Oregon North of the Columbia
Movements towards the creation of a Separate Territory
First Convention
Washington Standard
May 2, 1868

In the Oregon Spectator of April 10, 1851, (Vol. No. 31) was published a letter, under caption of a "Voice from the North." and thus heralded to the world: "We give it publicity and would inform our trans-Columbia friends that there is no cause for alarm." Chehalis City, O. T., February 17, 1851. In compliance with the numerous requests of our friends, we hasten to drop you a line, to give you and them the gratifying intelligence of our triumphant success in finding the object of our search north of the Columbia river.

To give you a minute description of the journey, country, natives, commercial advantages, farming facilities and hydraulic power, would take many pages as well as more time to write than we can spare in this land of high rates, locomotives and plank roads. But suffice it to say for the present and the information of our friends, that although our six weeks' trip at this season of the year through a wilderness country was both exceedingly laborious and expensive, yet we have reason to congratulate ourselves at being so agreeably disappointed in finding the fairest and best portion of Oregon north of the Columbia river; and no doubt must and will be a separate territory and state from the south.

Everything in nature wills and decrees the Columbia river the natural boundary. The north must be the "Columbia Territory," the south the "State of Oregon" how poetical, front "Maine" to "Columbia," and how meaning of space. Gray's Harbor, at Chehalis bay, is 40 miles north of the Columbia river, into which the Chehalis river empties or terminates its descent. 

The inlet of the harbor is easy, plain and safe, with 18 feet of water on the bar. The harbor affords every possible natural facility for commerce, a deep channel coming close up on the south side of a good bank for landing goods directly from the ship. That being so eligible a site for a depot, was claimed and a house erected, which claim, in connection with a first-rate mill privilege, we ultimately purchased and laid out the city of Chehalis.

We do not intend any speculation in town property, but merely to dis pose of the lots at the cost of organization as there is plenty of other business to do without speculation in in lots. We wish our friends to participate with us and take an interest, merely at the cost we have incurred, and for that purpose we have adopted a rule. Respectfully yours, etc.,
Carman At Chapman Mr. A. A. Durham, Oswego, O. T.

The Chapman whose name is appended hereto is John B. Chapman, Esq., long "solitary and alone" the barrister of Northern Oregon. The Chehalis City scheme did not develop fast enough, so he and his son John M., afterwards located at Steilacoom city, the name of the latter being used in acquiring the townsite. The old gentleman was not far wrong in starting the ball for a division of the Territory and this letter marks the first public allusion or argument in favor of that measure. Mr. Chapman was a persistent man in all he undertook and Chehalis City being too narrow a field for his energies, he came over to the Sound and brought with him his favorite hobby of division of the Territory. 

On July 4, 1851, the little handful of American settlers assembled at Olympia to do honor to the immortal anniversary of national independence. after the celebration was through, met in the afternoon and organized by the appointment of Clanrick Crosby as chairman and A. M. Poe secretary. Capt. Crosby. Col. Isaac N. Ebey, J. B. Chapman. Esq., and Maj. Goldsborough severally addressed the meeting "on the situation and wants of that portion of the Territory of Oregon north of the Columbia river."

On motion of the latter a committee of seven were appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting, and the following constituted that committee: N. A. Goldsborough, Isaac B. Ebey, J. B. Chapman, Henry C. Wilson, M. T. Simmons, Samuel B. Crockett and Thomas M. Chambers. This committee recommended a convention, to be made up of representatives from all the election precincts north of the Columbia, to meet at Cowlitz Landing on the 29th day of August, 1851, the objects of which convention are thus set forth by the committee; 

"To take into careful consideration the present peculiar position of the northern portion of the Territory, its wants, the best method of supplying those wants and the propriety of an early appeal to Congress for a division of the Territory." The citizens of Cowlitz precinct promptly responded to this call and held their meeting on the 7th day of July, at the house of John R. Jackson, who was elected chairman of the meeting, with Edward D. Warbass as secretary. The objects of the meeting were effectively expressed by J. B. Chapman, esq.. 

Messrs. Chapman, Sidney S. Ford, Sr., and Edward D. Warbass were appointed a committee who reported resolutions heartily approving the proposed proceedings of the Olympia meeting. Capt. George Drew, Dr. William. L. Frazer and Edward D. Warbass were appointed a committee of arrangements, to secure rooms, &c., for the accommodation of the proposed convention. J. B. Chapman and George B. Roberts, Esq., were made a committee of correspondence. The movement thus inaugurated was heartily responded to throughout Northern Oregon.