sentative to congress; J. F. Gazley, George L. Woods, and H. N. George, presidential electors. The senate chose George H. Williams for the six years term in the United States senate, beginning in March 1865.
With the close of the war for the union the political elements began gradually to reshape themselves, many of the union party who had been Douglas democrats before the war resuming their place in the democratic ranks when the danger of disunion was past. To the returning ascendency of the democratic party the republicans contributed by contests for place among themselves. In 1866 A. C. Gibbs and J. H. Mitchell were both aspirants for the senatorship, but Gibbs received the nomination in the caucus of the republican members of the legislature. Opposed to him was Joseph S. Smith, democratic nominee. The balloting was long continued without an election, owing to the defection of three members whose votes had been pledged. When it became apparent that no election could be had, the name of H. W. Corbett was substitued for that of Gibbs, and Corbett was elected on the sixteenth ballot. Corbett was not much known in politics except as an unconditional union man. Personally he was not objectionable. He labored for the credit of his state, and endeavored to sustain republican measures by introducing and laboring for bills that promoted public improvements.[1]
In 1868 the legislature had returned to something like its pre-rebellion status,[2] passing a resolution in both houses requesting senators Williams and Corbett to resign for having supported the reconstruction acts.[3] The senate of the United States returned the resolution to both houses of the Oregon legisla-
- ↑ Henry W. Corbett was born at Westboro, Mass., Feb. 18, 1827; received an academic education, and engaged in mercantile pursuits, first in New York, and then in Portland in 1849, where he acquired a handsome fortune. He was an ardent unionist from the first. Cong. Directory, 31, 40th cong. 2d sess.
- ↑ There were 13 democrats and 9 republicans in the senate, and 17 republicans and 30 democrats in the house. Camp s Year-Book, 1869, 758.
- ↑ See Williams' speech of Feb. 4, 1868; Or. Jour. House, 1868, 123-5; Or. Laws, 1868, 97-8.
