The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-18
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s EARLIEST LAWS Of THE COAST. !
Observation-Disclosures

I and others TO pay II cut were provided
for. Then enc of the speakers addressed
the meeting in tmpaSsioned tones. calling
attention 70 the fact that they had under
taken 70 protect their cattle. but set
10 steps had been taken 70 protect their
own families from the assaults Of Indians
and other foes Of various kinds. He
closed his address as follows: I'VE have
mutually and unitsdly agreed 70 defend
and protect our cattle and domestic
animals. now. feIlow-citlzens. 7 submit
and move the adoption Of the two roiiow-
ing resolutions. that we may have pro-
lection for our persons and lives. as
well ar our cattle and herds
50 Resolved. That a committee be ap-
pointed 20 take into consideration the
propriety OF taking measures for the civil
and military protection Of this colony.
g Resolved. That said committee con-
sist OF twelve persons.
These resolutions were adopted without
q dissenting vote. and the twelve men
appointed on the committee were. DR.. |.
4. Babcock. DIR. r.. White. James A.
/ OSell. Joseph Gervais. ". IL. Gray, Rob
ert Shortess, - Newell, - Lucie. 7. ].
Hubbard c. McRoy. Smith and
George Gay.
The FIRST meeting of the committee OF
twelve was held at "Wallamet' Falls
about March Is. 1919 and adjourned, with
II. -
Isls. when they would meet again az
Champoeg. Opposition began at once
and became quite persistent. The Cana
dian settlers issued am address explaining
their opposition TO the proposed provf-
sional government. The Hudson Bay
Company also opposed the plan IN every
way possible.
When the I'd Of May arrived and the
settlers assembled I'm field at Champoeg.
f4 rsa-h he. bob saf.f a1r
would fail as a motion TO adopt the re-
port of the committee OF twelve failed TO
carry. Then old Joe Week called on all
who wanted TO form a government to
follow him TO one side, on the motion
To divide which had just prevailed.
There WIRE found TO be ffty-two on
Weeks side and but fifty on the other
side. Then the dissenters. or many Of
them. left. The report was then consld-
cred ana adopted. item by item. and
finally the following officers were chosen:
a. r. Wilson, supreme Judge, with pro-
bate powers.
G.. W. lie Breton, clerk Of court and
recorder
j. l.. Meek. sheriff
". II. Wilson treasurer.
Messrs. Hin. Shortess. Newell. Beers.
Hubbard Gray. ONeil Moore and Dough-
erty legislative committee of nine.
Messrs. Burns. Judson. A. b. Smith and
Compo. magistrates.
Messrs. Ebbets Bridgers. Lewis and
Matthew. constables.
John Howard. Major.
William McCarty. c. Mercy and S.
Smith, captains.
The legislative committee was 10 re-
ceive N.25 each per day. their legislative
session was limited TO six days. and they
were instructed TO make their report OF
laws on July :. 1s43. al Champoeg. The
ma jor and captains We're instructed to en-
list men 70 form companies Of mounted
rIfiemen.
These determined men certainly demon
strated that they were not willing to
abate in the undertaking they had begun
/ In the wolf meeting" Another strong
| petition te congress was prepared, signed
! by sixty-fye settlers. and forwarded to
| Washington city. In this petition they
SGT forth their grievances a. the hands
/ Of to Hudson Bay Con nany al from
other causes. and strongly urged the ma
tional government to assert authority
over oregon.
This government was TO be maintained
/ by a fund 10 be raised by subscriptions
/ among the settlers. Each OF the legis-
/ latOrs promptly subscribed the entire
I amount OF per diem allowed for the six
| days work; the Methodist mission gave
| the use of their granary at Oregon city
! Tree 81 COST A> = legislative hAti. ana MI
| AlauSon Beers. Rev. j, l. Parish and Or.
/ T. l.. Bahcock subscribed the board and
/ lodging Of the nine legislators The Ieisis-
( lativc committee nat on May IS. 1913
[ Robert Moore was chosen speaker and
( George w Le Breton secretary The
I records Of this assembly arc very meaeer.
/ Whenever any troublesome ques-
4 ton arose the house would adjourn and
I the members would get together and
/ come 90 an understanding. after which
/ the meeting would be called 10 order and
/ the business in hand would proceed
The entire committee knew full well Of
the extensive land claims SIT up l,y the
! Hudson Bay Company and the missions.
! and one object was Ia curtail these pie
/ tensions I'm a way not 10 arouse too much
/ opposition 10 the embryo government
/ The various committees reported and the
/ archives say that these reports were
+ adopted. and then. on May 10, a resolution
/ was adopted providing for - committee
! - three 10 prepare and arrange All the
4 business that has been done or nav be
/ done hereafter at this session. revising
{ statutes Of Iowa, etc. report NJ the next
( session 81 the committee and ~euueS- the
/ clerk 90 copy the same" The record then
/ proceeds; 'MessrS Gray, Beers and O Nei
/ were appointed these three, living within
( fifteen miles OF each other IL was thought
/ could meet and supcrintend and revise the
/ whole proceedings. and get thcm In snape
for the public meeting"
AZ the July sth meeting there was
/ much frontier oratory. and an earnest cf-
! fort az the transaction 81 business That
/ would prove q source ~ absolute amaze
/ ment 90 tho aw-makers ~ the several
f Northwestern states that have since been
+ carved out of that old Oregon territory
I The legislative committee reported and
+ after some hot debate over the restriction
/ ~ land claims and over the proposition
+ ~ provide On executive or head % the
/ government }n the shape 81 an executive
/ committee of three. the whole report was
/ ioptcd.
The three men elected as the FIRST execgi-
tive committee consisted II David nm
/ Alanson Bevrs and Joseph Gale
After adopting the report resolution
WAS adopted Tppointing committee N
I draw up an cath ~ Office - h. admins.
( tered - thu officers chosen On Nav 9
SEINE sought go delay this. but the set
tiers said. tacuEh e was vetting dari-
ta-v wanted that matter attended - "a
thtt dsy and Il was done MANY
f-ered that y the matter was della, ~ tha
whole plan ~ provisional government
; would fail by having ne officers lega'ly
qualified - perform their duty
chapter XVI. n Grsv's History - or
son gives the organic laws rssaiullonl
and other laws adopted by the SETTLERS
on 3uiy s. ISTz The brief preamble SIS
1 closes tht}F great purpose II g. as ~.
lows we. she Geoptc - Oregon t>r~f-
! terv. Ter purposes ~ ruuttlaG PROTECTION
500 tt scsre peaee ana prosperity srs,rrr
+ Ourselves. aErae Co adept the f0no~f~r
laws nof regulations until such ,fr,,~ 7s
tire United States - America extend their
jar siictsoa oeer vs."