198 DOROTHY HULL
neighboring nations. With Mexico upon one side, British Columbia on the other, a defenseless sea-coast in front, and a horde of hostile savages and marauding Mormons in the rear, and unable to protect ourselves on any side, we could only preserve our existence by forming an alliance with some power- ful government which could afford us protection at the price of our liberty."
In September the Oregon legislature met to elect Senaton to fill the place already vacated by Smith and that soon to be vacated by Lane. The report of Lane's disunion projects had by this time irreparably damaged his reputation. Alarmed at the reports of the disunion conspiracy, the Douglas Democrats and the Republicans formed what was practically a fusion party with the one object of defeating Lane and his party. 1 After a prolonged and bitter struggle the election resulted in the choosing of J. W. Nesmith, a Douglas Democrat, and Colonel E. D. Baker, a Republican, as Senators. A political Revolution of no mean importance had taken place, and Ore- gon's Union sentiments were vindicated.
On the sixth of November, 1860, the presidential vote was cast, and by the ninth it was known not only that Lincoln was elected, but that the Republicans had carried Oregon.
There followed shortly after the news of the secession of South Carolina, and early in 1861 of five other states. At first, in Oregon as in many other northern states was heard the cry, "Let the erring sisters depart in peace," but later a more war-like tone developed among Republicans and Douglas Democrats. The Radical Democratic press, however, warmly supported the seceders. 2
Lane of course openly stood with the Secessionists. In several speeches in the United States Senate, he warmly de- fended the action of the seceding states, and indicated that Oregon's sympathies would be with them. 3 Personal pledges
1 Prophecied May 12, 1839, in a letter from Jesse Applegate to J. W. Nesmith.
2 See issues of Oregon Democrat 1861.
3 Speeches of Dec. 5, 1860; Jan. 15, 1861; Mch. a, 1861. Cong. Globt, ad Mo- tion, 36th Congress Pt. x, 8, 17, Pt II, 1343. 1349-
