LAST STEP IN PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT 325
in the form of the oath by which the officials elected in June were inducted into office. The oath declared an obligation "to support the organic laws of the provisional government of Ore- gon, so far as they are consistent with duties as a citizen of the United States or a subject of Great Britain." This oath was later formally incorporated into the new constitution adopted by the people in July, 1845, and thus deprived the Provisional Government of its former national character. In its original form such provisional government had seemed to be estab- lished only until such time as the United States might formally assume jurisdiction over the Oregon territory and conceded nothing to the sentiments of citizens of other countries. The changed form of the oath made it possible for the Hudson's Bay officials and other British citizens to loyally support the new organization. The reorganization of the provisional gov- ernment on a more carefully worked out constitutional plan and the incorporation into the body of the constitution of a land law that had none of the features objectionable to McLoughlin or the Company as contained in the first measure enacted in 1843, paved the way for an offer of union. A better organ- ized government, with executive, legislative, and judicial de- partments carefully differentiated and the functions of each fully prescribed in a written constitution that had received approval of a large majority of the settlers at an election especially held for the purpose, seemed more stable and to offer better guarantees of stability and strength to enforce its decrees than the more loosely constructed government estab- lished in 1843. The newly established constitution may for this reason be considered as a third step in the direction of union. Afterwards came overtures of Jesse Applegate by means of private interviews and letter asking if "company will be willing to become parties to articles of compact by paying taxes." A visit of McLoughlin to Oregon City con- vinced him of the sincerity of the desire of the better part of the American element to secure the incorporation of the Company in the provisional government. A formal invita-
