OREGON TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE

'Oregon’s Territorial Legislature' was a bi-cameral legislative body created by the United States Congress in 1848 as the legislative branch of the government of the Oregon Territory. The upper chamber Council and lower chamber House of Representatives first met in July of 1849 and continued as the legislative body until Oregon became a state in February of 1859 and were replaced by the Oregon State Legislature.

Contents
Background
Structure
Sessions
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853
1854
1855
1856
1857
1858
Aftermath
References

Background

In 1846 the United States and Great Britain settled the Oregon Question with the Oregon Treaty that created a boundary between British North America and the United States west of the Rocky Mountains at the 49th degree of latitude north of the Equator.Oregon Blue Book: Oregon History: The "Oregon Question" and Provisional Government Two years later on August 14 1848 the Organic Act was signed into law by President James K. Polk creating the Oregon Territory out of the lands south of the 49th degree, north of the 42nd degree (northern boundary of California) and west of the Rockies to the Pacific Ocean. The structural framework for the government came from the Northwest Ordinance passed in 1787 that created the Northwest Territory. The Territorial Legislature then worked within the legal framework of the Organic Laws of Oregon.End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center: Stealing the Capital These laws were the de facto constitution of the Provisional Government of Oregon. These laws were determined to be valid by Territorial Governor Joseph Lane when he arrived in the territory in 1849 and effectuated the beginning of United States control and government in Oregon Country.

Structure

Legislator Benjamin F. Harding.

The legislature had two chambers, the larger House of Representatives and the upper chamber Council.Corning, Howard M. ''Dictionary of Oregon History''. Binfords & Mort Publishing, 1956. The Council consisted of nine members apportioned among the counties of the territory. The House had twice as many members that were also apportioned by counties. As the population increased and counties added, the number of legislators also increased.

Sessions

Though the Oregon Territory was created in August of 1848, the territorial government did not arrive and assume power until Joseph Lane arrived on March 2 1849. The first session of the Legislature did not convene until July 16 1849 when the members met in Oregon City. Regular sessions were then held during the winter months of December, January, and February with special sessions meeting in May of 1850 and July of 1852.

1849

The first session met from July 16 to September 29 in Oregon City.Oregon Legislative Assembly (1st Territorial) 1849 Regular Session During this session two of the original districts were renamed with Tuality (or Tualatin) County becoming Washington County and Champoeg County becoming Marion County. Also during the 1849 session Vancouver County on the north side of the Columbia River was renamed Clarke County with the “e” later dropped. Additionally, the legislators continued the policy of the Provisional Government and passed a law in September excluding Blacks from settling in the Oregon Territory, but allowed those already in the region to remain.End of the Oregon Trail: Slavery in the Oregon Country The law was later repealed in 1854, but a new version was added in 1857 when Oregon ratified its constitution in preparation for statehood. Asa Lovejoy served as the Speaker of the House with Samuel Parker as the President of the Council. Members of the legislature and the county or counties they represented:

★ 'House':

★
★ H. J. Mulkey, Benton

★
★ G. B. Smith, Benton

★
★ Wilie W. Chapman, Champoeg

★
★ W. T. Matlock, Champoeg

★
★ W. D. Holman, Clackamas

★
★ Asa L. Lovejoy, Clackamas

★
★ G. Walling, Clackamas

★
★ M. T. Simmons, Clatsop, Lewis, & Vancouver

★
★ Jacob S. Conser, Linn

★
★ J. A. Dunlap, Linn

★
★ H. N. V. Holmes, Polk

★
★ William M. King, Polk

★
★ S. Burch, Polk

★
★ David Hill, Tualatin

★
★ A. J. Hembree, Yamhill

★
★ R. C. Kinney, Yamhill

★
★ J. B. Walling, Yamhill

★ 'Council':

