Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 26.djvu/368

 new territory by the United States, the consideration of congress must inevitably be given to the remodeling and improvement of the whole system. The noble principle enunciated in the Kansas-Nebraska Act is a step in advance, and may be regarded as an evidence of the encouragement that is in the future in this respect. The Indian difficulties upon our frontiers have, and will for a time, deter an increase of our population by the ordinary means of overland immigration, which has been the usual source of important yearly accessions, chiefly to the agricultural class of our inhabitants. Hundreds of industrious and enterprising people would have started from the states in the ensuing spring, by the overland route, to make homes in Oregon, but for the unprotected condition of the route. Military posts at Fort Boise and Fort Hall, are imperatively required to insure safe and unobstructed travel in the Indian country, and as links to connect the chain of the mountains. An independent sovereignty will be certain to induce, by the only other means of access, a character of population, differing in interest, but quite as requisite to the permanent prosperity of the country."

This statement was intended to convey the idea that although Oregon had fewer people than might be deemed necessary before she could be admitted as a state, this shortage was due to failure of the general government to protect overland emigrants, and that if statehood could be granted, the fact of "independent sovereignty" would be sufficient to draw new inhabitants by way of the ocean route and the deficiency would soon be made up.

But, even before the Governor's message was read, a new bill for a Constitutional Convention had beeri introduced at Salem. It was offered December 4, 1856, and, strange as it may seem in view of the earlier efforts, the bill by the eighteenth day of that month had passed both houses and had been signed. It differed in no essential particular from its unsuccessful predecessors, but now a different situation was presented and the former opposition had become reconciled to statehood, so that