he sue-
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ceeding year be was nomiuated and elected, by the Republican party, to tbe Oregon State Senate, in wbicb body be served acceptably t«) liiH con- stituents four years. During the first two years of his term be was Cliair- man of the Judiciary Committee and the last two years he held the honor- able position of President of the Senate. At the close of his Senat^.rial term be received every mark of approval from bis immediate constituentB, and in 1866 strenuous efforts were made by bis political friends to secure him a seat in the U. S. Senate. They only failed to elevate him to this ex- alted position through lack of one vote in the caucus. He earnestly and honestly supported the caucus nomin*, who was only defeated by the action of a factious few who refused to acquiesce in the decision of the cau- cus after participating therein. In 1865 be was commissioned Lieutenant- Colonel, by the Governor, of the State Militia. In 1867 be was elected Pro- fessor of Medical Jurisprudence in Willamette University at Salem, Ore- gon, and occupied the chair for nearly four years. In 1872 his name was again presented to the State Legislature as a candidate for the U. S. Sen- ate, to wbicb position be was elected to succeed Hon. H. W. Corbett, whose term expired March 4, 1873. In this body he at once took a leading posi- tion. He served as a member of the Committees on Privileges and Elec- tions, Commerce and Claims, and was made a member of the Select Com- mittee on Transportation Routes to the seaboard, of which Senator Oliver P. Morton, of Indiana, was Chairman. That Senator dying. Senator Mitchell was made Chairman in his stead. It was in this position that he was enabled to do the greatest service for Oregon, and he tlid not fail to make use of the rare opportunity to do his whole duty to bis constituents. To him is due the credit of the location and con.-struction of the Transcon- tinental railroad, on the south side of the Cohimbia river. He also did all in his power in favor of the construction of the locks at the Cascades. Dur- ing the whole history of this government, no Senator, during bis first term, ever held so many and so important positions on committees in the U. S. Senate. Mr. Mitchell is possessed of remarkable energy and rare abilities, which, together with untiring industry, enable him to accomplish a vast amount of mental labor with apparent ease. Prom 1868 until January 1, 1873, when be resigned all other engagements to enter upon his duties as United States Senator, he was constantly employed in positions of high honor and trust. For five years be was the attorney for the Oregon .t Cal- ifornia Railroad Company and the North Pacific Steamship Transportation Company, of San Francisco, at an annual salary of ;$10,00U. Tbrongbouf his public career be has been distinguished for his keen discrimination and enlarged views of statesmanship. His unswerving adherence to the prin- ciples of the RepubHcan party and his fidebty to his friends are distin- guishing traits in his character. Be he rich or poor, high or low, a friend of John H. Mitchell's never had occasion to charge him with ingratitude or a want of courtesy under any and all circumstances. A quick perception and sound judgment, united with business tact, have secured to him rapid and great success, and be carries with him an influence rarely in the pos- session of a man so young in years. In 1882, when the Legislative Assera-
