Page:The History of Oregon Bancroft 1888.djvu/448

430 portion of the members were in favor of regarding their assembly as a state body, and framing their acts accordingly. Others thought that endless discussions would arise as to the authority of the constitution before its approval by congress, and were for making only such local laws as were required. Great efforts were made to keep the subject of slavery in the background, lest by the divisions of the democratic party on that issue, the democratic majority at the first state election should be lessened or endangered. After some miscellaneous business, and the election of territorial officers, the assembly adjourned December 19th to meet again on the 5th of January. On the day of the adjournment the democratic central committee held a meeting to arrange for a state convention, at which to nominate for the June election in 1858.

At the election of 1858 there were three parties in the field, Oregon democrats, national democrats, and republicans. The national faction could not get beyond a protest against tyranny. It nominated J. K. Kelly for representative in congress, and E. M. Barnum for governor. The republicans nominated an entire ticket, with John R. McBride for congressman and John Denny for governor. Feeling that