Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/176

 166 PETER H. BURNETT. the power to designate the several places of holding said terms by giving one month's notice thereof. We also passed on June 24th an act consisting of eight sec- tions, prohibiting the importation, distillation, sale, and bar- ter of ardent spirits. For every sale or barter the offender was to pay a fine of $20; and for establishing and carrying on a distillery, the offender was subject to be indicted before the circuit court as for a nuisance, and, if convicted, to a fine of $100 ; and it was made the duty of the court to issue an order directing the sheriff to seize and destroy the distilling appa- ratus, which order the sheriff was bound to execute. On June 22d an act containing 26 sections was passed con- cerning roads and highways. On December 24th an act was passed allowing the voters of Oregon at the annual election of 1845 to give their votes for or against the call of a con- vention. The following act in relation to Indians was passed De- cember 23d : Whereas, The Indians inhabiting this country are rapidly diminishing, being now 7 mere remnants of once powerful tribes, now disorganized, without government, and so situated that no treaty can be regularly made with them: And Whereas, By an act passed in July 1843, this govern- ment has shown its humane policy to protect the Indians in their rights; And Whereas, The Indians are not engaged in agriculture, and have no use for or right to any tracts, portions, or parcels of land, not actually occupied or used by them ; therefore, Be it enacted by the legislative committee of Oregon, as follows : Section 1. That the Indians shall be protected in the free use of such pieces of vacant land as they occupy with their villages or other improvements, and such fisheries as they have heretofore used. Sec. 2. That the executive power be required to see that the laws in regard to Indians be faithfully executed; and that whenever the laws shall be violated, the said Executive shall be empowered to bring suit in the name of Oregon a gainst such wrong-doer in the courts of the country.