Page:History of Oregon volume 1.djvu/522

Rh missionary republic. Before its laws, which were voted upon by the organizers, who called themselves the people, although they represented no more than a majority of two over those who did not desire a code, could have a trial, there appeared in the country an overwhelming number of bold, free, independent men, who acknowledged no authority, either commercial or religious, who found the missionary republic too contracted to suit their views, and who proposed, if they were to live under its laws, to modify them according to their requirements. Hence a legislative committee without a missionary in it, and only two of the old colonists. I have shown how they, while greatly improving upon the legislation of their predecessors, leaned toward an independent republic, by neglecting to submit their code to the vote of the people, and by attempting to secure a call for a constitutional convention. Against such a tendency the patriotism of the western men rebelled.

Meetings were held in. the most populous districts, from which delegates were chosen to a convention appointed to meet at Champoeg April 8, 1845, for the choice of candidates for governor, supreme judge, and other officers. One good effect of the code of 1844 was, that it had driven the Canadians to unite with the Americans in the government organization, as unless they did so their lands could not be protected. It was therefore at the house of a French settler that the convention of delegates met.

Although there were but two prominent parties, the American and the independent, the latter including the Canadians and those who desired a constitution, there were four candidates, A. L. Lovejoy, George Abernethy, Osborne Russell, and W. J. Bailey. Lovejoy and Russell represented the two parties before mentioned, and Abernethy the Mission.