★
★ A. L. Humphries, Benton

★
★ Samuel Parker, Champoeg

★
★ Wesley Shannon, Champoeg

★
★ W. W. Buck, Clackamas

★
★ S. F. McKean, Clatsop, Lewis, & Vancouver

★
★ W. B. Maley, Linn

★
★ Nathaniel Ford, Polk

★
★ Wilson Blain, Tualatin

★
★ James B. Graves, Yamhill

1850

From December 2 1850 to February 8 1851 the second session met in Oregon City.Oregon Legislative Assembly (2nd Territorial) 1850 Regular Session On February 4 1851, the Legislature created Pacific County north of the Columbia River.HistoryLink: Oregon Territorial Legislature forms Pacific County on February 4, 1851. This new county with Pacific City as the county seat was created out of the southwest corner of Lewis County. At that time only Clark, Lewis, and Clackamas counties existed in what is now Washington state. In March of 1853 Pacific County became part of Washington Territory when that territory was created out of the Oregon Territory. Also during the 1850 to 1851 session the legislature created Umpqua County south of Benton County as well as Lane County. W. W. Buck served as the President of the Council and Ralph Wilcox was the Speaker of the House. Members of the legislature and the county or counties they represented:

★ 'House':

★
★ Joseph C. Avery, Benton

★
★ W. St. Clair, Benton

★
★ Hector Campbell, Clackamas

★
★ W. T. Matlock, Clackamas

★
★ Benjamin Simpson, Clackamas

★
★ Truman P. Powers, Clackamas, Lewis & Clark

★
★ William Allphine, Linn

★
★ Elias L. Walters, Linn

★
★ Benjamin F. Harding, Marion

★
★ William Parker, Marion

★
★ William Shaw, Marion

★
★ H. N. V. Holmes, Polk

★
★ John Thorp, Polk

★
★ William M. King, Washington

★
★ Ralph Wilcox, Washington

★
★ Matthew Deady, Yamhill

★
★ S.M. Gilmore, Yamhill

★
★ Aaron Payne, Yamhill

★ 'Council':

★
★ A. L. Humphries, Benton

★
★ W. W. Buck, Clackamas

★
★ S. F. McKean, Clatsop, Clark, & Lewis

★
★ W. B. Mealey, Linn

★
★ Richard Miller, Marion

★
★ Samuel Parker, Marion

★
★ Fredrick Waymire, Polk

★
★ Lawrence Hall, Washington

★
★ James McBride, Yamhill

1851

The 1851 Legislature met beginning on December 1 1851 and continued in session at the Oregon Institute in Salem until January 21 1852.Oregon Legislative Assembly (3rd Territorial) 1851 Regular Session In the beginning of a years long debate over which city would be the capital, during this session in 1852 the Democrats passed a bill that moved the capital of the Territory to Salem. This was after the Democrats, who accounted for the majority of legislators, first convened a session of the Legislature in Linn City on the opposite bank of the Willamette River from Oregon City without the Whigs. Samuel Parker served as the President of the Council with William M. King as the Speaker of the House. Members of the legislature and the county or counties they represented:

★ 'House':

★
★ William Allphine, Linn

★
★ John A. Anderson, Clatsop & Pacific

★
★ J. C. Avery, Benton

★
★ Z. C. Bishop, Washington

★
★ D. F. Brownfield, Clatsop & Pacific

★
★ Wilie W. Chapman, Marion

★
★ George Edward Cole, Benton

★
★ George Law Curry, Clackamas

★
★ James Davidson, Marion

★
★ Joseph W. Drew, Umpqua

★
★ Nathaniel Ford, Polk

★
★ A. J. Hembree, Yamhill

★
★ J. S. Holman, Polk

★
★ William M. King, Washington

★
★ R. C. Kinney, Yamhill

★
★ W. T. Matlock, Clackamas

★
★ Samuel McSween, Yamhill

★
★ D. M. Risdon, Lane

★
★ Benjamin Simpson, Marion

★
★ Aaron E. Waite, Clackamas

★
★ Luther White, Linn

★
★ Ralph Wilcox, Washington

★ 'Council':

