Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 13.djvu/346



(By the Canadian settlers of the Willamette Valley to the American settlers on proposed political organization.)

TRANSLATION BY P. J. FREIN.

We, the Canadian citizens, inhabitants of (this word looks like Wallamet which would be about the way a Frenchman would write "Willamette") considering with interest and re- flection the subject which has brought the people to this as- sembly, do present to the citizens of American extraction, and particularly to the gentlemen who have solicited the said assembly, the unanimous expression of our cordial sentiments, of our desire for union and for perpetual and unalterable peace among us all, and considering our duty and interest of the new colony, we declare :

1st. That we desire laws or regulations for the well being of ourselves, and for the security of our property and our labors.

2nd. That we will not rebel against the measures of that nature passed last year by a part of the people; although we do not approve certain regulations nor certain kinds of laws. Let those (last year's P. J. F.) magistrates finish their year. (This last clause seems to have been inserted as an after- thought P. J. F.)

3rd. That we will not make new demands upon the Ameri- can government because it is not decided that this land belongs to it and because we have our reasons, until the time for fixing the boundary of the States (U. S.) be decided upon.

4th. That we object to too anticipatory regulations which may lead to lawsuits over boundary stones, supposed directions, and the registry of lands, in view of the fact that we have no guarantees from the government to be established, and that perhaps even tomorrow all those measures may be abrogated.

5th. That we do not desire a kind of temporary government which may be too individual and too encumbent with officers useless to us in our poverty, and who would be a burden to the colony rather than an advantage to it. Moreover, lawyers and