DEMOCRATS AND WHIGS. 355
The report of the territorial auditor showed that whereas at the beginning of the present fiscal year he had found $4.28 in the treasury, at its close, after
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balancing accounts, there were $68.94 on hand. The territory was in debt between $7,000 and $8,000; but the estimated revenue for the next year would be over $11,000, which would not only discharge the debt, but lessen the present rate of taxation. En couraged by this report, the legislature made appro priations which amounted to nearly as much as the anticipated revenue, leaving the debt of the territory but little diminished, and the rate of taxation the same a course for which, when another legislature had been elected, they received the reproaches of their
own organs.
There began in April 1855, with the meeting of the democratic territorial convention at Salem, a determined struggle to put down the rising influence of whig principles. 19 At the first ballot for delegate to congress, Lane received fifty-three out of fifty-nine votes, the six remaining being cast by Clackamas county for Pratt. A movement had been made in Linn county to put forward Delazon Smith, but it was prudently withdrawn on the temper of the major ity becoming manifest. Lane county had also in structed its delegates to vote for Judge George H. Williams as its second choice. But the great per sonal popularity of Lane threw all others into the background.
On the 18th of April the whigs held a convention at Corvallis, for the purpose of nominating a delegate,
and for this very reason it was possible to pass it in a legislature unfriendly t<3 prohibition.
18 Or. Jour. Council, 1854-5, app. 21-7. The territorial officers elected by the assembly were Nat. H. Lane, treasurer; James A. Bennett, auditor; and Milton Shannon, librarian.
19 Said the Statesman of April 17th: Defeat and disgrace to know-noth ing whiggery and canting hypocrisy was a decree which went forth from that meeting. . .The handwriting is upon the wall, and it reads, "Jo Lane, a democratic legislature, democratic prosecutors, democratic everything."