194 PETER H. BURNETT. benefit of the laws of Oregon, and shall be disqualified from voting at any election in this country." By this provision we plainly said to each citizen substan- tially as follows: "If you are not willing to pay your pro- portion of the expenses of this government, you can not sue in our courts or vote at our elections, but you must remain an outlaw. If any one should squat or trespass on your claim, or refuse to pay you what he owes, you can have no pro- tection from our organization. If you can do without our assistance, we certainly can do without yours." This provision very soon had its legitimate effect. As the elections approached, those who had been opposed began to doubt, and finally yielded. The friends of the organization were active, kind, and wise in their course toward those op- posed. When one opposed to the government would state that fact, some friend would kindly remind him that his claim was liable to be "jumped," and that he could not alone de- fend his rights against the violent and unprincipled; and that it was a desolate and painful condition for a citizen, in a civilized community, to be an outlaw. After the laws passed by the legislative committee of 1844 became known, there was no serious opposition anywhere. It is my solemn opinion that the organization could not have been kept up under the laws of 1843. On page 375, Mr. Gray, speaking of the legislative com- mittee of 1844, says: "On motion of Mr. Lovejoy (another lawyer), the several members were excused from producing their credentials." This statement is true so far as it goes; but, without the explanatory facts, it might convey a false impression. The laws of 1843 made no provision as to the manner of conduct- ing elections, except by adopting the laws of Iowa; and as there was but one copy in the country, and this was the first election held in Oregon, and as two-thirds of the voters were late immigrants, the various officers of the election knew nothing of their duties, and gave no credentials to the mem- bers elect; and, of course, they could produce none. We
