Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 2.djvu/360

344 attorney of the second judicial district. In 1853 he was appointed territorial auditor, and was a member of the territorial legislatures of 1853, 1855, and 1857. He was also a member of the constitutional convention and was elected first congressman for Oregon in 1858, taking his seat February 15, 1859, and serving in that capacity for a period of only seventeen days, and was succeeded by Lansing Stout, who. had been elected as his successor. Senator Grover succeeded James K. Kelly March 4, 1877, and his term as senator expired March 3, 1883. He was succeeded by Joseph N. Dolph. Governor Grover and ex-Senator Nesmith were rival candidates for the senate in 1876. Senator Grover was at the time governor of the state and had been for more than six years. He was also the recognized candidate of the organized democratic party. He had been active in its leadership for many years; was himself a man of large executive ability; loyal to party organization; a man of the purest character in public and private life; faithful, politic, and courageous. He was, however, bitterly opposed by Senator Nesmith and his ardent friends, and the bitterness of the contest and its results made a profound impression upon the history of the democratic party in this state. It is now well understood by those conversant with the political history of the state that the mismanagement of Senator Nesmith's friends led to his defeat in the democratic senatorial caucus in 1876, and paved the way for the election of Senator Slater in 1878. Since his retirement from the United States senate, Governor Grover has lived a quiet and simple life at Portland,' Oregon, devoting himself to his private interests. He has been a conspicuous and important figure in this state.

The sessions of the legislative assembly during the period reflect the political opinions and discussions of the time, and may be profitably reviewed. The fourth