This medal was struck commemorating the organization and sailing of the first expedition. I have been requested to, if possible, obtain and publish a fac-simile of the original autographs of the earliest pioneer missionaries. The following are all that I could obtain, and hope that they will prove of interest to the reader : Ayous Unily малом Came to Oregon in 1836. Murdered at Lapwai, Nov. 27, 1847. your sister M Whitemen Came to Oregon in 1836. Murdered at Lapwai, Nov. 27, 1847. о N H. Spaleting. Came to Oregon in 1836. Stationed among the Nez Perces. Affect matity yours christie teve провиза К уравду Came to Oregon in 1836. Stationed among the Nez Perces. Your affectionate father laceshing Eells Came to Oregon in 1838. Stationed among the Yakima's. Myra F. Cells Came to Oregon in 1838. Stationed among the Yakima's. при Zens as tepe & Watter Came to Oregon in 1838. Stationed among the Yakima's. Mary Walker Came to Oregon in 1838. Stationed among the Yakima's. Yours Truly Andow Rodys Came in 1845. Killed at the Whitman massacre, Nov. 27, 1847. J.d. Griffin Came to Oregon in 1839. Stationed with Rev. Spalding. на покушу Came in 1836. Mary A Gray Came in 1838. Provisional Government. 1841. PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT; DEATH OF EWING YOUNG; MEETING AT THE METHODIST MISSION; SECOND MEETING; ELECTION OF OFFICERS; REV. DAVID LESLIE APPOINTED ADMINISTRATOR; ORIGINAL COPY OF SAME; THIRD PUBLIC MEETING; CAPTAIN WILKES AND DR. MCLOUGHLIN. 'HERE is an inherent inclination in the character of the Ameri TH can people to organize themselves into forms of self government. If they compose an assembled train of emigrants who have come together, strangers to one another, from different points to traverse broad and arid plains and to face the dangers of wild beasts and savage tribes, they organize for self protection and to aid one another. If in the pursuit of the precious metals, they meet by accident in a mountainous solitude where no law prevails, they organize mining camps, and declare and enforce regulations for the district. They define the size of mining claims and restrain the lawless portion of the newly formed community. So it was with the American settlers in Oregon in 1841; composed of various classes and of various qualities of character, having come by sea or by land-by ship, by pack train, on foot, or on horseback, from distant and diverse regions, they got themselves together to take counsel how they might form some kind of Government for themselves. They found the country practically occupied before them by the Hudson's Bay Company-a corporation powerful and arrogant, and representing a Government inimical to them in interest and occupation. There was also at this time quite a number of discharged servants of the Hudson's Bay Company, French Canadians, trappers, hunters and bateau voyageurs, who had spent the best years of their lives in toil, dangers and hardships, receiving a mere pittance, and cast adrift in their old age to eke out a living as best they could. They had mostly settled and made farms upon what is now known as French Prairie in Marion county. Of course these people were largely under the influence of the Hudson's Bay Company, to whom they looked for supplies and a market. But, as subsequent years disclosed, they were qualified to make good American citizens, and were willing to assimilate themselves with a new condition of things as soon as circumstances demanded. Heretofore the Hudson's Bay Company had been a monopoly of government and a monopoly of trade in all the vast region west of the Rocky mountains and north of Mexico and up to the Russian possessions, save the temporary struggle of American fur traders to occupy some of the ground. As the numbers of the American settlers augmented, the grasp of this monopoly was loosened and American influences began to operate. February 15, 1841, Mr. Ewing Young, the wealthiest and most enterprising American citizen, died, and at his funeral, which was largely attended, the question arose : What should be done with his property? He had left no will nor heirs, as far as known, and if he had left a will there was no legal officer to probate the same, and it was determined to hold a meeting at that time and place, which was done, and the meeting was organized by electing Rev. Jason Lee, the head of the Methodist Mission, chairman, but unfortunately, there is no record of the meeting in existence. It seems that a committee had been appointed to take into consideration the feasibility of organizing a Provisional Government, and adjourned to meet at the Methodist Mission