★
★ A. L. Humphries, Benton, Lane, & Umpqua

★
★ Asa L. Lovejoy, Clackamas

★
★ Columbia Lancaster, Clarke & Lewis

★
★ W. B. Mealey, Linn

★
★ Joseph Garrison, Marion

★
★ Samuel Parker, Marion

★
★ Fredrick Waymire, Polk

★
★ Lawrence Hall, Washington

★
★ Matthew Deady, Yamhill

1852

In 1852 the Legislature met from December 6 1852 until February 3 1853 in Oregon City.Oregon Legislative Assembly (4th Territorial) 1852 Regular Session Matthew Deady served as the President of the Council with Benjamin F. Harding as the Speaker of the House for the session. Members of the legislature and the county or counties they represented:

★ 'House':

★
★ J. C. Avery, Benton

★
★ George Edward Cole, Benton

★
★ W. T. Matlock, Clackamas

★
★ Aaron E. Waite, Clackamas

★
★ Lot Whitcomb, Clackamas

★
★ F. A. Chenoweth, Clark & Lewis

★
★ John A. Anderson, Clatsop & Pacific

★
★ Curtis, Douglas

★
★ J. F. Hardin, Jackson

★
★ Thomas N. Aubrey, Lane

★
★ Royal Cottle, Linn

★
★ James Curl, Linn

★
★ Jacob S. Conser, Marion

★
★ Benjamin F. Harding, Marion

★
★ Benjamin Simpson, Marion

★
★ J. M. Fulkerson, Polk

★
★ H. N. V. Holmes, Polk

★
★ Isaac N Eby, Thurston

★
★ A. C. Gibbs, Umpqua

★
★ Israel Mitchell, Washington

★
★ Benjamin Stark, Washington

★
★ Milton Tuttle, Washington

★
★ John Carey, Yamhill

★
★ E. B. Martin, Yamhill

★
★ John Richardson, Yamhill

★ 'Council':

★
★ A. L. Humphries, Benton & Lane

★
★ Asa L. Lovejoy, Clackamas

★
★ Lucius W. Phelps, Linn

★
★ Joseph M. Garrison, Marion

★
★ Fredrick Waymire, Polk

★
★ Levi Scott, Umpqua, Douglas & Jackson

★
★ Lawrence Hall, Washington

★
★ Matthew Deady, Yamhill

1853

On March 2 1853, Washington Territory was created out of the northern and eastern portions of Oregon Territory, eliminating those counties from the Oregon Legislature.^[1] The 1853 Legislature met in Salem from December 5 1853 to February 2 1854.Oregon Legislative Assembly (5th Territorial) 1853 Regular Session Ralph Wilcox served as the President of the Council with C. Z. Bishop as the Speaker of the House. Members of the legislature and the county or counties they represented:

★ 'House':

★
★ James A. Bennett, Benton

★
★ C. F. Chapman, Benton

★
★ L. F. Cartee, Clackamas

★
★ F. C. Cason, Clackamas

★
★ B. B. Jackson, Clackamas

★
★ J. W. Moffitt, Clatsop

★
★ L. S. Thompson, Douglas

★
★ George H. Ambrose, Jackson

★
★ John F. Miller, Jackson

★
★ Chauncey Nye, Jackson

★
★ Stephen Goff, Lane

★
★ H. B. Hadley, Lane

★
★ Luther Elkins, Linn

★
★ I. N. Smith, Linn

★
★ E. F. Colby, Marion

★
★ La Fayette Grover, Marion

★
★ John C. Peebles, Marion

★
★ Reuben P. Boise, Polk & Tillamook

★
★ W. S. Gilliam, Polk

★
★ Z. C. Bishop, Washington

★
★ A. A. Durham, Washington

★
★ Robert Thompson, Washington

★
★ Orlando Humason, Yamhill

★
★ E. B. Martin, Yamhill

★
★ Andrew Shuck, Yamhill

★
★ A. B. Westerfield, Yamhill

★ 'Council':

