as also to extend the area of freedom and Christianity, by which they hoped to confer a lasting benefit upon mankind.
Neither did they intend to expatriate themselves by emigrating to Oregon. But when they had reached this distant country they found themselves in embarrassing circumstances—in the midst of a jealous and predatory Indian population, among the subjects of Great Britain in the height of the excitement over the boundary question; without law or protection, except as they governed and defended themselves, which they had done amid many trials; it being much more difficult to administer temporary laws than a fixed system of government.
While their means were slender, their taxes were high, owing to the necessity of improving the country, opening roads, building bridges, and erecting schoolhouses and churches. They could not raise money to pay the members of their legislature for more than two weeks' service at a time, and were compelled to adopt the laws of Iowa, modified by a few local acts. They had no printing-press, and no books on law to refer to; nor any means of making the laws known to the people until the Spectator was established, in whose columns only the local laws were published.
The memorialists declared that they had been grieved at being debarred from enjoying the protection which the subjects of Great Britain received in their very midst; but comforted themselves that the omission of their government to afford it was out of regard to the sacredness of treaty obligations; but that when the boundary question was settled they could see no reason for the studied neglect of congress. They had acted under the conviction that the duties of citizens and government were mutual. "Our forefathers," said they, "complained that they were oppressed by the mother country, and they had a just right to complain. We do not complain of oppression, but of neglect. Even the tyrant has his
