Oregon: Polity Style: 1859-2026
| 18 Sep 1857 | the Constitution of the State of Oregon is adopted and signed at a session of the Convention held in Salem on 18 Sep 1857, pending ratification by qualified electors (Oregon Constitutional Convention 1857, pp. 380-381, 432) |
| 14 Dec 1857 | the ratification of the Constitution of the State of Oregon by the qualified electors at a vote held on 9 Nov 1857 is certified by a proclamation issued by the Governor of the Territory of Oregon on 14 Dec 1857 (Oregon Statesman, No. 41, 22 Dec 1857, p. 3) |
| 14 Feb 1859 | the State of Oregon, within the prescribed boundaries, is admitted to the United States, in accordance with an act passed by the Congress of the United States (Senate on 18 May 1858, House of Representatives on 12 Feb 1859), signed into law on 14 Feb 1859 (Statutes at Large, 11:383-384) [1][2] |
| 14 Feb 1859 - | State of Oregon |
| 4 Apr 1859 | the admission of Oregon into the Union is acknowledged by a proclamation issued by the Governor of the State of Oregon on 4 Apr 1859 (Oregon Statesman, No. 421, 12 Apr 1859, p. 3) |
- Sections Nos. 3 and 8 under Article XVIII (Schedule) of the Constitution of the State of Oregon provided for its taking effect following ratification by the qualified voters, and authorized the territorial officers to continue in office until superseded by their State successors. Oregon applied for admission to the Union, but Congressional approval of the Constitution was not explicitly sought, and the election proceeded in 1858. The State Legislature convened in July 1858, and Whiteaker was inaugurated as Governor of the State on 8 Jul 1858. However, the bill admitting Oregon failed in the U.S. House of Representatives, and Congress adjourned on 14 Jun 1858. The State Legislature also adjourned on 9 Jul 1858 and subsequently failed to achieve a quorum in September 1858. The territorial government and legislature were not superseded as expected until news of Oregon's admission became known in March 1859. A proclamation issued by Whiteaker on 4 Apr 1859 indirectly acknowledged the fact.
- Full title: An Act for the Admission of Oregon into the Union.