★
★ A. L. Humphries, Benton & Lane

★
★ James K. Kelly, Clackamas

★
★ T. P. Powers, Clatsop

★
★ Lucius W. Phelps, Linn

★
★ Benjamin Simpson, Marion

★
★ Jason M. Fulkerson, Polk

★
★ Levi Scott, Umpqua, Douglas & Jackson

★
★ Ralph Wilcox, Washington

★
★ John Richardson, Yamhill

1854

In 1854 the Legislature met in Salem from December 4 1854 to February 1 1855.Oregon Legislative Assembly (6th Territorial) 1854 Regular Session James K. Kelly served as the President of the Council with L. F. Cartee as the Speaker of the House. Members of the legislature and the county or counties they represented:

★ House:

★
★ R. B. Hinton, Benton

★
★ Wayman St. Clair, Benton

★
★ L. F. Cartee, Clackamas

★
★ Asa L. Lovejoy, Clackamas

★
★ W. A. Starkweather, Clackamas

★
★ G. W. Coffinberry, Clatsop

★
★ J. B. Condon, Columbia

★
★ James F. Gazley, Douglas

★
★ C. S. Drew, Jackson

★
★ Jesse Walker, Jackson

★
★ Alex McIntire, Jackson

★
★ Jacob Gillespie, Lane

★
★ A. W. Patterson, Lane

★
★ Hugh L. Brown, Linn

★
★ Delazon Smith, Linn

★
★ Luther Elkins, Linn

★
★ C. P. Crandall, Marion

★
★ Nathaniel Ford, Marion

★
★ R. C. Greer, Marion

★
★ David Logan, Multnomah

★
★ Ira F. M. Butler, Polk

★
★ H. N. V. Holmes, Polk

★
★ Robert Ladd, Umpqua

★
★ D. H. Belknap, Washington

★
★ E. S. Tanner, Washington

★
★ Orlando Humason, Wasco

★
★ A. J. Hembree, Yamhill

★
★ A. G. Henry, Yamhill

★ 'Council':

★
★ A. L. Humphries, Benton & Lane

★
★ James K. Kelly, Clackamas & Wasco

★
★ G. E. Greer, Columbia & Washington

★
★ E. H. Cleaveland, Jackson

★
★ Lucius W. Phelps, Linn

★
★ John C. Peebles, Marion

★
★ Jason M. Fulkerson, Polk

★
★ Levi Scott, Umpqua & Douglas

★
★ John Richardson, Yamhill

1855

The 1855 legislative session began in Corvallis in an ongoing battle over which city would become the capitol. Late in December the body moved back to Salem where the capitol building was nearing completion before it burned down on December 29 1855. The session began on December 3 and ended on January 31 1856.Oregon Legislative Assembly (7th Territorial) 1855 Regular Session During this session A. P. Dennison served as the Council president, with the Speaker of the House being Delazon Smith. Members of the legislature and the county or counties they represented:

★ 'House':

★
★ H. C. Buckingham, Benton

★
★ John Robinson, Benton

★
★ James Officer, Clackamas

★
★ Orville Risley, Clackamas

★
★ Hiram Straight, Clackamas

★
★ Philo Callender, Clatsop

★
★ John Harris, Columbia

★
★ William Tichenor, Coos

★
★ William Hutson, Douglas

★
★ M. C. Barkwell, Jackson

★
★ George Briggs, Jackson

★
★ Thomas Smith, Jackson

★
★ John E. Hale, Jackson

★
★ A. McAlexander, Lane

★
★ Isaac R. Moores, Lane

★
★ Hugh L. Brown, Linn

★
★ Delazon Smith, Linn

★
★ B. P. Grant, Linn

★
★ La Fayette Grover, Marion

★
★ William P. Harpole, Marion

★
★ John M. Harrison, Marion

★
★ George W. Brown, Multnomah

★
★ Hyer Jackson, Multnomah & Washington

★
★ Reuben P. Boise, Polk & Tillamook

★
★ Fred Waymire, Polk

★
★ J. M. Cozad, Umpqua

★
★ N. H. Gates, Wasco

★
★ H. V. V. Johnson, Washington

★
★ A. F. Burbank, Yamhill

★
★ Andrew Shuck, Yamhill

★ 'Council':

