Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 2.djvu/126

110 Waldo, T. D. Keizer, and Robert Newell were elected to the legislature. Several of the new officials were of the immigration of the preceding year. The legislative body met at Oregon City June 18, 1844, and elected M. M. McCarver, Speaker. John E. Long, by virtue of his office as Territorial Recorder, was Clerk. The executive committee submitted a message, which was a cautious document, and dealt chiefly in generalities. Few recommendations were made, for the young government was as yet feeling its way. The legislature was, however, gently requested to "take into consideration the propriety of laying a light tax for the support of the government.The legislature sat ten days and adjourned until December 16. What lay chiefly on the public mind of those times may be judged from the nature of the two principal laws that were enacted—one of them to prohibit the manufacture and sale of alcoholic liquors, the other to prohibit the introduction of slaves and the advent and residence of free negroes in Oregon. Another session of the legislature was held in December, lasting eight days.

Each and every year now added considerable numbers, by immigration, to the strength of the American settlement. The organic law was amended in several important particulars, one of which was a provision for retirement of the executive committee and the election of a Governor. The election was held June 3, 1845. The total vote cast was five hundred and four, and George Abernethy was elected by a plurality of ninety-eight. John E. Long was elected Secretary of the Territory, and Philip Foster, Treasurer. Here was the first appearance in public of James W. Nesmith. He was elected judge at the age of twenty-three.

Members of the legislative committee chosen at this election were: H. A. G. Lee, W. H. Gray, and Hiram Straight, from the Clackamas district; Robert M. New-