Page:History of Oregon volume 1.djvu/349

298 was danger that such an organization, being American, might enact laws depriving him of his property rights south of the Columbia. Plainly the most prudent course he could follow was to avoid the issue if possible until the two governments claiming jurisdiction had settled the matter. It was with this end in view that he, directly or indirectly, influenced the Canadians to reject the overtures of the American settlers. This they did in a formal reply, evidently prepared by Blanchet, which though written in very imperfect English, sufficiently explains the views of the French settlers. They professed cordial sentiments toward the Americans and the gentlemen who had invited them to participate in forming a government, and declared that they were in favor of certain regulations for the protection of persons and property, and were willing to yield obedience to the officers chosen at the meeting of February 18, 1841, although they did not approve of all their measures. They declined to address a petition to the United States, as solicited, until the boundary should be established. They were opposed to the land law in contemplation by the supporters of the government scheme, because they had no guaranty that all would not be changed by the succeeding government. They objected to a provisional form of government as being cumbersome instead of helpful to the colony. Men of laws and science, they said, were still few in the country, and had enough to do without legislating.