Company people north of the Columbia from participation in the benefits of the organization.[1] This act "striking off parts of counties lying north of the Columbia River" was, however, susceptible of another interpretation. Some insisted that it abandoned the country north of the Columbia to the British Government. Any such admission, even by implication, would not do. So the Legislature in December passed an explanatory act defining the scope of Oregon as lying between latitudes 42 deg. and 54 deg. 40 min. north and extending from the Rocky Mountains to the sea.[2]
A more conciliatory spirit prevailed in the Legislature of 1845. The oath of allegiance was so changed as to recognize a superior allegiance to Great Britain or to the United States,[3] and a committee of the Legislature made overtures to the officials of the Fur Company. The question of their becoming "parties to the articles of compact" turned on the payment of taxes by them, and in other respects complying with the laws of the Provisional Government. This was put to them by this committee during the August session of 1845. The response was in the affirmative, provided they were called upon to pay taxes only on their sales to settlers.[4] Thus the Provisional Government became an imperium in the inclusiveness of its jurisdiction if not in the scope of its powers.
The Oregon region was divided into four districts—a term used at first instead of county. Two of these districts lay on the west side of the Willamette so far as defined, and two on the east side. The boundary line between the north and the south sets ran some fifteen miles south of Oregon City, situated at the falls of the Willamette.[5] This was the most considerable town during this period and remained the capital. The census taken in 1845 gave the population south
