representatives should have power to divide the territory into suitable districts, and apportion the representation in their own body; to pass laws for raising a revenue by levying and collecting taxes, or imposing license on merchandise, ferries, or other objects; to open roads or canals, either by imposing a tax or granting charters; to regulate the intercourse of the people with the natives; to establish post-offices and post-roads; to declare war or repel invasion; to provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the militia and calling it forth; to pass laws to regulate the introduction, manufacture, and sale of ardent spirits; to regulate the currency and internal police; to create inferior tribunals and inferior offices not provided for by the articles of compact; and to pass such laws to promote the general welfare of the people of Oregon as were not contrary to the spirit of this instrument; all powers not expressly delegated to remain with the people.[1]
The executive power was vested in one person elected by the qualified voters; the qualifications being the same as in the original organic laws; every white man over twenty-one years of age who had been in the territory at its organization, or every immigrant after that time who had been in it six months, being privileged to vote at the election of officers, civil or military. Time was thus allowed for the immigration of one year, arriving in the autumn, to become informed on the questions at issue and to vote at the election in June of the following year.
The powers of the executive were to fill vacancies, remit fines and forfeitures, grant pardons and reprieves, call out the military to repel invasion or suppress in-
- ↑ It was Applegate's idea that no power to make laws existed, only as the people delegated it; and that by the articles of compact which were agreed to by the people, only so much power as was described in the compact could be exercised. This was intended as a check on the missionary as well as the Hudson's Bay influence. No sectional ambition could be gratified so long as no authority for it was contained in the organic laws, which defined the extent of the legislative power. For this reason the land law was made organic, as well as the oath of office.
