Provisional Government of Oregon

Provisional Government of Oregon
Part of the United States (1846–1849)
1843–1849


Salmon Seal of the Provisional Government

Original districts of the government with the eventual U.S. borders and states
Capital Oregon City
Languages English,
French
Government Republic
Executive
 •  1843–1845 Executive Committee
 • 1845–1849 Governor Abernethy
Legislature Single chamber
History
 •  Champoeg Meetings May 2, 1843
 •  United States Territorial Government arrives March 3, 1849
Currency Beaver skins,[1]
Wheat,[2]
U.S. dollar,
Mexican peso,[1]
Peruvian real,[1]
Preceded by 		Succeeded by
Oregon Country
Oregon Territory

The Provisional Government of Oregon was a popularly elected settler government created in the Oregon Country, in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. It existed from May 2, 1843 until March 3, 1849, and provided a legal system and a common defense amongst the mostly American pioneers settling an area then inhabited only by the many Indigenous Nations. Much of the region's geography and many of the Natives were not known by people of European descent until several exploratory tours were authorized at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. The Organic Laws of Oregon were adopted in 1843 with its preamble stating that settlers only agreed to the laws "until such time as the United States of America extend their jurisdiction over us."[3] According to a message from the government in 1844, the rising settler population was beginning to flourish among the "savages", who were "the chief obstruction to the entrance of civilization" in a land of "ignorance and idolatry."[3]

The government had three branches that included a legislature, judiciary, and executive branch. The executive branch was first the Executive Committee, consisting of three members, in effect from 1843 to 1845; in 1845, a single governor position was created. The judicial branch had a single supreme judge along with several lower courts, and a legislative committee of nine served as a legislature until 1845 when the Oregon House of Representatives was established.

Background

Main article: Champoeg Meetings

A series frontiersmen assemblies were held over several years across the Willamette Valley, with many on the French Prairie at Champoeg. The death of prominent settler Ewing Young on 9 February 1841, who left neither a will or had an heir in Oregon Country, left the future of his property uncertain.[4] Jason Lee chaired the first meeting organised to discuss the matter on the 17th. He proposed the creation of an authority over the pioneers centered on a governor.[5] French-Canadian settlers blocked the measure and instead a probate judge and a few other positions were appointed.[6]

Further attempts of a pioneer government floundered until the numbers of American increased from travel over the Oregon Trail.[4] Initiated by William Gray, the "Wolf Meetings" of early 1843 created a bounty system on predators of settler livestock.[6] Further discussions began among the settlers until a gathering was held at Champoeg on May 2, with under 150 Americans and French-Canadians participating.[7] The proposal for forming a provisional government was tabled and voted on twice.[4] The first vote rejected the presented report due to the inclusion of a governor, with a second vote on each individual item proposed.[8] On 5 July 1843 the Organic Laws of Oregon, modeled after Iowa's Organic Law and the Ordinance of 1787, were adopted by white colonists of the Willamette Valley, establishing the Provisional Government of Oregon.[6]

The government was, according to pioneers Overton Johnson and William H. Winter, intended from the start as an interim entity, until "whenever [the United States] extends her jurisdiction over the Territory."[9] (Johnson would go on to serve as Recorder for the provisional government for a few months in 1844.)

Structure

The Organic Laws were drafted by a legislative committee on May 16, 1843 and June 28, 1843, before being adopted on July 5.[10] Although not a formal constitution, the document outlined the laws of the government.[10] Two years later, on July 2, 1845, a new set of Organic Laws was drafted to revise and clarify the previous version; this newer version was adopted by a majority vote of the people on July 26, 1845.[10] This constitution-like document divided the government into three departments: a judiciary branch, an executive branch, and a legislature.[10] The definition of the executive branch had previously been modified, in late 1844, from a three-person committee to a single governor; this change took effect in 1845.[4]

When appealing for military aid from the American Government in the aftermath of the Whitman massacre, the settlers detailed the structural weaknesses of the Provisional Government:

