Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/202

192 PETER H. BURNETT. forcing the late comers either to go farther for locations, or purchase these claims of his children. Besides, this act did not require the locater to make his improvements with the bmm fide intention of occupying and holding the claim for himself, but only required the improvements to be made; thus allowing claims to be made for speculative purposes. But one of the most objectionable provisions of the land law of 1843 was the proviso allowing each mission six miles square, or 36 sections of land. From what Mr. Gray says, page 344, it appears that this proviso was adopted to gain the support of those connected with the Methodist and Cath- olic missions; as, without such support, it was feared the attempt to establish a government at that time would fail. The committee of 1843, in their short experience, learned one great truth; that civil government is a practical science; and that, while a true statesman can adapt his legislation to ex- isting circumstances, he can not create or control them; and for that reason he is often compelled to choose between evils, and to support measures that his individual judgment will not approve. Our legislative committee of 1844 were pi .-iced in more independent circumstances; and, having no fear of the mission influence, we repealed this proviso. THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE OF 1844 MISTAKES OP W. II. GRAY. On page 383 Mr. Gray, speaking of the legislative com- mittee of 1844, says: "In fact, the whole proceedings seemed only to mix up and confuse the people; so much so that some doubted the ex- istence of any legal authority in the country, and the lending men of the immigration of 1843 denounced the organization as a missionary arrangement to secure the most valuable farming lands in the country." The writer is correct as to the fact of confusion and oppo- sition among the people, but most sadly mistaken as to Ilic true cause. It was not the measures passed by the legisla- tive committee of 1844. but the laws of 1843 that caused the confusion and opposition. It is very true that many of "the