Page:Centennial History of Oregon 1811-1912, Volume 1.djvu/330



was practically the governor of Oregon at that time ; and yet he raised neither voice or hand to defeat the Amei-ican organization; and soon after the little ship of state was launched he applied to it for a franchise to operate a ferry below the Palls of the Willamette.

The Americans did not forget his consideration for them, and when a bill was proposed in the provisional legislature on August 15, 1845, to disfranchise all the Hudson 's Bay Company men, it was promptly voted down ; and the legisla- ture went farther and amended the oath of membership in the provisional -gov- ernment so as to make it read : ' ' That I will support the organic laws of the pro- visional government of Oregon so far as thej' are consistent with my duties as a citizen of the United States, or suhjeet of Great Britain." When the British Agents Warre and Vavasour visited Oregon in 1845, they reported that, although the British and Canadian population had protested against the formation of the provisional government, yet in their opinion it was the judicious course for aH" parties to preserve the peace and promote the prosperity of the comnuinity at large.

It would be intensely interesting if the men who formed this unexampled government on the American continent could be called before the reader for his personal acquaintance. It is safe to say that it was formed by a motley non- descript, unconformalile lot of men who could not have worked harmoniously together for anj' other purpose. Self-preservation brought them together and compelled them to work together for a common and noble object. That they could bury their personal peculiarities and prejudices and risk everything for the common good of all, and work with might and main to carry out a great patriotic work and purpose, shows that the founders of the provisional govern- ment were the real heroes, and theirs ' ' The Heroic Age of Oregon. ' '

The independent element was made up of mountain men like Joseph L. Meek and Robert Newell, with whom were co-operating the sea-rovers, independent trapi^ers and adventurers of all sorts who had drifted into the Willamette valley as a haven of rest from life 's failures and troubles in other quarters of the world. But few of them had any book knowledge, but all had a wide experience on the border, before the mast, or in life's struggles everj'where. They had courage, in- dependence and confidence born of dangers and desperation. They would launch the ship of state while others talked and parleyed. And co-operating with these trappers and sailors, was a man from the missionary side who was the most active and irrepressible of the whole commnnitj', and while not always politic or judicious, was alwaj's an agitator — William IT. Gray. Gray wanted a gov- ernment that would oppose the Catholics. Newell and Meek wanted a govern- ment that would be independent of all sects and religions. Jason Lee, the prime mover of the whole business, wanted a government with a Protestant, if not a Methodist control. It is intensely interesting to. trace out all theidiplomatic !uove- ments of the rival factious in this little community of a hundred men 2000 miles distant from any organized county or state. That the Americans earnestly de- sired the Canadians to go in with them for organization is too plain to dispute. For at the outset the Canadians were freely appointed in the preliminary com- mittees, and meetings were held at the houses of the Canadians. But the Cana- dians, being Catholics, accepted and trusted the leadership of their i-eligious teacher, Blanchet. Blanchet was a subject of Great Britain, and a stipendiary of the Hudson's Bay Company. He was therefore legally and in honor liound to