The very nature of our compact formed between the citizens of a republic and the subjects and official representatives of a monarchy, is such that the ties of political union could not be drawn so closely as to produce that stability and strength sufficient to form an efficient government. This union between democrats of a republic and wealthy aristocratic subjects of a monarchy could not be formed without reserving to themselves the right of allegiance to their respective governments. Political jealousy and strong party feeling have tended to thwart and render impotent the acts of a government, from its very nature weak and insufficient.[11]

Executive branch

George Abernethy

With the first set of laws, the people created a three-person Executive Committee to act as an executive.[6] The Second Executive Committee was elected on May 14, 1844, and served until June 12, 1845.[4] A December 1844 amendment of the Organic Laws eliminated the Executive Committee in favor of a single governor, taking effect in June 1845.[4] At that time George Abernethy was elected as the first governor.[3] Abernethy would be the only governor under the Provisional Government. He was reelected in 1847, and served until 1849.[10]

Legislative branch

The Provisional Legislature held session mainly in Oregon City.[12] They met at different times each year, and in 1848 they did not meet; too many members had left for the California gold fields.[13] The legislature enacted various laws, sent memorials to Congress, incorporated towns and organizations, and granted divorces and licenses to run ferries.[3][12][13] After the establishment of the Oregon Territory, the legislature was replaced with the two house Oregon Territorial Legislature.

Judicial branch

James W. Nesmith

The Provisional Government also included a judiciary. The forerunner of the Oregon Supreme Court consisted of a single supreme judge and two justices of the peace.[14] The supreme judge was elected by the people, but the legislature could select someone as presiding judge as a replacement if needed.[15] This supreme court had original and appellate jurisdiction over legal matters, whereas the lower probate court and justice courts that were also created could only hear original jurisdictional matters when the amount in controversy was less than $50 and did not involve land disputes.[14] Some judges under the Provisional Government were Nathaniel Ford, Peter H. Burnett, Osborne Russell, Ira L. Babcock, and future United States Senator James W. Nesmith.[15]

Districts

During its existence the Provisional Government's authority was restricted to the pioneer settlements, generally located in or around the Willamette Valley.[3][7][16] The entire Oregon Country was decreed to be covered by four administrative divisions.[6] Initially created on 5 July 1843 were the Twality, Yamhill, Clackamas and Champooick (later Champoeg) districts.[6] Yamhill district claimed the lands west of the Willamette River and a line extending from its course, and south of the Yamhill River.[6] Champooick District was adjacent to the east, its northern border the confluence of the Pudding and Molalla Rivers.[6] Twality District was directly north of Yamhill District, its eastern border extending from the mouth of the Willamette River.[6] Clackamas District was to contain "all the territory" that wasn't decreed a part of the other three districts, located east of Twality District and north of Champooick District.[6] The extent of land claimed north was vague, being "south of the northern boundary of the United States".[6] Despite this the government was defined to extend over all the lands east to the Rocky Mountains and north of the Mexican territory of Alta California.[6][16]

Throughout 1843 and 1844, no attempts were made at controlling lands north of the Columbia River, then under the influence of the Hudson's Bay Company through Fort Vancouver.[17][18] In June 1844 the Columbia River was declared as the northern border of the Provisional Government, but by December the most expansive American claim in the Oregon boundary dispute of Parallel 54°40′ north was adopted.[19] On December 22, 1845 districts were renamed to counties.[10] Additional districts were created over time from the original four, including the Clatsop, Vancouver, Linn, Clark, Polk, Benton counties.[6][19]

Other

Other government positions included Recorder, Treasurer, Attorney, and Sheriff.[3] The recorder position would later become the position of Secretary of State.

Laws

Main settlements in the area.

