Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 14.djvu/35



LIEUTENANT HOWISON REPORT ON OREGON, 1846 27

The subject of forming this provisional government had been several months, indeed years, under discussion, and may be considered the first political question canvassed within the Ter- ritory. It was opposed by the influence of the Hudson's Bay Company and British subjects generally, although the chief factors of that company were ready to enter into a compact or domestic treaty for the regulation and adjustment of all points of dispute or difference which might spring up among the residents : indeed, they admitted that it was time to estab- lish some rules, based upon public opinion, decidedly expressed, for the maintenance of good order and individual rights ; but they felt apprehensive for themselves and their interests in placing extensive law-making power in the hands of a legis- lative body, composed of men on whose judgment they could not implicitly rely, and whose prejudices they had reason to believe were daily increasing against them. Their opposition was, however, unavailing.

The election for governor excited the same sort of party array ; but, as there were several candidates for this office, some new considerations may be supposed to have mingled in the con- test. George Abernethy, esq., a whole-souled American gentle- man, was elected by a majority of the whole ; nor did he re- ceive any support from those under the company's influence. This gentleman came to Oregon as secular agent to the Meth- odist mission in 1838 or '39, and, at the dissolution of that body, engaged in mercantile and milling business. He is very ex- tensively acquainted with the country and people of Oregon, and greatly respected for his amiable, consistent and patriotic character. He is a native of New York, and married a lady of Nova Scotia, and will make a valuable correspondent to the United States government, should it be desirable to communi- cate with Oregon.

Among the components of the population are some few blacks, (perhaps thirty,) and about double that number of Kanakas or Sandwich islanders. These last act as cooks and house servants to those who can afford to employ them. Al-