Page:Centennial History of Oregon 1811-1912, Volume 1.djvu/286

 he house of

Joseph. Gervais on March 1, 1843, had itself assumed to act as a government, had fixed bounties for the destruction of wild animals, that collectors be appointed, a standing committee appointed, oaths must be taken, drafts for money orders made, and a committee appointed to consider measures for the civil and military protection of a colony. The rugged issue was now to be faced and decided whether there should be a government to protect life and property, or whether there should be a condition of anarchy — and every man must show on which side of the line he stood.

The "Wolf Meeting" was held on March 1, 1843, and within four days there- after an address of the Canadian citizens of Oregon, and signed by fifty persons, was delivered to the foregoing committee of twelve.

It is evident from this address, which was said to have been drafted by Blan- chet, that the Catholics and French felt that they were being forced into an em- barrassing position, and that they should give the reasons for not uniting with the Americans to organize a government. But these Canadians were not desti- tute of apologists and supporters among influential Americans. George Aber- nethy, who afterwards became governor under the Provisional Government, at a debating society at "The Palls" (Oregon City) during the winter of 1842-3, offered a resolution to the effect that it would not be expedient to form an inde- pendent government, if the United States would within four years extend its jurisdiction over Oregon." And William Johnson, the only member of the first committee appointed to draft a constitution and laws who was not a Frenchman or a missionary, declared there was "not yet any necessity for laws, lawyers or magistrates." And when Capt. Wilkes, of the U. S. Exploring Expedition, was applied to for his support of the proposition to organize a government, he prompt- ly condemned the scheme for the reason "that only a small minority of the in- habitants desired to establish a government, that laws were not necessary, and would be a poor substitute for the moral code the people had followed this year." Nevertheless, the Americans had put their hands to the plow, and they refused to turn back.

Below follows the address of the Canadians :

"March 4, 1843.

"We, the Canadian citizens of the Willamette, considering, with interest and reflection, the subject which unites the people at the present meeting, present to the American citizens, and particularly to the gentlemen who called said meeting, the unanimous expression of our sentiments of cordiality, desire of union and in- exhaustible peace between all the people, in view of our duty and the interest of the new colony, and declare,

' ' 1st. That we wish for laws, or regulations, for the welfare of our persons, and the security of our property and labors.

"2nd. That we do not intend to rebel against the measures of that kind taken last year, by a part of the people ; although we do not approve of certain regulations, nor certain modes of laws, let those magistrates finish their time.

"3rd. That we will not address a new petition to the Government of the United States, because we have our reasons, till the line be decided, and the fron- tiers of the states fixed.

"4th. That we are opposed to the regulations anticipated, and exposed to consequences for the quantity, direction, &c., of lands, and whatsoever expense