OREGON EMIGRATING COMPANIES 215
sounds.) Forward! March! Close order!'" 41 This did not solve the problem, however, for before reaching the mountains this company disintegrated. A compromise had to be effected between "virtue, refinement and female presence," on the one hand, and the pseudo-militarism of the Peorians, on the other. The problem was faced squarely in the constitution of the Savannah Oregon Emigrating Company, already frequently cited. Two forms of government were here provided for, a civil and a military. At the head of the former was a presi- dent, of the latter, a commandant-captain with a series of subordinate officials. The president was elected on the adop- tion of the constitution of the company and continued in office until the emigrants had reached their rendezvous, when his authority expired. It was then that the commandant-captain was elected, who continued in supreme command until they reached their destination. 42 His military authority was ade- quately counterbalanced, however, by an elective executive- judicial council and by the legislative power reserved by the company itself. A dual government of a somewhat similar nature was provided for in the "Constitution of the Oregon Emigration Society of Iowa Territory, at Iowa City." The civil government of this company was vested in a President, two Vice-Presidents, four Trustees, and twelve Councilmen, elected annually by the male members of the society. The President or Vice-Presidents presided at all meetings of the society and at all meetings of the Trustees and Councilmen, and also, when on the march, at all meetings of the Trustees and Council with the military officers of the company. With the consent of the Trustees and Council the President ap- pointed minor civil officers and, like the Vice-Presidents, Trustees, Council and other civil officers, enjoyed exemption from military service. The Trustees and Council made and published "all such by-laws, rules and regulations for the government of the society as in their opinion .... would be
41 Shortess, First Emigrants to Oregon, O. P. A. Transactions, 1896, p. 94. One of the companies of 1845 practiced military drill before starting. Stephen Staats, Address, O. P. A. Transactions, 1877, p. 47.
42 Constitution, Savannah Oregon Emigrating Company, 6, 7, 10.