Over the course of nearly six years under the provisional government, the settlers passed numerous laws. One law allowed people to claim 640 acres (2.6 km2) if they improved the land, which would be solidified later by Congress’ adoption of the Donation Land Claim Act.[12] Another law allowed the government to organize a militia and call them out by order of the Executive or Legislature.[3] Under the first Organic Laws of 1843 inhabitants were guaranteed due process of law and a right to a trial by jury.[6] Some other rights established were: no cruel and unusual punishment, no unreasonable bails for defendants, and no takings of property without compensation.[6]

In 1844 the legislature decreed that African Americans could not reside in the Oregon Country, only David Hill and Asa Lovejoy voting against the bill.[4][6] The punishment for any freemen was to be administered every six months of their residency being "not less than twenty nor more than thirty-nine stripes".[3] The law was never actually enforced and was struck down in July 1845. However, in 1849 the legislature passed a new law once again prohibiting African Americans in the territory, but differed from the original 1844 law in that it applied to African Americans entering after it was passed, and it used different means to enforce it.[20][21] Despite facing legal discrimination that denied them suffrage and threatened violence, black pioneers remained in Oregon. While the USS Shark was in the region in 1846, its commanding officer estimated there were around 30 black settlers.[22]

In 1844, the legislature passed a law banning the sale of ardent spirits, out of concern that the Native Americans would become hostile if intoxicated.

Finances

Prior to the creation of the Provisional Government, the economic activities by in the Oregon European descendants Country were focused on the fur trade. A system called "wheat credit" was established in the 1830s for French-Canadian settlers on the French Prairie.[23] The farmers would take their harvests to a granary in Champoeg, where a receipt for its market value was given,[23] valid for use at HBC stores.[24] Another item used for transactions by French-Canadian and later American pioneers were beaver skins.[1]

The first Organic Laws only authorised voluntary donations, a measure deemed a "utopian scheme" and provided scant funds.[25] A tax on real estate and personal property was created in 1844,[10] that covered a third of that year's expenses.[7] The next year the property tax was doubled to .0025% and a 50¢ poll tax was levied as well, with failure to pay resulting in disenfranchisement.[10] Sheriffs acted as tax collectors,[19] but their position was made difficult due to the poverty or unwillingness of many colonists to pay what was owed.[10] Taxes were paid in wheat and gathered at appointed locations for the district, largely HBC warehouses.[19]

A small amount of silver coins from Peru and Mexico freely circulated as legal tender.[1] Minor financial agreements were completed in lieu of currency with assorted agricultural products, such as "wheat, hides, tallow, beef, pork, butter, lard, peas, lumber and other articles of export of the territory."[2] One pioneer recalled the lack of currency, receiving at most 25¢ in transactions between 1844 and 1848.[26] To overcome the lack of circulating coins, Abernethy gathered scraps of flint left over from arrowhead production by local indigenous.[27] After attaching scraps of paper to them, the amount owed by Abernethy was written on one and given to customers, transferable for other supplies at his store.[27] Coins remained a prized item by settlers for example, during a sale of lots in Oregon City a property manager offered a discount of 50% if paid in specie.[28]

A traveler who visited Oregon before the arrival of American merchants reported that HBC stores sold goods at rates lower than in the United States.[29] As merchants from the United States became established in the region, they chaffed under the economic hegemony of the HBC. The vendors pressed for the HBC to charge more for sales to pioneers, which the company did for two years, only for American customers.[30] Joel Palmer reported that without the British company "the prices would be double what they are now."[30]

The small American merchant class and officers of the HBC loaned settlers more credit than most could refund.[31] Fears of creditors demanding restitution from the farmers lead to wheat receipts and scrips issued by the government declared valid currency in 1845.[31][32][33] The law decreeing wheat as currency was ridiculed for not establishing financial standards for the merchants, who were de facto bankers.[34] Between 1847 and 1848 the local market for wheat became flooded from overproduction, causing a decline in its value.[23] The legislature repealed previous regulations on 20 December 1847, making only gold, silver and treasury drafts on valid currency.[19] Thus, the creditors of the territory were able to protect their financial standing by removing wheat as tender.[23]

Around $8,000 from the poll and property taxes were collected over the course of the government, far short of the expenses amounting to $23,000.[10]

