The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-02-04
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
After the reading OF the journal

After the reading Of the journal
INTERVENTION KossUTH
Mr.. ANDREWS, by leave. introduced joint resolu-
ton OF the legislature of Maine, relative TO inter
mitiee on Foreign Affairs. and ordered to be printed
Mr.. SWEETSER called for the order of the day.
ORGANIC LAW OREGON.
But Mr.. LANE, by leave, introduced memorial Of
the legislature OF Oregon, which is in the following
words:
To the Senate and House Of Representatives Of The United
Your memoriasts, the legislative assembly OF the Ter
rtory OF Oregon, legally assembled al Salem, in said Ter
ritory on the first Monday OF December, A. d. 1851
representing the people OF Oregon, respectfully but
nesy represent unto your honorable body that The peo
pie Of this Territory, after long delays and many disap
poinments he OF which is needless now 10 de-
termine,) had extended them the constitution and
laws OF the United States, by act of Congress APP
proved August H. ls4s, and known as the :. organic
act" OF this Territory. Oregon numbered at that Time
about thousand souls From the Goth of July, A. ID.
ls45 TO this period the people had lived both al war
and in peace under fundamental compact oil Their own
creation, styled the provisional government They Gre
aied executive, legislative, and judicial departments Sc
eced the 10 fill those several stations from among
themselves and by these means and maintained
nvIoate their lives, liberty and property, with savage
enemy their borders, and foreign organization in their
midst thus successfully indicating their capacity for self
government The law OF 4th OF August lsis, came and
with ceased all direct connexion and sympathy between
the people the one hand and the officers OF the execu
tive and judicial departments on the oher-a least so lar
the could De tHeCted Dy the manner oil
lection, and the power TO which they accountable
While the provisions OF this act are similar in the main
TO those proposed by Congress prior 10 that period for the
organization OF Territories differs rally from them
all in two respects First in the total separation OF the
executive and legislative departments and, second, in
the restriction imposed the legislative assembly,
tanned in the last clause OF the sixth section OF that
as TO the mode OF exercising their legitimate
powers Since that time have had two governors
The FIRST General Lane, entered upon the duties of his
Office on the 81 oil March, A. ID. 1919, and set the
wheels OF the new government in motion by proclama-
ton OF that date announcing the organization OF the Ter
ntory He remained continuously in midst, faithfully
devong his time and talents 10 the best interests and
welfare OF the people, until the 18th oil June, $780, when
he was removed TO make room for the present ncum-
bent
Governor Gaines arrived in the Territory in The month
oil August, 1850, and has remained in the country,
cept short absence, ever since His administration so
far whatever may have been bis motives the causes
OF the misfortune has been characterized by total want
OF confidence and sympathy between himself and the
people Ever since he landed upon shores and en-.
tered upon the duties OF his ofhce-either from mental
perverseness or what is probable, the mschevous
advice OF the district attorney, Amory Holbrook-he has
sought by indirect and extra official acts TO usurp powers
placed in the hands oil the representatives OF the people
alone and the consequences has been that confusion and
dscord have, like the cloud that pecedes the storm,
overshadowed our public affairs As an illustration OF
the course OF conduct pursued and the consequences
sultng thereirom, your memoalists submit the follow
ing facts; Although by the organic law the sum oil i've
thousand dollars appropriated 10 be applied BY the gov.
TO the erection OF suitable buildings at the seat Of
government" and although the legislative assembly, as
authorized by that act did proceed locate and estab
lsh the seat OF government for the Territory" by act
passed February 1881, he prompted doubt by Amoy
Holbrook ofciousy sent that body message, declaring
the void, and has since assumed, without the
sembanee OF authority on his part TO treat the
nullity TO withhold the appropriation and to keep the
archives and public library under his own shadow, al
another and different place entirely.
BY OF the legislative assembly, passed May 10th,
A. D. $780, the governor is authorized 10 I'LL any
cies that may occur the territorial Offices during the
OF that body and although the legislature has been
in session two weeks, he has not deigned TO report TO
this body any OF appointments made, but with
an utter disregard and contempt for the people and their
representatives appears from the announcement OF the
public journals OF the day. has actually assumed TO ap
point territorial treasurer and Librarian during the pres
ent sitting OF the Legislature
Since the I4ih Of August. lsas. have been entitled
TO the presence and services OF three judges How stands
the account
The Hon O c. Pratt, the first officer in the Territory.
in point OF Time. arrived here in December A ID 1s4s
From that time until the arrival OF the Hon w r. BRYANT
the 9th OF April, fs49, there was but Judge in the
Territory. BY reason OF the absence of Bryant IRON the
month OF June until the month OF September, A. D. ls4o
we were left with but one Judge again: From that time
until December, lS49, there only two, when Bry
ant lett the Territory TO which he has never returned,
and, as your memoralists informed and believe.
withheld bis resignation until the first OF January, 1851
nnscrupnously receiving his salary up TO that date.
From the date OF his departure there remained but Judge
Pratt in the Territory, until August 1850, when he
10 the States for his family, and returned in the month of
April A. ID. 1851, where he has remained ever since