Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 12.djvu/244

 ' 236 W. C. WOODWARD "We have seen enough of the rottenness and recklessness of demagogues in this campaign to satisfy us that the most dead- ly hostility to the Republican party may be looked for here- after from adventurers, who, while they are terrible on the Clique, are determined that any opposition to it shall be so shaped as to secure their own personal preferment. * * * We trust the friends of sound principles will hereafter listen to no proposals for a 'Clique-beating party' upon a rotten plat- form. If we are beaten, let us be honorably beaten." A good share of this was evidently intended for Dryer who had op- posed Republican organization and who had secured election to the legislature. Early in the campaign the Oregonian had attacked Adams viciously as a self-confessed dictator who had put out the Republican state ticket on his own responsibility. 1 The Constitution which had been adopted provided that the newly-elected state legislature should convene on the first Monday in July, and proceed to elect two United States Sen- ators and make such further provision as should be necessary to the complete organization of the state government. 2 Ac- cordingly, the legislature met July 5 and elected Lane and Delazon Smith as Oregon's first senators. Lane received 46 votes, every "National" Democratic member joining their ene- mies, the "hards," in supporting him. Smith received 39 votes, the strength of the Organization in the assembly. Five of the seven "soft" members joined the three Republican members in voting for David Logan, against Smith. 3 A few acts were passed which were not to become operative until Congress should admit Oregon into the Union. Shortly before this special session of the legislative assembly, the United States Senate had passed the bill for the admission of the state of Oregon. Lane, in writing from Washington to Bush in the interest of his candidacy for the senate, an- nounced the Senate's action and indicated clearly that there was no question at all of the passage of the bill in the house. But Congress adjourned without conferring statehood upon lOregonian, April 24. 2Article 18, section 6, Constitution of Oregon. 3Proceedings, in Argus, July 17.