Page:Centennial History of Oregon 1811-1912, Volume 1.djvu/301

 south of the northern boundary line of the United States, west of the Willamette, or Multnomah, river, north of the Yamhill river, and cast of the Pacific ocean.

"Second district, to be called the Yamhill district, embracing all the country west of the Willamette, or Multnomah, river, and a supposed line running north and south from said river, south of the Yamhill river, to the parallel of 42° north latitude, or the boundary line of the United States and California, and east of the Pacific ocean.

"Third district, to be called the Clackamas district, comprehending all the territory not included in the other three districts.

"Fourth district, to be called the Champooick district, and bounded on the north by a supposed line drawn from the north of the Anchiyoke (Mollala) river, running due east to the Rocky mountains, west by the Willamette or Multnomah river, and a supposed line running due south from said river to the parallel of 42 north latitude; south by the boundary line of the United States and California, and east by the summit of the Rocky mountains.

"The legislative committee also recommend that the above districts be designated as Oregon Territory.

"Approved by the people. July 5. 1843."

The legislative committee report that a subscription paper as follows be put in circulation to collect funds for defraying the expenses of the government:

We, the subscribers, pledge ourselves to pay, annually, to the treasurer of Oregon territory the sums affixed to our respective names for the purpose of defraying the expenses of government provided that, in all cases, each individual subscriber may, at any time, withdraw his name from said subscription upon paying up all arrearages and notifying the treasurer of the colony of such desire to withdraw.

The following are the principal provisions of the original constitution, approved by the people, July 5, 1843:

See. 1. We, the people of Oregon territory, for purposes of mutual protection, and to secure peace and prosperity among ourselves, agree to adopt the following laws and regulations, until such time as the United States of America extend their jurisdiction over us.

Art. 1. No person, demeaning himself in a peaceable and orderly manner shall ever be molested on account of his mode of worship or religious sentiments.

Art. 2. The inhabitants of said territory shall always be entitled to the benefits of the writ of habeas corpus and trial by jury; of a proportionate representation of the people in the legislature, and of judicial proceedings, according to the course of common law. All persons shall be bailable, unless for capital offences, where the proof shall be evident or the presumption great. All fines shall be moderate and no cruel or unusual punishments inflicted. No man shall be deprived of his liberty but by the judgment of his peers or the law of the land; and should the public exigencies make it necessary for the common preservation to take any person's property, or to demand his particular services, full compensation shall be made for the same. And. in the just preservation of