Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 9.djvu/386

 358 T. W. Davenport. made a speech which stirred the political elements profoundly. The Republicans were in fine spirits and a Lincoln Club was organized with Mr. Jacobs as president, and at the first meeting a resolution was passed inviting the opposition of all shades to come and take part in the discussions. And espe- cially was this invitation to the Mulattos, who alone responded to the call. And as the Baker policy of squatter sovereignty had become the policy of the Oregon Republicans, at least it had not been protested, the Mulattos found themselves in congenial company. The Bell-Everett cause had some sup- porters, chief among them being James C. Tolman, and it is a curious fact that Jackson County contained more than two- fifths of all the trimmers in the State ; 88 to 211 was the exact ratio. On the day of election Mr. Tolman asked my brother JohJ, which ticket he intended to support. ''The Lincoln ticket," was the prompt answer. ''Better vote with me, John, for Bell and Everett, and no matter which of the others win, you can get off on the winning side." Probably, not all of the 211 who voted the Bell-Everett ticket were trimmers, but if so the proportion was not startling, in comparison with the total vote of the State— 211 to 14,853. When great and critical (questions are imminent, it is cheering to note that only a litle over one per cent of the American electorate are too ignorant, too cowardly or too meanly selfish to assist in deciding them. In the latter part of October, Delazon Smith, a Brecken- ridge elector, and T. J. Dryer, an elector on the Lincoln ticket, came to Phoenix and made speeches, the last of their joint canvass of the State. So, I had a good opportunity to hear those two noted speakers and compare them. I had heard Smith on several important occasions when there was much to bring out his talents, but on that quiet October day, before a hundred or so of citizens, he delivered the ablest speech I ever heard from him. There was no call for oratorical splurge or political clap-trap ; no endeavor to stir up personal or race prejudice, but a clean and thoughtful presentation of the questions at issue between the two sections of the Union, and in a manner at once earnest, solemn and reflective. Still, there