California

See also: Beaver Coins

After the Conquest of California during the ongoing Mexican-American War, American settlers began to move to the newly seized land. This created a demand for Oregonian wheat, proceeds from the sale barrels of flour amounted to $10 per keg in 1847.[35] The start of the Gold Rush caused an immense rise in demand for various products in Californian markets. Economic transactions with the pioneer settlements of Oregon increased greatly, with the number of visiting vessels in 1849 was triple that of the previous eight years.[23] Between 1848 and 1851 Oregon lumber and wheat sent to the new markets fetched rates two to three times higher than in 1847.[23] Significant amounts of gold dust began to circulate in the Willamette Valley, though impurities were common.[3] The Oregon Exchange Company was authorized by the legislature to begin producing Beaver Coins in early 1849,[36] though production began on 10 March, a week after the dissolution of the Provisional Government.[2]

Settlement with the Hudson's Bay Company

The mounting debts of the government, though it could "scarcely hope" to force the HBC company posts to adhere to its authority, made establishing an agreement with the HBC a priority.[18] An employee of the Company, Francis Ermatinger, was elected to the position of Treasurer in July after carrying the French-Canadian vote.[3] In August Applegate inquired to Chief Factor John McLoughlin if the HBC would pay taxes and join the Provisional Government.[37] At the same time a member of the legislature, David Hill, tabled a bill on 15 August that would deny any HBC employees citizenship or suffrage.[6] The measure failed to pass, but demonstrated the feelings of the "Ultra-Americans" towards the Company.[37]

While Applegate and McLoughlin held a conference, plans for the administration of the territory above the Columbia River, to be named Vancouver, were begun.[37] The Chief Factor found the Provisional Government a satisfactory way to pursue the debts owed to the HBC by settlers, and protect company property against claim jumpers.[37] Additionally he felt if the government were to openly declare independence from outside powers he could "be elected head were I to retire among them."[18] The negotiations ended with the condition that only sales with settlers would be taxed.[37] Taxes paid to the Provisional Government by the HBC and the Puget Sound Agricultural Company amounted to $226 that year.[37] Several more employees of the HBC were then included in the government. Chief Trader James Douglas was appointed as a justice for Vancouver after the signing of the agreement and in 1846 he and fellow employee Henry Peers were elected to the legislature.[1][18] If there were any sessions of the Vancouver court, none of the records or correspondence remain.[1] Claims were filed by British subjects covering the HBC forts of Vancouver, Cowlitz, and Nisqually.[37] Vancouver in particular was covered by 18 claims.[22]

British reaction to the agreement was generally negative. It was seen as unneeded by William Peel, son of Prime Minister Peel, who arrived with small flotilla several days after its signing.[38] Mervin Vavasour was in the Oregon Country gathering intelligence about the defensive capabilities of the HBC posts and voiced the minority view that the compact was to the benefit of "peace and prosperity of the community at large."[39]

Militia

Main article: Oregon Rangers

The organic laws laid out plans for a militia of a battalion of mounted riflemen commanded by an officer with the rank of major, with annual inspections.[6] Every male settler between 16 and 60 who wanted to be "considered a citizen" had to be a part of the military, failure to do so would incur fines.[6] (This remains so under modern Oregon law, though now both sexes are included, and the age range is only 18 to 45.)[40] Under the first Organic Laws, power to call out the militia was vested in the Executive Committee, though any officer of the militia could also call them out in times of insurrection or invasion.[6]

Cayuse War

Main article: Cayuse War

In December 1847, after learning of the Whitman Massacre from HBC Chief Factor James Douglas, Governor Abernethy and the legislature met to discuss the situation.[12] Major Henry A. G. Lee was placed in charge of a company called the Oregon Rifles on December 8 and was ordered to The Dalles. At that location the force established Fort Lee on December 21.[10][41] An additional force of 500 men were to meet in Oregon City by December 25.[12] This group prosecuted the war east of the Cascades under the command of Cornelius Gilliam.[4]

