Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 13.djvu/136

 128 FREDERICK V. HOLMAN "To prevent a calamity so much to be dreaded, the well- disposed inhabitants of this territory have found it absolutely necessary to establish a provisional and temporary government, embracing all free male citizens, and whose executive, legisla- tive, and judicial powers should be equal to all the exigencies that may arise among themselves, not provided for by the governments to which they owe allegiance; and we are most happy to inform your honorable body, that, with but few in- dividual exceptions, the utmost harmony and good-will has been the result of this, as we conceive, wise and judicious measure; and the British subjects and American citizens vie with each other in their obedience and respect to the laws, and in promoting the common good and general welfare of Oregon. "Although such has been the result, thus far, of our tempo- rary union of interests, though we, the citizens of the United States, have had no cause to complain, either of exaction or oppression at the hands of the subjects of Great Britain, but on the contrary it is but just to say that their conduct toward us has been most friendly, liberal, and philanthropic, yet we fear a longer continuance of the present state of things is not to be expected our temporary government being limited in its efficiency, and crippled in its powers by the paramount duty we owe to our respective governments, our revenue being inade- quate to its support and the almost total absence, apart from the Hudson's Bay Company, of the means of defence against the Indians, which recent occurrences led us to fear entertain hostile feelings towards the citizens of the United States." After setting forth protection given to British subjects by the Hudson's Bay Company and by the Act of Parliament of July, 1821, which I have already mentioned, this Memorial prays Congress to establish a territorial government to em- brace Oregon and its adjacent sea-coasts. It further sets forth : "And we pray that in the event you deem it inexpedient as a measure, or contrary to the spirit of existing treaties, to estab- lish a territorial government in Oregon, that you extend to us adequate military and naval protection, so as to place us, at least, upon a par with other occupants of the country." This Memorial was passed June 27, 1845 (Oregon Archives, page 79). A copy, dated June 28, 1845, was signed by two members of the Executive Committee, by eleven members of the Legislative Committee, by J. W. Nesmith as Judge of the Circuit Court, and attested by J. E. Long the Clerk. It was