★
★ A. A. Smith, Benton & Lane

★
★ James K. Kelly, Clackamas & Wasco

★
★ John E. Ross, Jackson

★
★ Charles Drain, Linn

★
★ John C. Peebles, Marion

★
★ A. P. Dennison, Multnomah

★
★ James M. Fulkerson, Polk & Tillamook

★
★ Hugh D. O'Bryant, Umqua, Douglas & Coos

★
★ N. Huber, Yamhill

1856

Beginning on December 1 1856, the legislature met in Salem, using rented space, remaining in session until January 29 1857.Oregon Legislative Assembly (8th Territorial) 1856 Regular Session During the session James Kerr Kelly served as the Council president, with the Speaker of the House position held by La Fayette Grover. Members of the legislature and the county or counties they represented:

★ 'House':

★
★ Joseph C. Avery, Benton

★
★ J. A. Bennett, Benton

★
★ F. A. Collard, Clackamas

★
★ Asa L. Lovejoy, Clackamas

★
★ W. A. Starkweather, Clackamas

★
★ J. W. Moffitt, Clatsop

★
★ Samuel E. Barr, Columbia

★
★ A. E. Rogers, Coos & Curry

★
★ Aaron Rose, Douglas

★
★ A. M. Berry, Jackson & Josephine

★
★ John Stanton Miller, Jackson

★
★ Thomas Smith, Jackson

★
★ W. J. Matthews, Josephine

★
★ R. B. Cochran, Lane

★
★ James Munroe, Lane

★
★ William Ray, Linn

★
★ Hugh L. Brown, Linn

★
★ Delazon Smith, Linn

★
★ Jacob Conser, Marion

★
★ La Fayette Grover, Marion

★
★ William P. Harpole, Marion

★
★ George W. Brown, Multnomah

★
★ Thomas J. Dryer, Multnomah & Washington

★
★ William M. Walker, Polk & Tillamook

★
★ A. J. Welch, Polk

★
★ D. C. Underwood, Umpqua

★
★ N. H. Gates, Wasco

★
★ H. V. V. Johnson, Washington

★
★ William Allen, Yamhill

★
★ Andrew J. Shuck, Yamhill

★ 'Council':

★
★ James K. Kelly, Clackamas & Wasco

★
★ John E. Ross, Jackson

★
★ A. A. Smith, Lane & Benton

★
★ Charles Drain, Linn

★
★ John C. Peebles, Marion

★
★ Nathaniel Ford, Polk & Tillamook

★
★ Hugh D. O'Bryant, Umqua, Douglas & Coos

★
★ Thomas Cornelius, Washington, Multnomah, & Columbia

★
★ J. R. Bayley, Yamhill & Clatsop

1857

On December 7 1857, the legislature began their session in Salem, lasting through February 5 1858.Oregon Legislative Assembly (9th Territorial) 1857 Regular Session During the session Hugh D. O'Bryant served as president of the Council chamber, with the Speaker of the House position held by Ira F. M. Butler. Members of the legislature and the county or counties they represented:

★ 'House':

★
★ Reuben C. Hill, Benton

★
★ James H. Slater, Benton

★
★ F. A. Collard, Clackamas

★
★ S. P. Gilliland, Clackamas

★
★ George Rees, Clackamas

★
★ Joseph Jeffers, Clatsop

★
★ F. M. Warren, Columbia

★
★ T. G. Kirkpatrick, Coos & Curry

★
★ A. A. Matthews, Douglas

★
★ R. S. Belknap, Jackson & Josephine

★
★ H. H. Brown, Jackson

★
★ William M. Hughes, Jackson

★
★ J. G. Spear, Josephine

★
★ J. W. Mack, Lane

★
★ John Whiteaker, Lane

★
★ Hugh L. Brown, Linn

★
★ Anderson Cox, Linn

★
★ N. H. Craner, Linn

★
★ George Able, Marion

★
★ E. C. Cooley, Marion

★
★ J. Woodsides, Marion

★
★ Thomas J. Dryer, Multnomah & Washington

★
★ William M. King, Multnomah

★
★ Ira F. M. Butler, Polk

★
★ Benjamin Hayden, Polk & Tillamook

★
★ James Cole, Umpqua

★
★ N. H. Gates, Wasco

★
★ H. V. V. Johnson, Washington

★
★ A. J. Shuck, Yamhill

★
★ William Allen, Yamhill

★ 'Council':

