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

Cowlitz Convention
August 29, 1851

The convention was called to order by Thomas Chambers. Esq., and the following delegates were present: Seth Catlin. Jonathan Burbee, Robert Huntress, Monticello: Edward D. Warbass. John R. Jackson. William. L. Frazer. Simon Plamondon. Cowlitz; S. S. Saunders. A. B. Dillenbaugh. Marcel Bernier. Sidney S. Ford. James Cochran, Joseph Borst, Newaukum and Ford's; M. T. Simmons, Clanrick Crosby, Joseph, h Brashears, A J. Simmons, New Market; A M. Poe. D. S. Maynard. Daniel F. Brownfield. Olympia: T. M. Chambers, John Bradley, J. B. Chapman, H. C. Wilson, John Edgar. F. S. Balch, Steilacoom. Hon. Seth Catlin was unanimously elected president of the convention, F. S. Balch and A. M. Poe. secretaries.

The convention continued its session for two days and its proceedings were marked with deliberation, intelligence and harmony. Standing committees on territorial government, districts and counties, rights and privileges of citizens, internal improvements and ways and means were constituted, who reported upon and had charge of their respective appropriate branches of business.

An examination of those proceedings will satisfy all that the settlements north of the Columbia possessed all the elements justifying them to be trusted at that early period with the right of self-government. and it is worthy of remark that in their division of the territory into counties they afforded substantially the program for the action of the Oregon legislative assembly at its sessions 1851-2 and 1852-3, in the establishment of county boundaries north of the Columbia river.

The following are a list of said standing committees: Committee on Territorial Government Messrs. Chapman, Jackson, M. T. Simmons, Huntress and Chambers. Committee on Districts and Counties, Messrs. Brownfleld, Wilson. Crosby, Jackson. Burbee. Plamondon, Edgar and Warbass. Committee on the Rights and Privileges of Citizens, Messrs. Huntress, Maynard and Chapman.

Committee on Internal improvements, Messrs. M. T. Simmons, Burbee and Borst. Committee on Ways and Means, Messrs. Frazer, A. J. Simmons and Bradley. The Committee on Territorial Government (J. B. Chapman, Esq.) I made the following report which was unanimously adopted: That the committee are unanimously of the opinion that the terrltorial government ought to be organized by congress, north of the Columbia river.

The propriety of such an organization arises from the demand and necessity of the occasion. That the government is contemplated for the benefit of the people. The vast extent of territory north, well adapted to agriculture, commerce and manufacturing, the total absence of all municipal law or civil officers, the great distance from the seat of the present government, and the isolated situation of this part of the territory therefrom, and many other reasons too well known to require repetition, conspire to convince the committee that there is much propriety in the organization of a separate territorial government, and that no time ought to he lost in demanding the same from congress.

Therefore the committee offers the following resolution for adoption; Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed by the president of the convention to prepare a suit able memorial to congress on that subject, and that the same be forwarded to the delegate in congress from Oregon territory, requesting him to use his influence in procuring the organization of a separate territorial government.

The president appointed Messrs. J. B. Chapman. F. S. Balch and M. T. Simmons the committee under said resolution. Mr. Brownfield, chairman of the committee on districts and counties, made a lengthy report, districting the territory into 12 counties. The convention amended the report as to name county No. 4 (substantially the present county of Pierce) as Steilacoom county. No. 5. nearly identical with the present Thurston county was named "Simmon" county. No. 7, now embracing the territory of Jefferson, Clallam, Quilleyute and- Chehalis, was called Clallam county.

The territory east and south of the main Cowlitz river, embraced in county No. 11, as described by the committee, was called St. Helens county. The remainder of the territory in county No. 11 was then added to county 10 and the newly described territory was called Lewis county. Although digressing front the convention. it may be proper here to remark that at the session of the portion of the Oregon legislature convened at Salem 1851-2, an act was passed establishing Thurston county as all of Lewis county north of the mouth of Skookum Chuck to the 49th parallel.

The bill had passed one house naming it Simmons county. The sturdy old pioneer, who was intended thus to he complimented, happened to be at Salem and upon his urgent remonstrance the name of Simmons was abandoned and Thurston adopted. To return to the convention: Considerable business was transacted. Among the last was the following resolution introduced by Dr. Maynard; Resolved. That when this convention does adjourn, it adjourns to meet on the third Monday in May next, at Olympia, then and there to form a
state constitution preparatory to asking admission into the Union as one of the states thereof, provided that congress has not at that time organized a territorial government.

This resolution, adopted with great unanimity, gives the keynote of the feeling of the settlers at that time. While a part of Oregon they must be ignored. Their real hope was In being a separate territory, failing in which, being part of the state of Oregon might afford some prospect of relief. The convention of 1852, the memorial of the Oregon legislature and the action of congress will constitute the subject of a future article.