Page:The History of Oregon Bancroft 1888.djvu/159

Rh temperament, fastidious as to his personal surroundings, pretentious, pompous, and jealous of his dignity. The spirit in which the democracy, who were more than satisfied with Lane and Thurston, received the whig governor, was ominous of what soon followed, a bitter partisan warfare.

There had been a short session of the legislative assembly in May, under its privilege granted in the territorial act to sit for one hundred days, twenty-seven days yet remaining. No time or place of meeting of the next legislature had been fixed upon, nor without this provision could there be another session without a special act of congress, which omission rendered necessary the May term in order that this matter might be attended to. The first Monday in December was the time named for the convening of the next legislative body, and Oregon City the place. The assembly remained in session about two weeks, calling for a special session of the district court at Oregon City for the trial of the Cayuse murderers, giving the governor power to fill vacancies in certain offices by appointment, and providing for the printing of the laws, with a few other enactments.

The subject of submitting the question of a state constitution to the people at the election in June was being discussed. The measure was favored by many who were restive under presidential appointments, and who thought Oregon could more safely furnish the material for executive and judicial officers than depend on the ability of such as might be sent them. The legislature, however, did not entertain the idea at its May term, on the ground that there was not time to put the question fairly before the people. Looking at the condition and population of the territory at this time, and its unfitness to assume the