The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1866-09-29
Letter from the Capital.
SALEM. September 20. 1866.


cs of the Legislature, and now only wants
the signature Of our bogus Governor to
make it become, so far as Oregon is con-
ccrned, part of the organic law Of the
United States. The Amendment came
up in the Senate last Friday. Dr. Craw-
ford, of your county, offered resolution
to submit the proposed Amendment to
the people for their consideration, and TO
be voted upon at the nextregular election;
veritably alleging for good and sufficient
reason, that tho people had never passed
judgment upon the same. lie referred
to Cranston Of Lane, Donnell Of Wasco,
and Pyle Of Union, members of the Sen.
ate now representing constituents who
are overwhelmingly opposed to this meas
ure. He contcnded that il was Il fraud
upon the rights of the people of Oregon,
since this proposed Amendment was not
before the people at the time when Sena-
tors upon the floor were elected, especial
ly Pyle, Cranston and Donnell, who were
elected two years ago upon the issue that
the C0nstitution Of the United States
should be uindicated, aud the rebellious
States taught the lesson that they we're
sovereign States of the Union, with all
of the dignity, equality and rights Of the
several States unimpaircd. The resolu.
tion was voted down, and the Constitu-
tional Amendment put upon its final
passage. Able and eloquent speeches
were made against it by Messrs. Jeifries,
Ford, Huston and others, denying the
right Of members upon that floor to vote,
sworn as they were to fairly represent the
people Of Oregon.
While this warfare was going on in the
Senate, another one more exciting, if pos
sible, was being waged in the House,
over the admission of the Grant county
Democratic members. This contest was
early submitted to the Committee on Elec-
tions, and although the testimony upon
which the contest was wholly based ap-
peared upon the face of the poll-books
then in the hands of the Committee, and
although said Committee met from day to
day, and fully investigated the claims Of
the contestants, yet said Committee re-
fused to make any report, and the House
refused TO call upon them TO make a re-
port, but extended time to these worthless
and perjurcd usurpers in which to send
to Grant county and take testimony to
further prove their villainy. Olney is a
member of that Committee, and the rec
ognized Abolition leader in thesHouse-
white liyered and black hearted; this
man clamored most loudly for the retcn-
'ion of these Grant county pretenders,
we'll knowing that if they were turned
out of the House, as they should be, that
the Constitutional Amendment could
never pass that branch Of the Legislature
Republicans upon the floor, arrogating 10
themselves an honesty ofpurpose, essayed
TO come to the rescue Of Democrats in
hurling from their seats these bogus MEM
bers and letting in the men rightfully
elected, but in so doing took the prccau-
ton TO postpone the hearing until to-day,
and in the meantime took up and passed
the damnable Constitutional Amendment.
Upon the motion TO postpone the hearing
of the contestants, Mr.. Helm, of your
county, got the floor, and administered a
most withcring rebuke upon these fraud.
ulent members, their supporters and ad.
vocates, thus seeking to infict themselves
upon the people of Grant county, as Rep
rescntatives, through the rotten alliance
of an Abolition Legislature lie told the
House that delay until testimony could
be taken in Grant county, was virtually
retaining these men in their seats through.
out the session; spoke of the cost in send.
ing for the testimony, the delay incident
thereupon, and finall y turned and charged
home upon the bogus members in person
told them they were perjured usurpcrs,
holding their Office by virtue of a false
and fraudulent certificate of their own
and others DISTINGUISHING over seven hun.
drcd votes of Grant county. Other elo.
quent and telling speeches were made, by
Messrs. Gehr, Humason, Whitaker and
Cox.
The Constitutional Amendment was
then taken up, and rushed through in hot
haste. ere the Grant county contest could
be settled. Mr.. Lockhart, of Coos and
Curry, who voted against the Constitu
tional Amendment, was most instrument
al in putting off the Grant county con
test and putting the amendment upon itt
immediate passage. While he ostensibly
opposed it he was no doubt secretly anx
ious to secure its adoption. He had tc
oppose it upon the stump to secure his
election, but voted for every measure, di
rect or preliminary, that tended to facili
tate its passage. He will and ought tc
be held up to the public cxecration of al
parties for his duplicity; despised by the