The war continued until five Cayuse emissaries, which according to Archbishop François Norbert Blanchet, were sent to "have a talk with the whites and explain all about the murderers, ten in number, who were no more, and had been killed by the whites, the Cayuses and were all dead."[42] However, the Cayuse party was imprisoned and transported to Oregon City. When the group was asked why they offered themselves to the militia, Tiloukaikt stated "Did not your missionaries teach us that Christ died to save his people? So die we to save our people."[7] At a military court Tiloukait and the four other Cayuses, Tomahas, Klokamas, Isaiachalkis, and Kimasumpkinhese, were found guilty and hanged on June 3, 1850, at Oregon City.[4]

Subsequent history

Signed on June 15, 1846, the Oregon Treaty ended the dispute between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the United States, by dividing the Oregon Country at the 49th parallel.[7] This extended U.S. sovereignty over the region, but effective control would not occur until government officials arrived from the United States. Two years later, on August 14, 1848, the United States Congress created the Oregon Territory; this territory included today's states of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, and parts of Montana and Wyoming.[7] Appointed Governor of the Oregon Territory by President Polk, Joseph Lane arrived at Oregon City on 2 March 1849.[12]

Governor Lane kept the legal code of the dissolved the provisional government, only immediately repealing the law authorizing the minting of the Beaver Coins, as this was incompatible with the United States Constitution (Article I, Section 8).[7] The creation of the Washington Territory in 1854 removed the northern half of the Oregon Territory.[43] Established on 14 February 1859, the state of Oregon was composed roughly the western half the territory, the remaining eastern section being added to the Washington Territory.[43]

