Stephen H. L. Meek sergeant-at-arms, and Wilson Blain chaplain.
Abernethy in his message to the legislature informed them that his proclamation had called them together for the purpose of transacting the business which should have been done at the regular session, relating chiefly to the adjustment of the expenses of the Cayuse war, which it was expected the United States government would assume; and also to act upon the amendments to the organic law concerning the oath of office, the prohibition of the sale and manufacture of ardent spirits, and to make the clerks of the several counties recorders of land claims, which amendments had been sanctioned by the vote of the people at the regular election. Information had been received, he said, that the officers necessary to establish and carry on the territorial government, for which they had so long hoped, were on their way and would soon arrive;[1] and he plainly indicated that he expected the matters pointed out to be settled in a certain way, before the new government should be established, confirming the acts of the retiring organization.[2]
The laws passed relating to the Cayuse war were an act to provide for the pay of the commissioned offi-
- ↑ This information seems to have been brought to Oregon in January 1849, by O. C. Pratt, one of the associate judges, who happened to be in California, whither he had gone in pursuit of health. His commission met him at Monterey about the last of Nov., and in Dec. he left for Oregon on the bark Undine which after a long voyage, and being carried into Shoalwater Bay, finally got into the Columbia in Jan. Salem Or. Statesman, Aug. 7, 1852; Or. Spectator, Jan. 25, 1849.
- ↑ He submitted the report of the adjutant-general, by which it appeared that the amount due to privates and non-commissioned officers was $109,311.50, besides the pay of the officers and those persons employed in the different departments. He recommended that a law should be passed authorizing scrip to be issued for that amount, redeemable at an early date, and bearing interest until paid. The belief that the general government would become responsible would, he said, make the scrip salable, and enable the holders to whom it should be issued to realize something immediately for their services. Grover's Or. Archives, 273. This was the beginning of speculation in Oregon war scrip. As to the report of the commissary and quartermaster-general, the governor left that for the legislature to examine into, and the accounts so far as presented in these departments amounted to something like $57,000, making the cost of the war without the salaries of the commissioned officers over $166,000. This was subsequently much reduced by a commission, as I shall show in the proper place.
