The quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society, Vol. 1, No. 1, March, 1900Oregon Historical Society
History
The quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society, Vol. 1, No. 1, March, 1900
Oregon Historical Society
Oregon -- History -- Periodicals
In most particulars the constitution resembled, both in form and
substance, those of other states of the Union. There were some
distinguishing features, however. The question of slavery had been
decided in the negative by vote of the people, and a clause excluding
slavery introduced. There was a feeling, quite common throughout the
west, against free negroes, and clauses were introduced to keep them
out, by a denial of the right of suffrage, of holding real estate, and
the maintenance of any suit in the courts. A somewhat similar policy was
pursued toward the Chinese. The assembly was given the right to restrain
and regulate immigration, although the conditions of suffrage were made
easy for the foreigner. The state was saved the experience of a wildcat
medium of exchange, by denial of the right to charter any institution to
issue such money. The state was prohibited from being a stockholder in a
corporation, and such enterprises could only be established under
general laws. The danger of extravagance in the development of the state
was prevented by denying the right to incur an indebtedness beyond
$50,000.
This constitution, upon being submitted to the people, was adopted by a
majority, and application was made to congress for admission, under its
provisions. The constitution, though conservative in the main, provided
well for existing needs, and for a safe and steady growth. There was
nothing in it to encourage a hasty development or a speculative and
harmful condition of industrial life. There is every reason to
appreciate the good judgment of those who framed it and did much to mold
the character of the commonwealth, as conservative, as sound in its
social and industrial policy, and to be depended on for sober and
considerate action. Located, as the State of Oregon is, upon the Pacific
Coast, where much of the history of the next century must be made,
itself the product of an enlarged national life, it must, of necessity,
exercise a greater influence in the national policies of the future than
it has in those of the past. Some of the provisions of the constitution
have, of course, been made of no effect by the amendments to the
National Constitution. No sufficient cause has yet arisen to make
imperative its own amendment, but the growth of the state may render
necessary some changes in the near future.
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