Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 9.djvu/61

Political Beginnings in Oregon. 49 committee was instructed to report the first Thursday in October, and in the meantime to confer with the commander of the U. S. exploring expedition and with Dr. John Mc- Loughlin. Resolutions were adopted to rescind the nomina- tions of previous meetings to instruct the committee on constitution to take into consideration the number and kind of officers necessary to create in accordance with the consti- tution and code; the report of the nominating committee to be referred to the legislative committee.^^ They then ad- journed to the October meeting.^o The withdrawal of the Catholic priest was intended to in- dicate that the Canadians would have no part in the organ- ization of the government, hence the rescinding of the nomi- nations including their names. Many of the citizens were opposed to any nomination so long as things were peaceful, Wilkes, the commander of the American squadron on the Coast, counselled a moral code rather than a civil one. Baffled at every turn, but believing that the United States would soon extend jurisdiction over them, the missionary party consented to drop the political scheme for the present. There was no more agitation that year.^i The arrival of White in 1842, with a commission as sub- Indian agent, started afresh the advocates of legislation. The idea of White as a civil head was intolerable. His recogni- tion by the United States Government was a point in his favor, and the missionary party used all their influence to snub his pretentions, and confine his activities to the man- agement of Indian affairs. A debating society was organized at Oregon City to agitate the question of a civil organization. Overtures were again made to the Canadians. They professed a cordial sentiment toward the Americans, but would not join in the movement. Their co-operation was necessary, and some means must be 18 Ibid. 19 Grover, Oregon Archives, p. 7. 20 Bancroft, History of Oregon, Vol. I, p. 344. 21 Lang, History of the Willamette Valley, p. 245.