Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 2.djvu/39

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Political History of Oregon, 1853-65.
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of March, 1860, I went into Linn County, to the residence of Delazon Smith, and said to him: "Delazon, I have come here to beard the lion in his den (Smith's friends called him the 'Lion of Linn'); I am going to canvass Linn County, and my object is to beat you and General Lane for the senate. Come on and make your fight." He good-naturedly accepted the challenge, and we traveled on horseback to all parts of Linn County, through the rain and mud, speaking every day, sometimes in the afternoon and sometimes in the evening, and, as the accommodations in those days were somewhat limited, we generally occupied the same bed at night. When I go back in my thoughts to that campaign, I do not think of the rain, mud and hard work, but I think of the solid comfort I experienced w r hen, hungry, wet and weary, I was welcomed to the warm hospitalities of the pioneer families of Linn County. Colonel Baker came to Oregon some time in the winter of 1859, and he and Dryer made speeches for the republican ticket, but I believe I was the only democrat who made a general canvass, especially against the election of Lane and Smith.

On September 11, 1860, the legislature convened at Salem, and consisted of the following members: Senate—Thomas R. Cornelius, of Washington; William Tichner, of Umpqua, Coos and Curry; William Taylor, of Polk; Solomon Fitzhugh, of Douglas; D. S. Holton, of Josephine; John R. McBride, of Yamhill; James Monroe, of Lane; John A. Williams, of Multnomah; Luther Elkins and H. L. Brown, of Linn; A. B. Florence, of Lane; J. W. Grimm and E. F. Colby, of Marion; J. S. McHeeney, of Benton; A. M. Berry, of Jackson. Luther Elkins was elected president. House—S. E. Martin, of Coos and Curry; C. J. Trenchard, of Clatsop and Tillamook; Reuben Hill and M. H. Walker, of Benton; R. A. Cowles and James F. Gazley, of Douglas; J. Q. A.