See also

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Scott, Leslie M. "Pioneer Gold Money, 1849." Oregon Historical Quarterly 33, No. 1 (1932), pp. 25-30
  2. 1 2 3 Strevey, T. Elmer. "The Oregon Mint." The Washington Historical Quarterly 15, No. 4 (1924), pp. 276-284
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Brown, J. Henry (1892). Brown's Political History of Oregon: Provisional Government. Portland: Wiley B. Allen. LCCN rc01000356. OCLC 422191413.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Horner, John B. Oregon: Her History, Her Great Men, Her Literature. Portland: The J.K. Gill Co. 1919
  5. ↑ Grover, La Fayette, The Oregon Archives, Salem: A. Bush, 1853
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 The Organic Act in Grover, Lafayette. The Oregon Archives. Salem: A. Bush. 1853, pp. 26-35
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Bancroft, Hubert and Frances Fuller Victor. History of Oregon. Vol. 1. San Francisco: History Co., 1890.
  8. ↑ Loewenberg, Robert J. "Creating a Provisional Government in Oregon: A Revision." The Pacific Northwest Quarterly 68, No. 1 (1977), pp. 20-22
  9. ↑ Johnson, Overton; Winter, William H. (1846). Route across the Rocky Mountains with a Description of Oregon and California. as reproduced in the Oregon Historical Quarterly, 1906.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Corning, Howard M. Dictionary of Oregon History. Binfords & Mort Publishing, 1956.
  11. ↑ Memorial of Legislative Assembly of Oregon Territory relative to their present situation and wants. in Miscellaneous Documents Printed by Order of the House of Representatives, during the First Session of the Thirtieth Congress... Vol. 1. Washington: Tippin & Streeper, 1848. p. 5.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Clarke, S. A. Pioneer Days of Oregon History, Volume 2. Portland, OR: J.K. Gill Co. 1905
  13. 1 2 "Beginnings of Self-Government". The End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. Archived from the original on 2007-02-10. Retrieved 2007-03-14.
  14. 1 2 Gray, William H. A History of Oregon, 1792-1849, Drawn from personal observation and authentic information. Harris & Holman: Portland, OR. 1870.
  15. 1 2 "Oregon Supreme Court Justices". Oregon Blue Book. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved 2007-03-16.
  16. 1 2 Clark, Robert C. "How British and American Subjects Unite in a Common Government for Oregon Territory in 1844." The Quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society 13, No. 2 (1912), pp. 140-159
  17. ↑ Holman, Frederick V. "A brief history of the Oregon Provisional Government and what caused its formation." The Quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society 13, No. 2 (1912) pp. 89-139
  18. 1 2 3 4 Clark, Robert C. "Last Step in Provisional Government." The Quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society 16, No. 4 (1915), pp. 313-329
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 Oregon Territorial Government. Laws of a General and Local Nature passed by the Legislative Committee and Legislative Assembly. Salem, OR: Asahel Bush. 1853.
  20. ↑ Mcclintock, Thomas C. (1995-01-01). "James Saules, Peter Burnett, and the Oregon Black Exclusion Law of June 1844". The Pacific Northwest Quarterly. 86 (3): 121–130. doi:10.2307/40491550. JSTOR 40491550.
  21. ↑ Mcclintock, Thomas C. "James Saules, Peter Burnett, and the Oregon Black Exclusion Law of June 1844." The Pacific Northwest Quarterly 86, No. 3 (1995), pp. 121-130
  22. 1 2 Neil M. Howison. Oregon: Report of Lieut. Neil M. Howison, United States Navy, to the Commander of the Pacific Squadron Washington D.C.: Tippin & Streppen. 1848
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Gilbert, James Henry. Trade and Currency in Early Oregon. New York City: MacMillan Co. 1907
  24. ↑ Lyman, H. S. Reminiscences of F. X. Matthieu. Quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society 1, No. 1 (1900), p. 102
  25. ↑ Shippee, Lester B. "The Federal Relations of Oregon—VII." The Quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society 20, No. 4 (1919), pp. 345-395
  26. ↑ Oregon Pioneer Association. Transactions of the Twenty-Third Annual Reunion. Portland: George H. Himes and Co. 1895, p. 109
  27. 1 2 Oregon Native Son and Historical Magazine Vol. 1. Portland: Native Son Publishing Co. 1899, p. 90
  28. ↑ The Oregon Spectator (Oregon City), "Farm for sale", 21 January 1847, p. 3
  29. ↑ Sage, Rufus B. Scenes in the Rocky Mountains. Philadelphia: Carey & Hart. 1846, p. 223
  30. 1 2 Palmer, Joel and Reuben Gold Thwaites. Palmer's Journal of Travels over the Rocky Mountains, 1845-1846. Cleveland: Arthur H. Clark Co. 1906, pp. 217-218
  31. 1 2 The Oregon Spectator (Oregon City), "The Currency, 14 May 1846, p. 2
  32. ↑ Oregon Acts and Laws New York City: N. A. Phemister Co.
  33. ↑ Gray, William H. A History of Oregon, 1972-1849. Portland: Harris & Holman. 1870, p. 437
  34. ↑ The Oregon Spectator (Oregon City), "Repeal the Currency Law", 25 November 1847, p. 2
  35. ↑ The Oregon Spectator (Oregon City),Letter from C. E. Picket of California...", 10 June 1847, p. 2
  36. ↑ Carey, Charles H. History of Oregon. Portland: Pioneer Historical Publishing Co. 1922. p. 407
  37. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Judson, Katharine B. "Dr. John McLoughlin's Last Letter to the Hudson's Bay Company, as Chief Factor, in charge at Fort Vancouver, 1845." The American Historical Review 21, No. 1 (1915), pp. 104-134
  38. ↑ Scott, Leslie M. "Report of Lieutenant Peel on Oregon in 1845-46." Oregon Historical Quarterly 29, No. 1 (1928), pp. 51-76
  39. ↑ Schafer, Joseph. "Documents Relative to Warre and Vavasour's Military Reconnoissance in Oregon, 1845-6." The Quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society 10, No. 1 (1909), pp. 1-99
  40. ↑ Oregon Revised Statutes 10§396. Published by the Legislative Counsel Committee of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. 2005. Retrieved on July 20, 2007.
  41. ↑ Fagan, David D. 1885. History of Benton County, Oregon: including its geology, topography, ... Oregon: D.D. Fagan.
  42. ↑ Blanchet, François N. Historical Sketches of the Catholic Church in Oregon. Portland: 1878. pp. 182-184
  43. 1 2 Evans, Elwood. Washington Territory: Her Past, Her Present, and the Elements of Wealth which Ensure Her Future. Olympia, WA: C.B. Bagley. 1877. pp. 15-17

Further reading

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