Page:History of Oregon volume 1.djvu/530

Rh out a difference. Yet it was a wise deference to the original founders of the government. The people were encouraged in the maintenance of republican principles, and bribed to remain firm in their allegiance to the United States, which alone of all great governments allowed such entire freedom of political sentiments.

As the legislature had decided that they were without authority to act until the people had approved of their proceedings in amending the organic laws, they prepared to adjourn until an election could be held, at which the people were to be made acquainted with, 1st, the original laws as enacted July 5, 1843; 2d, the amended laws; and 3d, a schedule declaring the governor and legislature elected in June the officers to carry the amended organic laws into effect. If the people should adopt the last two in place of the first, the legislature could then proceed to the formation of a code of statutory laws suited to the wants of the colony. As there was no printing-press in Oregon, manuscript copies of each were made for every precinct or polling-place, to be read three times to the voters.

The legislature adjourned July 5th to meet again on the 5th of August. According to Gray, many voted against the compact because it allowed the legislature to regulate the introduction, manufacture, and sale of intoxicating drink; and many because the English and French servants of the fur company were admitted to equal privileges with themselves. Notwithstanding these objections, at the special election held on the 26th of July the majority in favor of adopting the organic laws as amended, and the schedule of officers as elected the previous June, amounted to over two hundred. By this decisive act, says Mr Applegate, "both the Methodist Mission and the