Title
Letter From Oregon
Subject
Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877)
Description
The report of a special session of the Oregon State Legislature describes:
l) Governor A.C. Gibb’s appeal to ratify the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery, and the subsequent approval of the measure by the Oregon Senate and House of Representatives (with three dissenting votes in each house);
2) the $100,000 debt incurred by the State for bounties and wages paid to Oregon soldiers;
3) a brief description of the cost to the State of Oregon (the amount is in six figures, but is illegible) “incurred to avoid the draft,” and whether this cost should be borne by the state or assumed by the national government.
This highly subjective and opinionated letter reports on recent events in Oregon; only the first section, which covers three Civil War-related issues, is described here. First, in a special legislative session, held in December of 1865, Oregon’s governor and legislature ratified the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to abolish slavery. In each of the legislative houses, three members voted against the Amendment. The Governor, A.C. Gibbs (a Republican), made a strong case for ratification. The correspondent editorializes at length in support of the governor and is gratified by the legislature’s strong endorsement of the measure. Second, a short paragraph describes Oregon’s obligation to pay $100,000 for soldiers “bounties and pay.” The writer comments that Oregon’s finances are well prepared to pay this debt (apparently from bonds) over a 10 and 20 year period. Third, the correspondent reports the state owes debts “incurred to avoid the draft.” The explanation of this debt is not clear, and the amount of the debt owed, and to whom, is also not presented. The amount, unfortunately illegible, looks to be in the amount of six figures. The writer presents at length the conflicting arguments as to why states with such debts should be liable for them, or whether the federal government should “assume” them. Some of this third section is not legible.
l) Governor A.C. Gibb’s appeal to ratify the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery, and the subsequent approval of the measure by the Oregon Senate and House of Representatives (with three dissenting votes in each house);
2) the $100,000 debt incurred by the State for bounties and wages paid to Oregon soldiers;
3) a brief description of the cost to the State of Oregon (the amount is in six figures, but is illegible) “incurred to avoid the draft,” and whether this cost should be borne by the state or assumed by the national government.
This highly subjective and opinionated letter reports on recent events in Oregon; only the first section, which covers three Civil War-related issues, is described here. First, in a special legislative session, held in December of 1865, Oregon’s governor and legislature ratified the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to abolish slavery. In each of the legislative houses, three members voted against the Amendment. The Governor, A.C. Gibbs (a Republican), made a strong case for ratification. The correspondent editorializes at length in support of the governor and is gratified by the legislature’s strong endorsement of the measure. Second, a short paragraph describes Oregon’s obligation to pay $100,000 for soldiers “bounties and pay.” The writer comments that Oregon’s finances are well prepared to pay this debt (apparently from bonds) over a 10 and 20 year period. Third, the correspondent reports the state owes debts “incurred to avoid the draft.” The explanation of this debt is not clear, and the amount of the debt owed, and to whom, is also not presented. The amount, unfortunately illegible, looks to be in the amount of six figures. The writer presents at length the conflicting arguments as to why states with such debts should be liable for them, or whether the federal government should “assume” them. Some of this third section is not legible.
Abstract
A report, with editorial comment, from an unnamed “Oregon Correspondent,” of a special session of the Oregon State Legislature dealing with the consequences of the Civil War.
Creator
Unknown
Source
Daily Evening Bulletin
Publisher
San Francisco, CA: Daily Bulletin Co.
Date Issued
1866-01-02
Medium
Web
Type
newspaper
Identifier
Article GT3002314205
Bibliographic Citation
Vol. XXI, Iss. 72, p. 4, col. A
Spatial Coverage
Oregon, State of
Temporal Coverage
1865
Provenance
King County Library System database, 19th Century U.S. Newspapers
URL
http://infotrac.galegroup.com.ezproxy.kcls.org/
Start Page
4
End Page
4