February 17th, and the proceedings were as follows: Public Meeting, Held February 17, 1841. At a meeting of some of the inhabitants of the Willamette valley, for consultation concerning the steps necessary to be taken for the formation of laws, and the election of officers to execute the same, for the better preservation of peace and good order, the following business was transacted : Rev. Jason Lee was chosen chairman, and Rev. Gustavus Hines was chosen secretary. On motion, Resolved, That an addition of one be made to the committee of arrangements chosen at previous meeting. On motion, 1 Resolved, That the chairman nominate this committeeman. Geo. Le Breton was nominated and elected. Resolved, That it be recommended that there be a committee of seven elected for the purpose of drafting a constitution and code of laws for the government of the settlements south of the Columbia river. It was then Resolved, That all settlers north of the Columbia river, not connected with the Hudson's Bay Company, be admitted to the protection of our laws, on making application to that effect. The meeting then proceeded to advise the committee of arrangements to propose the making of certain officers, to-wit: A Governor; a Supreme Judge, with probate powers; three Justices of the Peace; three constables; three road com I This was the meeting held the day before. missioners; an Attorney General; a Clerk of the Courts and Public Recorder; one Treasurer; two overseers of the poor. It was recommended to nominate persons to fill the several offices, and they be chosen viva voce. The meeting then resolved itself into committee of the whole for the purpose of choosing candidates for the several offices, and after having nominated persons to fill the various offices it was Resolved, That the doings of the committee of the whole be deposited in the hands of the chairman, to be presented to the meeting to-morrow. On motion, the meeting then adjourned to meet at 8 o'clock to-morrow. February 18, 1841. At a full meeting of the inhabitants of the Willamette valley, at the American Mission house, David Leslie was elected chairman, and Sidney Smith and Gustavus Hines were chosen secretaries. The doings of the previous meeting were presented to the assembly, and were accepted in part, viz.: That a committee be chosen for framing a constitution and drafting a code of laws; and that the following persons compose the committee. Rev. F. N. Blanchet, Rev. Jason Lee, David Donpierre, Gustavus Hines, Mr. Charlevon, Robert Moore, J. L. Parrish, Etienne Lucie and Wm. Johnson. Dr. Ira L. Babcock was appointed to fill the office of Supreme Judge with probate powers; Geo. Le Breton was chosen to fill the office of Clerk of Courts and Public Recorder; Wm. Johnson was chosen to fill the office of High Sheriff Havier Laderant, Pierre Billique and Wm. McCarty were chosen constables. Resolved, That until a code of laws be adopted by this community, Dr. Babcock be instructed to act according to the laws of the State of New York. Resolved, That this meeting now adjourn to meet on the first Tuesday of June, at the new building, near the Catholic church. TUESDAY, June 1, 1841. An adjourned meeting of the inhabitants of the Willamette valley, at the new building, near the Catholic church, was calle 1 to order by the chairman. On motion the doings of the former meeting were read. The report of the committee for drafting a constitution and code of laws, was called for, and responded by the chairman and others, that no meeting of the committee had been had, consequently no report had been prepared. Rev. F. N. Blanchet requested to be excused from serving further upon the committee to draft a constitution and code of laws, and was excused. On motion, Dr. Bailey was chosen to fill the vacancy and the committee instructed to meet on the first Monday in August next. That this committee be instructed to report to an adjourned meeting on the first Tuesday in October next. Resolved, That the committee for drafting constitution and laws, be instructed to confer with the Commodore of the American squadron,1 and John McLoughlin, Chief Factor of the Hudson's Bay Company, with regard to forming a constitution and code of laws for this community. Resolved, That the motion to adopt the report of the nominating committee, presented at a former meeting be reconsidered. Resolved, That the committee to draft a constitution, &c., be instructed to take into consideration, the number and kind of offices it will be necessary to create, in accordance with their constitution and code of laws, and report the same I Commodore Wilkes, U. S. N. |