Oregon North of the Columbia
Movements Toward Division
The Territorial Government of Washington Established
Washington Standard
May 9, 1868

In a previous article we have seen that the efforts of the residents of Northern Oregon to secure a Territory north of the Columbia river culminated in the Cowlitz convention of August 29, 1851. The convention was respectable in numbers, but Lewis county alone was represented. Its proceedings received no attention either from the Congress of the United States or the Legislature of Oregon. The latter, however, may he attributable to the fact that Lewis county was represented in the Legislative Assembly which convened at Oregon City, known to old settlers as the "One-Horse Legislature," the large majority of members going to Salem.

Yet the agitation in 1851 was not without fruits and if it did nothing else it at least crystallized the popular sentiment of Northern Oregon into a united desire to be cut loose from the Willamette settlement. While, we believe that north of the Columbia is the Oregon of history, the bone of contention in the memorable Oregon controversy which stamped that name on the Northwest coast, and that south of the Columbia the name of "Willamette" more consistently belongs, yet our people were content to perpetuate the name of Columbia from the noble old ship commended by the immortal discoverer of the "great river of the west," upon whose valuable services the United States derived its claim by right, of discovery to the lands watered by that river and its numerous tributaries.

It will be remembered that the Cowlitz convention recommended the assembling of a convention at Olympia on the third Monday of May 1852, "to form a state constitution preparatory to asking admission into the Union, provided a Territorial government had not been formed in the meantime." However plasible such a project was as a remedy for our grievances, yet the time had not arrived for adopting such an alternative, and a vast majority of the population of Oregon, the proposed new state, lived south of ihe river. Hence the call for such a convention fell any efforts made to carry out that recommendation.

On the 11th of September, 1852, Messrs. J. W. Wiley and Thornton F. McElroy issued at Olympia the first number of the first newspaper printed north of the Columbia river. It was called the "Columbian" and "devoted to the interests of Oregon in general and the territory north of the Columbia in particular." True to that primary object this press spoke out earnestly and effectually and was a valuable co-adjutor in the reconstruction so much desired. 

Major H. A. Goldsborough, under the classic nom deplume of "Elis," the ancient synonym for our more euphonious "Olympia," on the 25th of September, 1852, through the columns of that paper, re-opened the agitation in an address to the residents of Northern Oregon, in which he details our grievances and gives, as only he could give, a graphic pen and ink picture of the then situation. 

The Territory of Columbia was now the shibboleth of all parties. The "Columbian" manfully battled in advocacy of the measure. A large number of citizens in attendance at the October (1852 ) term of court at Jackson's, held a preliminary meeting October 26th and 27th. Major Goldsborough called the meeting to order and Hon. F. A. Chenoweth of Clarke county was elected as president. Quincy Adams Brooks, Esq., (now the Oregon Postal Agent but who in his new relation seems to have forgotten his then interest in the wants of the people of Northern Oregon) was the chairman of the committee on resolutions. 

Major Goldsborough and John R. Jackson, Esq., were his colleagues. That committee reported the following resolution: "Resolved, That every precinct and settlement in Northern Oregon be requested to send delegates to a general convention to he held at Olympia on the 25th of November, 1852, to memorialize congress for the early division of the territory so that the Columbia river may be the southern and eastern boundary of the new territory." This meeting was ably and eloquently addressed by Hons. G. N. McConaha, F. A. Chenoweth, William Strong and others, and the utmost harmony prevailed. Monticello was on motion of Colonel S. P. Moses of Olympia substituted for Olympia as the place for holding the proposed convention.

Heartily the people responded to the call of the meeting at Jackson's and a convention assembled at Monticello November 25th. 1852, present 44 delegates. Hon. G. N. Mc Conaha (afterwards president of the council in the first legislative assembly of the new territory), presided: Dr. R. J. White, secretary. The president on taking the chair made a brief and eloquent speech and the proceedings of this convention are characterized by harmony, deliberation and ability of a high order.

Quincy A. Brooks, Esq., moved the appointment of the committee of 13 to draft a memorial to congress and served in the capacity of chairman of said committee, his colleagues being the venerable Seth Catlin, D. S. Maynard. W. W. Plumb, Alfred Cook, John R. Jackson, Eugene L. Finch. A. F. Scott, Fred A. Clarke, C. S. Hathaway, Ed. J. Allen, E. H. Winslow and Nathaniel Stone.