★
★ Aaron E. Wait, Clackamas & Wasco

★
★ A. M. Berry, Jackson & Josephine

★
★ A. A. Smith, Lane & Benton

★
★ Charles Drain, Linn

★
★ Edward Shiel, Marion

★
★ Nathaniel Ford, Polk & Tillamook

★
★ Hugh D. O'Bryant, Umqua, Douglas & Coos

★
★ Thomas Cornelius, Washington, Multnomah, & Columbia

★
★ Thomas Scott, Yamhill & Clatsop

1858

On August 17, 1857, the Oregon Constitutional Convention started in Salem with the task of creating a constitution in order for Oregon to become a state. The Convention accomplished this task and submitted the final document to the voters of the territory for approval on November 9 1857, when it was approved and then sent to the United States Senate for their approval. Once approved by the Federal government, Oregon would become a state. However, communications between the East Coast and West Coast were still slow, and those elected as state officials were left in limbo awaiting word of Oregon’s admission to the Union.Legislative Assembly (1st Pre-Admission) 1858 Regular Session The state legislators meet twice before admission, from July 6 to July 9, and September 13 & 14. They met and adjourned once there was no word on Oregon’s statehood. The Territorial Legislature then met starting on December 6 1858 for their final session. This session lasted until January 22 1859, during which Charles Drain served as Council President and N. H. Gates was Speaker of the House.Oregon Legislative Assembly (10th Territorial) 1858 Regular Session Members of the legislature and the county or counties they represented:

★ 'House':

★
★ H. B. Nichols, Benton

★
★ James H. Slater, Benton

★
★ D. B. Hannah, Clackamas

★
★ A. F. Hedges, Clackamas

★
★ B. Jennings, Clackamas

★
★ W. W. Parker, Clatsop

★
★ W. R. Strong, Columbia

★
★ William Tichenor, Coos & Curry

★
★ A. E. McGee, Douglas

★
★ S. Watson, Jackson

★
★ Daniel Newcomb, Jackson & Josephine

★
★ William G. T'Vault, Jackson

★
★ D. S. Holton, Josephine

★
★ W. W. Chapman, Lane

★
★ W. S. Jones, Lane

★
★ Benjamin F. Bonham, Marion

★
★ J. H. Lassater, Marion

★
★ J. H. Stevens, Marion

★
★ Thomas J. Dryer, Multnomah

★
★ H. N. V. Holmes, Polk & Tillamook

★
★ Isaac Smith, Polk

★
★ James Cole, Umpqua

★
★ N. H. Gates, Wasco

★
★ Wilson Bowlby, Washington

★
★ Erasmus D. Shattuck, Washington & Multnomah

★
★ John H. Smith, Yamhill

★ 'Council':

★
★ Aaron E. Wait, Clackamas & Wasco

★
★ James Hendershott, Columbia & Washington

★
★ A. M. Berry, Jackson & Josephine

★
★ James W. Mack, Lane & Benton

★
★ Charles Drain, Linn

★
★ Samuel Parker, Marion

★
★ Thomas Cornelius, Multnomah, Columbia, & Linn

★
★ Nathaniel Ford, Polk & Tillamook

★
★ Hugh D. O'Bryant, Umqua, Coos, Curry, & Douglas

★
★ George H. Steward, Yamhill & Clatsop

Aftermath

Oregon was then admitted to the Union on February 14 1859, and the elected state officials and legislators took over governing the now state. The first session of the Oregon Legislative Assembly began on May 16 1859, in a special session that lasted until June 4.^[2] Oregon’s first regular session of the biennial legislature occurred from September 10 through October 19 1860.^[3]

References

1. Columbia Magazine: The Creation of Washington Territory
2. Oregon Legislative Assembly 1859 Special Session
3. Oregon Legislative Assembly (1st) 1860 Regular Session