POLITICAL PARTIES IN OREGON 315 the pro-slavery Democrats. 1 He did not cease his attacks on the latter. He now made a double attack. He pleaded eloquently with all Democrats to come up to the support of "Douglas and the Union" and referred to the speeches of the Southern agi- tators as containing "as damnable treason as ever fell from the lips of the wildest abolition fanatic that disgraces the North." 2 In commenting upon the assertion made by the Portland Advertiser that the Republicans were shouting "Hur- rah for Joe Lane," Bush said, "We have noticed this somewhat remarkable sympathy with the Yancey bolters on the part of the Republicans. We account for it on the score of sympathy with kindred sectionalism." He could not find language too vituperative to apply to Buchanan for deserting Douglas,3 which language reads strangely when compared with the lauda- tory words Bush had for Buchanan only two short years before. The Democratic State Central committee, met at Eugene, August 18. R. E Stratton, declaring that a division and sep- aration of the committee was inevitable and that the issue might just as well be drawn at once, introduced a resolution declar- ing for Douglas and Johnson as the regular Democratic nomi- nees. 4 Delazon Smith moved to amend by substituting the names of Breckinridge and Lane. A full discussion followed. Smith favored leaving the question open until the meeting of the state convention, which the committee was to call for the purpose of nominating presidential electors, and in the mean- time having the Democrats of the state in their primary meet- ings determine upon the action to be taken. He further sug- gested that the committee recommend that the convention name one ticket, made up from both divisions of the party. Stratton, maintaining that there was no hope of concerted action, pressed his resolution, with the amendment of Smith, 1 Statesman, July 24, 2 Ibid., July 31. 3 In an editorial, Aug. 21, on "The Blackest of Treason", the following ex- pressions are found: "Buchanan will be remembered with ineffable hate and scorn. . The black hearted and infamous treason of Jas. B. . . . His corrupt heart has hatched this egg of treason. . . Jas. B., reeking with corruption and treason and rankling with malice and hate . . The name of Jas. B., will like Arnold and Iscariot, be the synonym of treachery and infamy." 4 Proceedings in Union, Aug. 21.
