Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/174

 164 PETER H. BURNETT. upon these desperadoes that they can be effectually kept in order. As we could not, with any exact certainty, anticipate the time when the conflicting claims of the two contending gov- ernments would be settled, we determined to organize a Pro- visional Government for ourselves. In this undertaking our British neighbors ultimately joined us with good will, and did their part most faithfully, as did our American citizens. I was a member of "the Legislative Committee of Oregon" of 1844. It was composed of nine members elected by the people, and (-(insisted of only one house. The year before, the people of Oregon had substantially organized a Provis- ional Government; but the organization was imperfect, as is necessarily the case in the beginning of all human institu- tions. We improved upon their labors, and our successors improved upon ours. Our legislative committee held two sessions, one in June, and the other in December of that year, each session lasting only a few days. In our then condition, we had but little time to devote to public business. Our personal needs were too urgent, and our time too much occupied in making a sup- port for our families. Our legislation, however, was ample for the time. There was then no printing establishment in Oregon. We passed an act in relation to land claims, the first section of which provided that "all persons who have heretofore made, or shall hereafter make permanent improve- ments upon a place, with a bona fide intention of occupying and holding the same for himself, and shall continue to oc- cupy and cultivate the same, shall be entitled to hold 640 acres, and shall hold only one claim at the same time; pro- i-i(fl, a man may hold town lots in addition to his claim." The seventh and last section gave all persons complying with the provisions of the act "the remedy of forcible entry and detainer against intruders, and the action of trespass against trespassers." This act was passed June 25, 1844. It will be seen that the remedy against intruders was simple, cheap,