Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/195

 RECOLLECTIONS OK AN OLH I'I<>NKKR. A> to the falsity of all these charges, I can refer to all good men who have known me longest and best. I lived in Mis- souri some twenty-one years, and have resided in California nearly thirty years, and I appeal to all good men who have known me. without regard to their religion or place of na- tivity. TUT. U.I-KSTIOX IIKTIIKK THERE WERE ANY CONSTITUTIONAL I'KoVIMoN.- IN Till: LAWS OF 1843 CONSIDERED. The legislative eommittee of 1844 did maintain the posi- tion that there were no constitutional provisions adopted by the people at their mass meeting, July 5, 1848. It appeai-s that there were two publications claiming to be copies of these laws; one by Charles Saxtou, published in 1846. and the other by the compiler of the "Oregon Ar- chives," in 1853. (Gray's "Oregon," 352.) I shall use the copy given by Mr. Gray, as he ought to know best, and which is found in his history, beginning on page 353. At a meeting of the people held May 2, 1843, at Champoeg, the proposition to establish a Provisional Government was put to vote; and, upon a division, there were found to be
 * .L' for and r>0 against it. (Gray's "Oregon," 279.)

At that meeting, Robert Moore, David Hill, Rol>crt Shortess. Alanson Beers, W. H. Gray, Thomas J. Hubbard, .lames A. O'Neal, Robert Newell, and William Dougherty I William M. Doughty ?1 were chosen to act as a legislative e mittcc, and instructed to make their report on the 5th of .Inly. 1>4:',. at Champoeg. (Gray, 280-81.) On the 5th of July, 1843, said committee made their re- port, which was adopted at the mass meeting of citizens at Champoeg. The question whether there were any, and, if so, what constitutional provisions in the laws adopted at said meet in-.:, was one that admitted of discussion; hut. upon as full a consideration of the subject as our limited time and opportunities allowed, we became satisfied that there were linlie. In I heir report the committee say, "the legislative com- mittee recommend that the following organic laws be