FINANCIAL HISTORY OF OREGON. 137 under which the most patriotic might have evinced similar delinquencies in the appreciation of civic interests and dis- paragement of the utility of public agencies in promoting common good. The negative results from the national appro- priations and resources granted, however, are so strikingly complete and unique as to warrant a reference to influencing conditions. Among the foremost deterrents to vigorous community ef- fort in civil affairs was the distraction of recurring Indian outbreaks and the exhausting campaigns conducted in sup- pressing them. There was, too, the insuperable obstacle to social co-operation and activity in the upbuilding of institu- tions that inhered in the fact that the section of land was regularly the farm unit. Such spacious domains, with little capital and primitive implements of husbandry, meant only isolation and possible social reversion. Had they been am- bitiously disposed towards the undertaking of public works they would have found their hands tied in the prohibitions which the Organic Act placed upon the powers of their legis- lature. 10 The fact that the appointees to the governorship 10 There was the usual requirement that all acts of the Legislative Assem- bly of the Territory must have the approval of Congress. It was further pro- vided, "That nothing in this act shall be construed to give power to incorporate a bank, or any institution with banking powers, or to borrow money in the name of the Territory, or to pledge the faith of the people of the same for any loan whatever, either directly or indirectly. No charter granting any privilege of making, issuing, or putting into circulation any notes or bills in the likeness of bank notes, or any bonds, scrip, drafts, bills of exchange or obligations, or granting any other banking powers or privileges, shall be passed by the Legisla- tive Assembly; nor shall the establishment of any branch or agency of any such corporation, derived from other authority, be allowed in said Territory; nor shall said Legislative Assembly authorize the issue of any obligation, scrip, or evidence of debt by said Territory, in any mode or manner whatever, except certificates for services to said Territory ; all such laws, or any law or laws inconsistent with the provisions of this act, shall be utterly null and void; and all taxes shall be equal and uniform, and no distinction shall be made in the assessments between different kinds of property, but the assessments shall be according to the value thereof. To avoid improper influences, which may result from intermixing in one and the same act such things as have no proper relation to each other, every law shall embrace but one subject, and that shall be ex- pressed in the title." An Act to Establish the Territorial Government of Oregon, Section 6, in Oregon Statutes, Second Session, 1850-51, p. 40.
