Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 2.djvu/377

Rh to the Constitution of the United States, to which, when fairly ratified by the legislatures or conventions of three fourths of the states, elected upon the issues submitted, all the states would cheerfully acquiesce and conform their local constitutions thereto. This course will probably become necessary in order that the co-ordinate branches of the general government be better intrenched in their rights, and that the rights of the states be redefined and acknowledged."

It is thus seen that the issues growing out of the war were sharply defined, and that the successful party in the elections in 1870 in the State of Oregon read in the results of that election condemnation of the reconstruction measures and of the adoption of the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments. At this distance, and divested of the feelings of bitterness which inflamed so many good men, it is seen that the gloomy anticipation in respect to these amendments have not been realized.

The legislative assembly, seventh biennial session, convened September 9, 1872, and concluded October 23, 1872. James D. Fay was elected president of the senate by the unanimous vote of that body. Syl. C. Simpson was elected chief clerk upon the sixty-third ballot. Rufus Mallory was elected speaker of the house. L. F. Mosher contested a seat in the senate from Douglas County, and Z. F. Moody contested the seat of W. F. Monroe from Wasco County. The joint convention for the election of United States Senator convened on Wednesday, September 25, 1872, and on that day John H. Mitchell received thirty-two votes; H.W. Corbett, eleven; John Whiteaker, four; P. P. Prim, eight; J. H. Slater, eleven; J. W. Nesmith, four; N. Gates, one; and on September 28, 1872, Mr. Corbett addressed a letter to W. W. Bristow, in which he withdrew his name as a candidate for United States Senator, and on the fifth ballot Mr. Mitchell re-