Oliver P. Mason, Nebraska's First Chief
The first movement to organize the territory of Nebraska was a "war measure"--a means of fighting England for the possession of Oregon. The first time the name "Nebraska" occurs in our annals applied to any tract of land is in the annual report of Secretary of War William Wilkins, November 30, 1844. The secretary discusses the dispute between England and the United States over Oregon, which had been going on for thirty years, and refers to the results of Fremont's first explorations in the Rocky Mountains, just published, as foreshadowing a great movement of population to the Pacific. He then asks congress for two things: First, the organization of a new territory in order to throw the authority of the federal government around the Oregon emigrants. Upon this point I quote in full as it is the earliest suggestion of the name I have found. He says:
An Early Method of Transportation
would be able to contend for the possession of Oregon with any force coming from the sea."
Stephen A. Douglas
The first bill to create the territory of Nebraska was introduced in the house of representatives December 17, 1844, by Stephen A. Douglas. The boundaries and the name were those Secretary Wilkins had suggested. There was no mention of slavery, but the bill provided that the laws of Iowa should be extended over Nebraska until a territorial legislature met, and that only free white males should vote until the legislature should provide otherwise. This bill was favorably reported from the committee on territories on January 7, 184, went on the general file and never reached further consideration. There was a reason for this and before going farther in the events which follow we shall do wisely to review underlying causes of the conflict which culminated in the struggle over the organization of the territory.