Page:Oregon, her history, her great men, her literature.djvu/100

98 Champooick District was bounded on the north by a supposed line drawn from the mouth of the Anchiyroke (Pudding) River running due east to the Rocky Mountains, on die east by the summit of the Rocky Mountains, on the west by the Willamette River and a supposed line running due south to California, on the south by the 42nd parallel.

Clackamas District comprised all the territory not included in the other three districts.

Importance of the Champoeg Meetings. In 1901, Harvey W, Scott, in a paper on "The Champoeg Meetings" said: "What shall I say more of the impressive scene that was enacted upon this spot eight and fifty years ago? All the actors save one. the venerable F. X. Matthieu, who providentially is with us today, have passed from earth. The results of their fair work remain; and what we must regard as a thing of high significance is the fact that they well understood that they were laying the foundation of a State. In what they did here that day there was a clear premonition to them that it was a work for unborn generations. The instinct for making States, an instinct that so strongly characterizes that portion of the human race that has created the United States of America, never had clearer manifestation or more vigorous assertion. On the spot where this work was done we dedicate this monument this day. May every inhabitant of the Oregon Country, through all ages, take pride in this spot, and an interest in preservation of this monument, as a memento of what was done here!"

When Oregon Posed As "No Man's Land." At the beginning of the Provisional Government the northern boundary of Oregon was so seriously in doubt that it became a very delicate question requiring negotiations that covered a number of years. Neither Spain nor Russia at this time made claim to any part of the Oregon Country, but Great