Page:Centennial History of Oregon 1811-1912, Volume 1.djvu/328

 o unite with

them and organize a temporary government, but the Canadians, apprehensive it might interfere with their allegiance, declined, and the project, which origi- nated with the (Methodist) mission, failed. * * * Jn 1843 the Americans again proposed to the Canadians to join and form a temporary government, but the Canadians declined for the same reason as before."

But after thus twice refusing to join with the Americans and after the or- ganization had been completed and declared that joining the provisional govern- ment would not require any person to abjure their allegiance to any other gov- ernment or king. Dr. McLoughlin gave his support to the provisional govern- ment and asked favors and franchises of it.

The record now given of this pioneer legislature seems sufficient to show the character of the men and measures of the pioneer provisional government of Oregon, every session of which was held within the territory this history is to cover.

Especial attention is called to the fact that this "Independent" govern- ment, called "The Provisional Government," was organized by the plain, com- mon people of the western states in a wilderness two thousand miles distant from an American state or British colony. So far as is known, not a single man tak- ing part in the movement had ever had any experience in legislative or state con- cerns before. While it is possible that there were fifty or more men in the "Wil- lamette valley who did not participate in the primary organization, yet as the record stands there were practically as many men opposed to the organization as favored it. There were quite a number of Americans about Oregon City (then called "The Falls") who did not take interest in the matter or were afraid to incur the displeasure of the fur company, and did not attend the Champoeg meeting.

The real pioneers were the men and women who came here before 1846. They did not know from any act of the United States whether this would be American or British territory. But they came to make it American. Those who came after 1846 took no chances. It was then decided to be United States territory. They came to reap where others had sown. They wanted security before they would move. The real pioneers put up all the security and ran all the risks of the in- vestment. The rooms of the Oregon Historical Society furnish mute but incon- testable evidence of the plain and simple lives of our pioneers. The ancient wagon, the primitive spinning wheel, and the rude weaving loom, all testify stronger than words, the slow advance from purely hand work to that of the hand-made machine, taking the place of the hands.

The pioneers took little thought of wealth and station. They passed over mil- lions of gold in Baker, Union and Grant counties, and on to the Willamette val- ley, to found a state on just laws that should honor and bless mankind after all the gold has been worn to impalpable dust.

When the King of Spain was anxious to found a state in the new world, of which Oregon was then an unknown fraction, he dispatched a royal decree in 1778 to his governor, Don Pedro Pierns, at old St. Louis, as follows :

"The source and origin of all empires has been the refuge and kind usage which men find in the gentleness of the laws. The evil administration of them is the greatest impediment to the building of a government; for not only are those who are present and exposed to them exasperated, but others are prevented