Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/154

144 Resolved, That the following portions of the laws of Iowa, as laid down in the statute laws of the Territory of Iowa, enacted at the first session of the legislative assembly of said Territory held at Burlington, A. D., 1838-9, published by authority, Du Buque, Bussel, and Reeves, printers, 839. Certified to be a correct copy by Wm. B. Conway, Secretary of Iowa Territory, be adopted as the laws of this Territory, viz:

There are listed by title with reference to the pages whereon found in the collection referred to in the resolution some thirty-seven laws, including those already mentioned in Articles 13, 14, and 15.

This draft of a constitution or articles of government was adopted at the meeting at Champooick, July 5, 1843. The subsequent history of the Provisional Government that continued until the erection of the Territorial Government in 1848-[9] it is not necessary here to follow. The instrument underwent some changes, but none that vitally changed the character of the original "compact." Under it their government, said one of their chroniclers, was "'strong without an army or navy, and rich without a treasury, ' and ' so effective that property was safe, schools established and supported, contracts enforced, debts collected, and the majesty of the law vindicated.

The question presents itself, why did the pioneers of Oregon select the laws of Iowa for the regulation of their private and governmental affairs? Why choose the laws of Iowa