Political Beginnings in Oregon. 47 petitioned, but with no result. ^ As early as 1838 the Metho- dist missions furnished a magistrate and constable, who dis- pensed justice according to frontier ideals.^ Their authority, of course, was only over American citizens; they did not understand dealing with Indians, and often conflicted with the company officers. The great missionary reinforcement of 1840 made it evident that some form of government was necessary. <r7> Matters were brought to a crisis during the mnter of 1840-41. Ewing Young came from California to the Willamette and died there. He left a property, large for pioneer dnys, but no will, and no known heirs. ^ The question arose, how was the property to be disposed of? A committee on arrangements was chosen at Young's fun- eral, and a mass meeting was held at the Methodist Mission, February 17, 1841.^ The meeting was composed largely of members of the mission. Ministers were chosen for the offices of president and secretary.^^ A resolution was passed to draft a code of laws for the government of the settlement south of the Columbia and to admit to the protection of these laws, all settlers north of the Columbia, not connected with the fur company. 11 5 J. K, Kelly in Proceedings of Oregon Pioneer Association, 1882, pp. 11-12. 6 Bancroft, History of Oregon, Vol. I, p. 292. 7 Lang, H. O., History of Willamette Valley, pp. 233 and 237. 8 Brown, J. H., Political History of Oregon, Vol. I, p. 83. 9 Bancroft, History of Oregon, Vol. I, p. 293. 10 Grover, Oregon Archives, p. 5. 11 From the transfer of Astoria in 1813, down to 1840, the British were superior. There were three classes of Americans: (1) The American trapper who was hostile to the Hudson's Bay Company. (2) The American missionary, attached to the American interests. (3) The American settler, who had come to make a home. In 1842 the whole American population numbered 137, of which 34 were white women, 32 white children, and 71 white men. Lang, H. O., History of the Willamette Valley, p. 232. Grover, Oregon Archives, p. 5.
