East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-09-18
HELPED SAVE OREGON.
Last Survivor of Old Hudson Bay
COmpany's Regime.

Portland, Sept. 15.-In honor of f.
" Matthieu, the sole survivor OF the
historic convention at Champoeg. Nav
2. 1S4S, large number gathered in
the Auditorium yesterday afternoon
at $3.50 o'clock and listened to ad-
dresses concerning that memorable
occasion.
MIR. Matthew and his family occu-
pied seats of honor, along with men,
bers of Butteville Matthieu Cabin.
Native Sons of oregon, and other
special guests.
After music by the administration
band Colonel II. f. Doescn delivered
an address of welcome on behalf of
the exposition.
Ex-Governor T. T. Geer followed
and made eloquent references to the
honor that belonged to those SO men
who outvoted the British element and
saved Oregon to the United States.
Governor Geer said in part: 1.-THE
few thousand settlers in the disputed
territory We're living utterly without
government and exposed to all the
perils of Indian vindictiveness. The
Hudson's Bay company had its Ore
gon headquarters at Vancouver and
opposed the formation of any sort of
government.
"The meeting called by the settlers
who met at Champoeg was packed by
agents of the Hudson's Bay company
There was "hands up" vote on the
proposition to establish n provisional
government. The proposition lost
An American moved division, and
the motion carried. At this point
40" Meek arose in his chair and
called for every American who want
ed to establish government to line
up with him. He started the stam-
pede toward law and order, and when
noses were counted 1t was found that
the Americans had majority of two.
In the election of officers, which fol-
lowed Immediately, Meek was chosen
sheriff Francis Xavier Matthew was
elected one OF the constables.
"The massacre of DR.. Marcus Whit
man and his people at Walilaptu mis-
sion aroused the people of the Will
lamette valley to the sense of their
isolated condition, and the legislature
determined to dispatch messenger
to Washington to implore such relief
as a regularly constituted territorial
form of government might provide.
mo man had crossed the wilderness
and the mountains overland in winter.
but 80" Meek volunteered to under
take the mission. Armed with ere
dentials, Meek set out on the fourth
day of January, 1S47, for Washing
ton. After Il midwinter trip of a lit
tie more than two months. he reached
st. Joseph, Mo, having accomplished
the quickest journey between the two
points ever made at any season of the
year up to that time.
Meek reached Washington bearing
Oregon news nearly three months
later than the messenger who went by
sea. President Polk, in a special mes
sage to congress, quoted largely from
the colonial legislatures memorial
carried by Meek and urged the imme-
| diate organization of territorial
government for Oregon. A bill Great
ing Oregon territory finally passed
after being held up for months be-
cause II contained an anti-slavery
clause. The contest was extremely ex-
citing during the final days of the
session, but the Oregon bill passed the
senate after an all-night session at
o'clock Sunday morning, August 13,
lS4S, and received President Polk's s
signature a few hours afterward."