Oregon Law Review : Vol. 87 No. 3, p.731-782 : Remembering 1857
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Date
2008
Authors
Mooney, Ralph James
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon School of Law
Abstract
This brief paper will summarize the background, personalities, and
debates of that memorable 1857 convention, as well as certain notable
features of the constitution its delegates produced. To the extent
possible 150 years later, I shall try to recreate the attitudes and
atmosphere, the political and legal concerns, and, yes, the excitement
the delegates themselves surely experienced.
As others have written, the three dominant delegate concerns at the
convention were politics, finances, and race.5 Who, and which
political party, would emerge from the convention with enhanced
prospects? In how many ways could the delegates minimize
expenses, both of the convention itself and of the new state? And
should Oregonians permit slavery, or free blacks, or even immigrant
Chinese, within their borders? Other contentious issues included the
new state’s boundaries, whether shareholders should be personally
liable for corporate debts, whether to allow the legislature to charter banks, whether to include a bill of rights in the constitution, and,
believe it or not, whether to spend $300 for a reporter to record
convention proceedings.
Description
52 p.
Keywords
Oregon. Constitutional Convention (1857), Constitutional conventions -- Oregon