Page:History of Oregon volume 1.djvu/521

CHAPTER XVIII.

AMENDMENT OF THE ORGANIC LAWS.

1845.

The First Three Legislative Bodies—Opposing Parties—The Several Legislatures—Memorial to Congress—What Benton Thought of It—Elijah White's Exploits—Proceedings of the Legislature—Fusion of the Americans and British—English Spies in Oregon—British Vessels—Conduct of McLoughlin Discussed—Unjust Censure—Consequence to McLoughlin.

From the adjournment of the legislative committee December 24th to the election of 1845. the political situation of the country in reference to boundary was earnestly discussed by the leading men of both nationalities in Oregon, with a candor, courtesy, and dignity born of the greatness of the question, and with the desire to avoid the collisions threatened by the turbulent few. This mutual endeavor to understand each other could not but tend to produce salutary results, removing prejudices due to birth and education, and replacing them by personal esteem and private friendships.^[1]

Among themselves, the Americans had other issues to consider. It is worthy of remark that the first three legislative bodies of Oregon made and adopted three different forms of republican government, without any disturbances that affected the public peace. The first framed a set of organic laws, intended to bind the people together, and to secure benefits to themselves by giving them a quasi title to selected tracts of land. This organization may be styled the

1. Applegate's Views, MS., 42.