First American Government on the Pacific 16i
taking steps for the civil and military protection of the colony." ^ This also received a favourable vote, and now the plan to create a provisional government was fully launched.
The provisional government voted at Champoeg, May 2, 1843. Only two months were allowed to intervene between the appointment of the committee and the meeting to consider its report. It was a time of great political activity in the settlement. The French people were still generally opposed to the scheme and were encouraged in their opposition by the Hudson's Bay Company. There was much uncertainty in the minds of the settlers as they gathered at Champoeg on the 2d of May. The committee, however, reported in favour of establishing a government. When a motion was made to adopt this report, the vote was very close and some one called for a division of the house. At this point arose the stalwart figure of "Joe "Meek, one of the most picturesque of the " mountain men," and a person of considerable influence among certain classes in the community. Stepping out grandly in front of the crowd of excited men he shouted: "Who's for a divide? All in favour of the report and of an organization, follow me." The count was made, we are told, after half an hour of the greatest confusion, and resulted in fifty-two (52) votes in favour and of fifty (50) against the resolu ^ This resolution was proposed by Mr. W. H. Gray, who was then living in the Willamette valley, and who bore a prominent part in the affairs of the colony at this time.
