Page:Oregon, her history, her great men, her literature.djvu/101

Rh Britain and the United States did. The British wanted all they could get, and strange to say the Americans disputed among themselves as to what should be demanded as the boundary line. Some claimed the parallel of 54° 40′ as the north boundary, while others were content with the 49th parallel north. Under the singular conditions that prevailed neither the United States nor Great Britain was in position to make demands of the other or to exercise jurisdiction over the Oregon Country. Hence the Hudson's Bay Company and other adherents of the British greatly feared that something might be done by the Americans that would eventually forestall British rights in the Oregon Boundary Question. Therefore, it was decided by the supporters of the Provisional Government to act independently of all nations, to proceed as if Oregon were "No Man's Land," and to do nothing officially that would prejudice the rights or interests of either nation, until the boundary line was agreed upon. In the language of a memorial of the Provisional Government, dated June 28, 1844: "By treaty stipulations the territory has become a kind of neutral ground, in the occupancy of which the citizens of the United States and the subjects of Great Britain have equal rights and ought to have equal protection." This arrangement had much to do in quieting the suspicions and fears of British subjects concerning the purposes of the new movement; and many of them eventually became participants in the Provisional Government.

The Oregon Rangers. Difficult to Enforce Law. By this time it was found difficult to enforce some of the laws which the Provisional Government had made. Various depredations were committed, and the perpetrators escaped without arrest. An incident in Oregon City, however, drew special attention to the situation and military aid was provided for the executive authority.

Murder of Recorder Le Breton. George W. Le Breton, Recorder of Oregon under the Provisional Government,