Page:The History of Oregon Bancroft 1888.djvu/657

 retirement of one executive before the other came into office. Whiteaker took notice of this fault in legislation, by reminding the representatives, in his biennial message, that should it ever happen that there should not be present a quorum, or from any cause the organization of both branches of the legislature should fail to be perfected on the day fixed by law, the legislature could not count the vote for governor and declare the election, and that consequently the new governor could not be inaugurated. This, he said, would open the question as to whether the governor elect could qualify at some future day. This palpable hint was disregarded. The second Monday in September fell on the 8th, the organization was not completed until the 9th, and the inauguration followed on the 10th, no one raising a doubt of the legality of the proceedings. On the llth, nominations were made in joint convention to elect a successor to Stark, whose senatorial term would soon expire, and Benjamin F. Harding of Marion county was chosen. The nominations made were B. F. Harding, George H. Williams, E. L. Applegate, O. Jacobs, Thos H. Pearne, R. F. Maury, J. H. Wilbur, A. Holbrook, H. L. Preston, W. T. Mattock, H. W. Corbett, and John Whiteaker. Says Deady: Benjamin F. Harding, or, as we commonly call him, Ben. Harding, is about 40 years of age, and a lawyer by profession. He was born in eastern Pennsylvania, where he grew up to man s estate, when he drifted out west, and after a brief sojourn in those parts, came to Oregon in the summer of 1850, and settled near Salem, where he has ever since resided. He was secretary of the territory some years, and has been a member of both state and territorial legislatures. He was in the assembly that elected Nesmith and Baker, and was principal operator in the manipulations that produced that result. He is descended from good old federal ancestors, and of course is down on this rebellion and the next one on general principles. Following the example of his household, he grew up a whig, but entering the political field first in Oregon, where at that time democracy was much in vogue, he took that side, and stuck to it moderately until the general dissolution in 1860. He left the state just before the presidential election, and did not vote. If he had, although rated as a Douglas democrat, the probability is he would have voted for Lincoln. He is devoid of all ostentation or special accomplishment, but has a big head, full of hard common sense, and much of the rare gift of keeping cool and holding his tongue. He is of excellent habits, is thrifty, industrious, and never forgets No. 1. In allusion to his reputed power of underground scheming and management among his cronies, he has long been known as "Subterranean Ben." Thomas H. Pearne, one of the aspirants for the senatorial position, preacher, and editor of the Pacific Christian Advocate, had, as could be expected, a large following of the methodist church, which was a power, and the friendship of Governor Gibbs, who was himself a methodist. But he had no peculiar fitness for the place, and received much ridicule from friends of Harding.