Page:Centennial History of Oregon 1811-1912, Volume 1.djvu/318



Vol, 1—13

the duty of the legislature to provide liberally for the education of the rising generation. I am happy to say that the past year has amply repaid the tiller's toil. Our harvest has been abundant, and the season for gathering in the crops was dry, enabling the farmer to secure the reward of his labor free from injury. During the past season we have enjoyed throughout the territoiw, the blessings of health ; these blessings and mercies call for our gratitude. May we ever feel our dependence on the Divine Being, through whom we receive them, afid our prayers continually ascend to him for wisdom to guide us in the important duties to which we are called.

"George Abernethy. "Oregon City, December 1, 1846."

On motion of Mr. T 'Vault, the governor's message and accompanying docu- ments were referred to committee of the whole, and made the special order of the day for tomorrow.

This pioneer governor's message not only shows the character of the ques- tions which the pioneer law-makers and state builders had to wrestle with, but it shows also the common sense, great responsibility and patriotic conscience which these men brought to the discharge of their duties.

On December 5, 1846, Representative T 'Vault reported from the judiciary committee a bill to regulate the writ ad quod damnum; which was suiScientlv learned and profane to suit the most fastidious member of the Oregon Bar As- . soeiation.

On December 9 the legislature passed the following resolution :

'^Resolved, That the select committee on the national railroad be instructed to memorialize the congi-ess of the United States on that suject." There was at that time not a mile of railroad within three thousand miles of Oregon City ; but Oregon was not to be behind on this subject, and got its first railroad con- nection across the continent thirty-seven years later by the hands of Henry Vil- lard, via the Columbia river, Spokane and St. Paul.

On December 17, 1846, Governor Abernethy vetoed a bill to regulate "the manufacture and sale of wine and distilled liquors, ' ' and as this is a live issue in Oregon politics today, we give the message in full :

"Oregon City, December 17. 1846.

' ' Gentlemen : I return to your honorable body the act entitled ' An act to regulate the manufacture and sale of wine and distilled spirituous liquors, ' with my objections to the same.

' ' Previous to our organization as a provisional government public sentiment kept liquor from being manufactured or sold in this territorJ^ Heretofore, every act of the legislatiire has been, as far as ardent spirits were concerned, prohibitory in character. The act before me is the first act that has in any man- ner attempted to legalize the manufacture and sale of ardent spirits. At the session of the legislature in June, 1844, an act was passed to prevent the intro- duction, sale and distillation of ardent spirits in Oregon ; and as far as my knowl- edge extends, the passage of that act gave satisfaction to the great majority of the people throughout the territory. At the session of December, 1845, several amendments were proposed to the old law and passed. The new features given to the bill by those amendments did not accord with the views of the people ; the