Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 26.djvu/354

288 moved to Salem. In 1855 while the capital was at Corvallis the Statesman was published there, but it returned the same year to Salem. Its first issue was at Oregon City, March 21, 1851. It was edited by Asahel Bush, an ardent democrat. The editor of the Oregonian was Thomas J. Dryer, who reached Portland from California and issued the first number, December 4, 1850, having been engaged to come to the ambitious city by Col. W. W. Chapman and Gen. Stephen Coffin of that place. The two papers were conducted with intense and unexampled partizanship and were widely read. Both indulged in unsparing personalities and each resorted to abuse of the other as well as of various men in political and public life. The out-pouring of the newspapers in this respect was but a product of the times in which citizens espoused party causes with enthusiasm and party lines were sharply drawn. Gradually, under the guidance of Mr. Bush, a group of democrats gained great influence in that party and came to be known as the Salem Clique, the personnel of which undefined political force changed from time to time. It originated measures, ordained party policy, decided upon candidates for office and awarded political honors.

Besides the Oregonian and Statesman, the principal Oregon newspapers having a political bias published at some time during the period between 1850 and 1860, included the following pro-slavery democrat papers: At Albany, Oregon Democrat, (against the Salem Clique); at Corvallis, Occidental Messenger; at Eugene, Democratic Herald; at Jacksonville, Table Rock Sentinel, later Oregon Sentinel; at Portland, Daily Advertiser, (against