States should mine in Oregon, except by paying four dollars per quarter, upon receiving a license from the sheriff; failing in the payment of which the sheriff might seize and sell his property. Any person employing Chinamen to work in the mines was liable for this tax on all so employed. Chinamen complying with the law should be protected the same as citizens of the United States; and twenty per cent of such revenue should go to the state.[1]
With the laws against negroes the hand of the general government was destined to interfere, first by the abolition of slavery in all United States territory, and finally when citizenship and the right of suffrage were extended to the colored race. The resolution of congress providing for the amendment to the constitution of the United States abolishing slavery was passed February 1, 1865. By the 23d of September seven teen states had adopted the amendment. Secretary Seward wrote to Governor Gibbs asking for a decision, to obtain which the legislature was convened at Salem on the 5th of December[2] by a call of the
- ↑ Or. Laws, 1866, 41-6. In 1861 the revenue to the state from the tax on Chinamen was $539.25, collected in the counties of Jackson and Josephine; or a total of 10,785, which shows a mining population in those two counties of about 900. Or. Jour. House, 1862, ap. 65-6.
- ↑ This was the same elected in 1864, and had held their regular session in
September and October of that year. It consisted of the following members
Senate: Baker and Umatilla counties, James M. Pyle; Benton, A. G. Hovey;
Coos, Curry, and Douglas, G. S. Hinsdale; Clatsop, Columbia, Washington, and Tillamook, Thos R. Cornelius; Clackamas, H. W. Eddy; Douglas, James Watson; Jackson, Jacob Wagner; Josephine, C. M. Caldwell; Lane, C. E. Chrisman and S. B. Cranston; Linn, Bartlett Curl and D. W. Bollard; Marion, John W. Grim and William Greenwood; Multnomah, J. H. Mitchell; Polk, John A. Frazer; Wasco, L. Donnel; Yamhill, Joel Palmer.
House: Baker county, Samuel Colt and Daniel Chaplin; Benton, J. Quinn Thornton and James Gingles; Coos and Curry, Isaac Hacker; Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook. P. W. Gillette; Clackamas, E. S. S. Fisher, H. W. Shipley, and Owen Wade; Douglas, E. W. Otey, P. C. Parker, and A. Ireland; Jackson, James D. Fay, T. F. Beall, and W. F. Songer; Josephine, Isaac Cox; Lane. G. Callison, J. B. Underwood, and A. McCornack; Linn, Robert Glass, J. N. Perkins, J. P. Tate, and H. A. McCartney; Marion, I. R. Moores, J. C. Cartwright, J. J. Murphy, and H. L. Turner; Moltnomah, P. Wasserman, L. H. Wakefield, and John Powell; Polk, James S. Holman, C. Lafollet; Umatilla, L. F. Lane; Wasco, A. J. Borland; Washington, W. Bowlby and D. O. Quick; Yarnhill, Geo. W. Lawson and H. Warren. The place of Wade was filled in 1865 by Arthur Warner; the place of Lafollet by Isaac Smith; the place of Henry Warren by J. M. Pierce. Borland was absent, and had no substitute. Or. Jour. House, 1864 and 1865; Or. Jour, Senate, 1864; National Almanac, 1864.
