son of an immigrant of 1845, the first naval cadet from Oregon, and who graduated about this time, served in the war, and was promoted to the command of a vessel for gallant conduct at Fort Fisher. At the close of the war he resigned, returned to Oregon, and became clerk of the U. S. courts. Portland Oregonian, April 5, 1865; Portland Standard, April 27, 1877. James W. Lingenfelter, a native of Fonda, N. Y., but residing in Jacksonville, Oregon, was made captain of a volunteer company, and killed near Fortress Monroe, Oct. 8, 1861. John L. Boon, son of J. D. Boon, state treasurer, and a student at the Weslyan university, Delaware, Ohio, served in an Ohio regiment, being in the battles of Shiloh and Corinth, in the division under General Lew Wallace. The major of the 68th Ohio was a former resident of Oregon, named Snooks, of the immigration of 1844. George Williams, son of Elijah Williams of Salem, was appointed 2d lieut of the 4th inf., and was in the second battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg, losing a foot in the last named. Frank W. Thompson of Linn county was colonel of the 3d Va. volunteers in 1863, and subsequently promoted. Henry Butler of Oakland, Oregon, was a member of the 86th Ill. volunteers; and Charles Harker of Oregon was a lieut in the union army. Many more would have been in the service but for the apprehensions entertained of the designs of disunionists on the Pacific coast.
31. When war was declared Baker raised a regiment in Penn. His remains were deposited in Lone Mountain cemetery, San Francisco, and a monument erected to his memory.
32. A native of Vt., educated at Norwich university. In 1847 he was appointed mining engineer to the Lake Superior Copper Mining Company, but hearing that the mail steamer California was about to sail for California and Oregon in 1848, he took passage in her for the Pacific coast. By the time the steamer arrived, the gold fever was at its height, and he engaged in mining, at which he was successful, losing his earnings afterward by fire. He was one of the board of assistant alderman in San Francisco in 1851. In Feb. 1852 he removed to Astoria, Oregon.
33. Francis came from Springfield, Ill., to Oregon in 1859. After Lincoln's campaign he took charge of the Portland Oregonian while Dryer carried the electoral vote to Washington. He afterward resided at Fort Vancouver. His death occurred at Portland in Nov. 1872, to which place military head quarters had been removed. See Portland Oregonian, Nov. 2, 1872.