Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 1.djvu/159

Rh any distinction of origin, and without asking him to settle anything, either to become an English, Spanish or American citizen.

12th. So we, English subjects, proclaim to be free, as well as those who came from France, California, United States, or even natives of this country; and we desire unison with all the respectable citizens who wish to settle in this country; or, we ask to be recognized as free amongst ourselves, to make such regulations as appear suitable to our wants, save the general interest of having justice from all strangers who might injure us, and that our reasonable customs and pretensions be respected.

13th. That we are willing to submit to any lawful government when it comes.

14th. That we do not forget that we make laws only for necessary circumstances. The more laws there are, the more opportunities for roguery, for those who make a practice of it; and, perhaps, the more alterations there will be some day.

15th. That we do not forget in a trial, that before all fraud on fulfilling of some points of the law, the ordinary proofs of the certainty of the fact ought to be duly weighed, so that justice may be done, and no shame given for fraud.

16th. In a new country, the more men employed and paid by the public, the less remains for industry.

17th. That no one can be more desirous than we are, for the prosperity, ameliorations, and general peace of the country, and especially for the guaranty of our rights and liberties; and such is the wish we make for all those who are, or may become, our fellow countrymen, etc., for long years of peace.

After the reading of this address a motion was made that the report of the committee be accepted, which being put, was lost. Considerable confusion existing in consequence, it was moved by Mr. Le Breton and seconded by Mr. Gray that the meeting divide, preparatory to being counted; those in favor of the object of this meeting stepping to the right hand and those of a contrary mind going to the left. The chairman called upon those present to divide and line up to be counted.

Whereupon more confustion than before resulted; the opponents of organization continuing to mix freely with the friends of organization, and earnestly opposing and arguing against organization, for the purpose of preventing any decision.

This state of indecision and confusion continuing for ten or fifteen minutes, Le Breton and Lucier sought out Joseph L. Meek, and earnestly besought him to do something to divide the wrangling disputants.

Meek proved equal to the occasion. (The following account of what then took place was given to the writer hereof by Col. Meek, at the county fair in Hillsboro, in September, 1867, and then written down in a memorandum book.)

"When the ayes and noes was called for adopting report of the committee the ayes voted weak and scattering, and the noes voted solid and loud, as if