was danger that such an organization, being American, might enact laws depriving him of his property rights south of the Columbia. Plainly the most prudent course he could follow was to avoid the issue if possible until the two governments claiming jurisdiction had settled the matter. It was with this end in view that he, directly or indirectly, influenced the Canadians to reject the overtures of the American settlers. This they did in a formal reply, evidently prepared by Blanchet, which though written in very imperfect English, sufficiently explains the views of the French settlers. They professed cordial sentiments toward the Americans and the gentlemen who had invited them to participate in forming a government, and declared that they were in favor of certain regulations for the protection of persons and property, and were willing to yield obedience to the officers chosen at the meeting of February 18, 1841,[1] although they did not approve of all their measures. They declined to address a petition to the United States, as solicited, until the boundary should be established. They were opposed to the land law in contemplation by the supporters of the government scheme, because they had no guaranty that all would not be changed by the succeeding government. They objected to a provisional form of government as being cumbersome instead of helpful to the colony. Men of laws and science, they said, were still few in the country, and had enough to do without legislating.
- ↑ The answer of the Canadians as it appears in the Oregon Archives, MS., is not dated; but it is addressed to 'The meeting at Champoeg, March 4, 1843,' which shows that there was an appointment for that date, when their answer was expected; and as, owing to the population being scattered over a large area, with slow and difficult modes of communication, it was the custom to make appointments months in advance, to allow time for the people to consider the matter proposed, and prepare their opinions, the invitation was probably given late in the previous year. McLoughlin says, in his Private Papers, MS., 2d ser. 7, that a formal proposition was made to the Canadian settlers in the spring of 1842, to unite with the Americans; but on comparing this with other authorities, I am convinced it was the autumn of 1842. Another evidence is, that the address of the Canadians refers to the 'measures taken last year,' which could only mean the choosing of a judge and other officers in 1841.
