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.[1]
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.[2]
Anything so near a republican triumph had not been anticipated, and both parties were equally astonished.[3]
- ↑ The delegates were W. Warren, Leander Holmes, and A. G. Hovey.
- ↑ Stout's election was questioned on account of some irregularity, but Logan failed to unseat him.
- ↑ 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.
