Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 1.djvu/160

112 trained and prepared. It looked as if we were beaten, but the chairman being an American did not want to decide that way, and said he was not sure how it was, and proposed a division and counting. The British all opposed division, and mixed up with the Americans, arguing against any organization. This confusion continued for fifteen or twenty minutes, when Le Breton and Lucier came to me and said, 'Joe, we must do something to get this thing decided; you must lead off and get them separated.' I then stepped out, clear outside of the crowd, swung my hat in the air, and sounded the war whoop, and yelled at the top of my voice:

"DIVIDE! DIVIDE! Who's for a Divide! All in favor of the American flag follow me!"

"I thought the appeal to the flag would catch them, and it did, for every American lined up after me. The secretaries then acted as tellers and commenced counting. As I looked down the line, it was awful close. Before the counting was half done, Matthieu, who had lined up with the Canadians, left them and walked over to our side and took a position alongside of Lucier, Matthieu's vote decided it, for we had only two majority. The British then mounted their horses and rode away, and we went on and completed our organization."

And so was born the first American government west of the Rocky mountains.

The following are the names of the "immortals" who saved the day for American institutions on May 2, 1843. The fifty-two persons voting for the adoption of the committee's report were as follows: Dr. Ira L. Babcock, W. H. Wilson, G. W. Le Breton, W. H. Gray, Joseph L. Meek, David Hill, Robert Shortess, Dr. Robert Newell, Reuben Lewis, Amos Cook, Caleb Wilkins, Hugh Burns, Francis Fletcher, Sidney Smith, Alanson Beers, T. J. Hubbard, James O'Neil, Robert Moore, *W. P. Doughty, Rev, J. S. Griffin, George Gay, Geo W. Ebberts, Rev. J. L. Parrish, Rev. Harvey Clark, Charpes Campo, Dr. W. J. Bailey, *Allen Davie, Joseph Holman, *John Edmunds Pickernel, Joseph Gale, Russell Osborn, David Weston, William Johnson, W. Hauxhurst, William Cannon, Medorem Crawford, John L. Morrison, P. M. Armstrong, L. H. Judson, A. T, Smith, J. C. Bridges, Rev. Gustavus Hines, Rev. David Leslie, John Howard, William McCarty, Calvin Tibbetts, J. R. Robb, Solomon H. Smith, A. E. Wilson, F. X. Matthieu, Etienne Lucier, Charles McKay."

Now follows the remainder of the proceedings of the meeting that day, according to the "Archives."

"It was then moved and carried, that the report of the committee be taken up, and disposed of article by article.

A motion was made and carried, that a supreme judge, with probate powers, be chosen to officiate in this community.

Moved and carried, that a clerk of the court, or recorder, be chosen.

Moved and carried that a sheriff be chosen.

Moved and carried, that three magistrates be chosen.

Moved and carried, that three constables be chosen.

Moved and carried that a committee of nine persons be chosen, for the purpose of drafting a code of laws, for the government of this community, to be presented to a public meeting to be hereafter called by them, on the fifth day of July next, for their acceptance.

A motion was made and carried, that a treasurer be chosen.

Moved and carried, that a major, and three captains, be chosen.

Moved and carried, that we now proceed to choose the persons to fill the various offices, by ballot.

W. E. Willson was chosen to act as supreme judge, with probate powers.

G. W. Le Breton was chosen to act as clerk of court, or recorder.

J. L. Meek was chosen to fill the office of sheriff.

W. H. Wilson was chosen treasurer.