Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 1.djvu/163

Rh Moved and carried, that the remainder of the officers be chosen by hand ballot, and nominations from the floor.

Messrs. Hill, Shortess, Newell, Beers, Hubbard, Gray, O'Neil, Moore, and Dougherty, were chosen to act as the legislative committee.

Messrs. Burns, Judson, and A. T. Smith, were chosen to act as magistrates.

Messrs. Elbert, Bridges, and Lewis, were chosen to act as constables.

Mr. John Howard, was chosen mayor.

Messrs. Wm. McCarty, C. M'Roy and S. Smith, were chosen captains.

Moved and carried, that the legislative committee make their report on the 5th day of July next, at Champooick.

Moved and carried, that the services of the legislative committee be paid for, at $1.25 per day, and that the money be raised by subscription.

Moved and carried, that the mayor and captains be instructed to enlist men to form companies of mounted riflemen.

Moved and carried, that an additional magistrate and constable be chosen.

Mr. Campo was chosen as an additional magistrate.

Mr. Matthieu was chosen as an additional constable.

Moved and carried, that the legislative committee shall not sit over six days.

The meeting was then adjourned.

The question having arisen, with regard to what time the newly appointed officers shall commence their duties, the meeting was again called to order, when

It was moved and carried, that the old officers remain in office till the laws are made and accepted, or until the next public meeting.

Attest:.

There has been much discussion of what did actually take place at the Champoeg meeting. It is evident upon the face of it, that what has been printed in "The Oregon Archives" as the proceedings of that meeting, is an imperfect report. The Hon. L. F. Grover was authorized by the territorial legislature of 1849, to collect all the papers and records of the provisional government for publication; and in a note appended to the work, says: "Within the proper depository of the public papers, he has not been able to find entire and satisfactory records of all that he is satisfied has transpired in Oregon of a public general nature, and which would be of eminent historic importance." The fact that the three secretaries of that meeting, were active partizans of the purpose to form a government, and were actively advocating such purpose at the meeting, will explain why a fuller account of the proceedings was not made. The most striking and important event of the meeting was Meek's dramatic appeal for a "division," and yet that is not mentioned in the "Archives," but that it actually took place there can be no doubt. The following persons told the writer of this book substantially what Meek told him, viz., Rev. J. S. Griffin, Medorum Crawford, Robert Shortess, William Doughty, George W. Ebberts, and F. X. Matthieu.

But while much may have been lost of interesting history, there is the printed record of 335 octave pages to show the minds, thoughts, sentiments, and principles of the pioneers as "state builders;" and the state of Oregon is the glorious monument to their memory.

In organizing this provisional government, the Americans did not seek to exclude the Canadians from any part in the work; but on the countrary used all their influence to have them co-operate. At the meeting of February 2, 1843, they adjourned to meet at the house of Joseph Gervais, a Canadian, who voted against organization; and at the "Wolf Meeting," Gervais and Maitune were appointed on the standing committee—both Canadians.

The legislative committee appointed on May 2d, went to work on May 16, 1843, as a legislative body, electing Robert Moore, chairman, and G. W. Le Breton, secretary; and held sessions on May 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, June 27th and 28th; opening their sessions with prayers. On July 5, 1843, a public meeting of all the inhabitants of "Oregon territory" was held, pursuant to adjourn-