Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 26.djvu/355

Rh the Salem clique), the Democratic Standard, (the latter, however, not for slavery or statehood) and Oregon Weekly Times, (previously Milwaukie Western Star). The principal republican newspaper was the Oregon Argus, published at Oregon City.

Very early in the winter of 1853 the proposal for a state Constitution was renewed. The Oregon Statesman in reporting the legislative proceedings of January 10, mentioned the fact that a bill offered by Representative Cole to take the sense of the people on the formation of a state government provoked a discussion upon the method of voting, whether by viva voce vote or by ballot, and that objections as to expense were raised. When the measure came up for further debate, two days afterwards, amendments were adopted, and Mr. Simpson moved to amend, so that the question would be submitted to popular vote in 1854, arguing that because of sparse population, and because of the burden of taxation for a state government, the people would not sooner be ready to vote upon the question. The bill passed the house by a good majority but was defeated in the Council.

Regarding this, there is an explanation to be found in an editorial of the Statesman March 20, 1855, which is interesting. Editor Bush said:

"At the session of 1851-2, a conditional bill for submitting the question was passed, but no action was had under it. At the next session, by some strange metamorphosis, the whig members became special friends of a state government, and sought to take the initiative towards the formation of one. A bill for that purpose passed the house that session by a vote of fourteen to nine, every whig but one voting aye. The bill went to the council, and was there rather summarily rejected, in consequence of which the whig members of the House,