CHAPTER XV 1849-1858 THE EVOLUTION OF ORGANIZED GOVERNMENT-ORGANIZATION OF THE TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT-LOCATION OF THE STATE CAPITAL-THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION AND ITS MEMBERS-ORGANIZATION OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT-THE GOVERNORS AND REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS The organization and maintenance of the Provisional Government for nearly six years without wealth, arms or the aid of the United States during an expensive Indian war, and administering justice by organized courts, showed that the Pioneers were practical State builders. As a matter of fact their experience with the Provisional Government had largely qualified them to govern themselves well, and to receive the boon of National recognition and authority with strong and capable hands. There was but a single college graduate in the whole convention which organized the Provisional Government, and with that exception-Rev. John S. Griffin-not a single member of the so-called learned professions. But their division of the Oregon country into districts and counties, and their practical methods of ascertaining and executing the popular will exhibited their wisdom and capacity for self-government. The organization of Oregon into a U. S. Territorial Government had been opposed in Congress for four years by the Southern slave-holding members of Congress vainly trying to fasten the institution of human slavery on the new State. That opposition was finally beaten down and exhausted by a Senator from the slave state of Missouri-Thomas H. Benton. The opposition to a Territorial Government was finally abandoned after an all night session of the United States Senate, and the organization Bill passed on Sunday morning August 13, 1848. President Polk signed the Act within a few hours after its passage, and soon after appointed General Joseph Lane of Indiana the first Governor of Oregon under U. S. authority; and then appointed Joseph L. Meek U. S. Marshall for Oregon and gave him the Governor's Commission to carry to Lane at his home in Indiana. And within three days after Meek delivered that Commission, Lane sold out his property and started with Meek for Oregon. The new Governor and Marshal came to Oregon by the way of the Ohio and Mississippi river steamboats from Indiana to Fort Leavenworth, Missouri. There they got an outfit and followed the Santa Fe trail through New Mexico, Arizona, and California to old Los Angeles, finally reaching the Pacific Ocean at San Pedro. Here they took passage on a little sailing vessel bound for San Francisco. Reaching San Francisco Bay in safety they found the U. S. Sloop of war, St. Mary, and Meek demanded that as he and Lane were U. S. Government officials the war ship should take them aboard and carry them up to Oregon. The Governor opposed this on the grounds of economy, telling Meek they could go on a cheaper vessel. A little ship, the Jeanette, was just about to sail for the Columbia river crowded with gold miners returning to Oregon, and so the Governor and his aid, Meek, took passage, and arrived at Oregon City on the 2nd of March, 1849, being eighteen days on the trip from San Francisco to Oregon City, and six months and twelve days from Washington City to Oregon. The party suffered greatly in crossing the desert regions of Arizona, losing many of their horses for want of water, and requiring the men to travel on foot. Lane started from Leavenworth with a party of fifty-five men; two were killed by Indians on the route, forty-six deserted to the mines in California, and Lane, Meek, Lieut. Hawkins, Surgeon Hayden, and three soldiers reached Oregon. General Lane lost no time in issuing his proclamation as follows: PROCLAMATION "In pursuance of an Act of Congress, approved the 14th of August in the year of our Lord, 1848, establishing a Territorial Government in the Territory of Oregon: I, Joseph Lane, was, on the 18th day of August, in the years 1848, appointed Governor, in and for the Territory of Oregon. I have therefore thought it proper to issue this my proclamation, making known that I have this day entered upon the discharge of the duties of my office, and by virtue thereof do declare the laws of the United States extended over, and declared to be in force in said Territory, so far as the same, or any portion thereof, may be applicable. "Given under my hand at Oregon City, in the Territory of Oregon, this 3rd day of March, Anno Domini, 1849. "JOSEPH LANE.” In twenty-four hours after the above proclamation was issued President Polk's term of office expired, so that Oregon was only one day under the administration of James K. Polk. Along with Lane as Governor, and Meek as Marshal, the President appointed William C. Bryant, Chief Justice, and Orville C. Pratt and Peter H. Burnett for Associate Justices of the Territorial Courts. Other U. S. officials were provided for afterwards and appointed by the successor to Polk-President Taylor, fo-wit: for Governor, Jno. P. Gaines to succeed Lane, Edward Hamilton, Secretary; John McLean and William Strong, Judges; Amory Hollrock, U. S. Attorney; John Adair, Collector of Customs at Astoria; H. H. Spalding, Indian Agent, and Joseph L. Meek retained as Marshal. The last officers under the Provisional Government were as follows: George Abernethy, Governor; S. M. Holderness, Secretary; John H. Couch, Treasurer; George W. Bell, Auditor; J. Quinn Thornton, Supreme Judge; Alonzo A. Skinner, Circuit Judge; H. M. Knighton, Marshal. The first general election for public officials under the Provisional Government, and being the first election in the Oregon country was held May 14, 1844, and is shown by the following table. |