Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-09-29
arty shall have been duly con-

election in May, 1874 The qualifi-
cation of electors: Every free white
male descendant of . white man,
over twenty one years of age, who
was an inhabitant at the time Of the
organization of the government,
and all immigrants of such descript-
ion, after six months. residence.
The executive power was vested
in an Executive Committee of three,
elected at the annual election, with
power to pardon and reprieve, call
out the military force of the terri
tory, to see that the laws are faith
fully executed, and recommend
laws to the Legislative Committee.
Two of their number constituted a
quorum.
The Legislative power was vested
i'll committee of nine, apportioned
to the five districts in ratio of pop
ulation, excluding Indians; the
members to reside in the districts
from which they were chosen.
. The judicial power was vested in
"a Supreme Court consisting of a
Supreme Judge and two Justices of
the Peace; Probate Court and
Jus.icee of the Peace whose orr glnal
and appellate jurisdiction were de-
fined. Other necessary offices we're
provided, and the qualifications and
duties prescribed. Copious extracts
were made from the laws of Iowa,
and declared to be in force in the
territory by mere recital of the
act and page.
A militia law and a law governing
land claims were also provided.
The latter prescribed the manner of
taking claims and obtaining the
title thereto; prohibited taking
more than six hundred and forty
acres, and holding more than one
claim. Compliance with the pro-
visions of the land law gave full re-
course in an action of trespass.
Parties were restricted from claim
ing so much in town sites, water
privileges or situations necessary
for the transaction of mercantile or
manufacturing operations, or to the
detriment of the community; and
nothing in said act was to effect any
mission claim made previous to its
passage.
The Rev. Gustavus Hines presided
at the meeting. The report of the
Legislative Committee met with
little opposition except the article
which provided for an Executive
Committee. That provoked long
speeches in opposition by Rev. Gus
tavus Hines and DR.. I. L. Babcock.
Among the instructions to the Leg
islative Committee, none were 80
decisively passed as the one
against creating the Office of Gov
ernor. Mr.. Hines denounced the
&C ion of the committee in disre-
garding the spirit of that instruct
ion aud characterized the proposed
triple Executive as hydra.headed
monster, a repetition of the Ro.
man triumvirate. DR.. Babcock who
had favored only temporary organic
alton, contended that this clothing
the Executive with such powers,
tended to permanent establishment,
which was an ignoring of their true
purposes as we'll as instructions.
Gray, O'Neil and Shortess defended
the action of the Committee, ad-
mitted that the instructions had not
been strictly followed, but claimed
that in the plan recommended they
had avoided the making of a Gov
ernor and had supplied Council or
Senate to act, combining it with
Executive power. There we're but
a few votes in the negative on the
vote being taken on this article.
The Report substantially as made by
the speaker or chairman, Hon.
Robert Moore) was adopted with
hearty unanimity.
David Hill, Alanson Beers and
Joseph Gale were elected the Exc
cutive Committee. They and the
other officers of the Provisional Gov
eminent of Oregon, that day took
the oath of Office and entered upon
the discharge Gf their duties as
prescribed in the compact.
The Provisional Government. re-
publican in its form and essence,
was now established. The Amer.
can element struggled hard to inau-
gurate it, and at last triumphed.
After its establishment all classes
contributed to the expense of carry
ing it on, and yielded a support
which insured its success. Its inau-
guration marks the transition of
Oregon to republican rule, to SUBJ
mission to the will of the majority,
to final AUGMENTATION. 1t is the
monument of the wisdom of the
Oregon Pioneers, the proof of their
sagacity. 1t was the only means to
neutralize an influence against which
they could not have successfully
commended, which, while it was para.
mount, retarded progress and de-
feated American enterprise.
What was the territory intended to
have been comprised within the jur-
isdiction of the Oregon Provision al
Government, as established in 1913 {?
In the creation of districts or couu-
ties, care was manifested to adopt
language and designate as a north
boundary of the northern districts
the phrase " northern boundary of
the United States" AZ they also
use the qualified language west of
the Wallamet river" it is clear that
government recognized the then ex-
listing idea that the Columbia river
was probably to be the boundary
line between the United States and
Great Britain. The Oregon terri
tory under the Provisional Govern
ment of 1843, was bounded north
by the Columbia river. Under it's
administration, and before the recon-
struction in 1915. no district was Or
gained, no officer appointed. no