Oregon North of the Columbia
Movements towards the creation of a Separate Territory
First Convention Part 1

Washington Standard
May 2, 1868

In the Oregon Spectator of April 10, 1851, (Vol. No. 31) was published a letter, under caption of a "Voice from the North." and thus heralded to the world: "We give it publicity and would inform our trans-Columbia friends that there is no cause for alarm." Chehalis City, O. T., February 17, 1851. In compliance with the numerous requests of our friends, we hasten to drop you a line, to give you and them the gratifying intelligence of our triumphant success in finding the object of our search north of the Columbia river.

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Oregon North of the Columbia
Movements towards the creation of a Separate Territory
First Convention Part 2

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.

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Oregon North of the Columbia
Movements towards the creation of a Separate Territory
First Convention

Washington Standard
May 9, 1868

That memorial was adopted by the convention and signed by the members of the convention and is as follows; To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled; The memorial of the undersigned, delegates of the citizens of Northern Oregon in convention assembled, respectfully represents to your honorable bodies that it is the earnest desire of your petitioners and of said citizens that all that portion of Oregon Territory lying north of the Columbia river and west of the great northern branch thereof, should be organized as a separate Territory under the name and style of the "Territory of Columbia."

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Oregon North of the Columbia
Movements Toward Division
The Territorial Government of Washington Established

Washington Standard
May 9, 1868

In a previous article we have seen that the efforts of the residents of Northern Oregon to secure a Territory north of the Columbia river culminated in the Cowlitz convention of August 29, 1851. The convention was respectable in numbers, but Lewis county alone was represented. Its proceedings received no attention either from the Congress of the United States or the Legislature of Oregon. The latter, however, may he attributable to the fact that Lewis county was represented in the Legislative Assembly which convened at Oregon City, known to old settlers as the "One-Horse Legislature," the large majority of members going to Salem.