Page:The History of Oregon Bancroft 1888.djvu/452

434 Acting upon this suggestion, Grover and Smith set out for the national capital about the last of September, to hasten, if possible, the desired event. At this trying juncture of affairs, Lane gave advice, which the Statesman had the good sense to discountenance, that the state, having been organized, should go on as a state, without waiting for the authority of congress. He was afterward accused of having done this with a sinister motive, to bring Oregon into the position of a state out of the union.

It was determined not to hold the September term of the state legislature, which might bring nothing but debt. A few of the members went to Salem at the time appointed, but they adjourned after an informal meeting. It now became certain that there must be a session of the territorial assembly at the usual time in December and January, as the territorial government must go on during the suspension of the state government. Accordingly, on the 6th of December, the members of the territorial legislature, who had been elected at the same time with the state legislature to provide against the present contingency, assembled at Salem and proceeded to the usual business.