Page:History of Oregon volume 1.djvu/546

Rh and he, with Douglas, signified his consent to receive a formal proposition. A letter was then addressed to McLoughlin, and conveyed to him by Applegate.

In the consideration of the proposition made to them, there were other subjects besides that of allegiance to be duly weighed, an important one of which was the matter of taxes, the company's property being all taxable according to the laws of the organization, and being greater in value than that of all the colonists together. To avoid being made to support the Oregon government in toto, an agreement was entered into that the company should pay taxes only on the goods sold to the white inhabitants of the country; and on this understanding a letter of acceptance of their invitation was returned to the committee, and the officers of the Hudson's Bay Company became, with all the British residents, parties to the political compact of Oregon. In the election of officers, James Douglas