Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 2.djvu/29

Rh Fillmore, of New York, for President; A. J. Donnelson, of Tennessee, for Vice-President. Buchanan and Breckinridge were elected.

In August, 1856, a convention was held at Albany to organize a republican party in Oregon. James Hogue was president and Origin Thompson secretary of the convention. Among those present were Messrs. Conner, Whitson, Gallagher, Condon and George. Their platform consisted of this resolution: "Resolved, That we fling our banner to the breeze inscribed, free speech, free labor, a free press, a free state, and Freemont.' Oregon at this time, of course, had no vote in the presidential election. George L. Curry was reappointed Governor, and Benjamin F. Harding Secretary of the Territory in October of this year. The legislature elected in June assembled in Salem December 2, 1856. Governor Curry's message reviewed the events of the Indian war, opposed the removal of the capital and favored the formation of a state government. A bill was passed at this session of the legislature providing that at the June election, 1857, the people should vote for and against a convention to form a state constitution, and at the same time vote for delegates to the convention. In case the convention carried, the delegates elected should meet at Salem on the third Monday in August, 1857, to form a state constitution. Convention carried by a vote of seven thousand two hundred and nine for, to one thousand six hundred and sixteen against it, and the following delegates were elected to the constitutional convention: Benton, Henry B. Nichols, William Matzger, Haman C. Lewis, John Kelsey; Clackarnas, J. K. Kelly, A. L. Love joy, William A. Starkweather, Hector Campbell, Nathaniel Bobbins; Clatsop, Cyrus Olney; Curry, William H. Pack wood; Columbia, John W. Watts; Coos, Perry B. Marple; Douglas, Matthew P. Deady, Stephen F. Chadwick, Solo-