48 Marie Merriman Bradley. That first day nothing more was done than to nominate candidates for governor, supreme judge, with probate powers, three justices of the peace, three constables, three road com- missioners, an attorney-general, clerk of the court, public recorder, treasurer, and two overseers of the poor.^^ The second day was attended by both French and Ameri- cans, and there was less sectional feeling. The Americans attempted to propitiate and secure the co-operation of the Canadians, for it would be difficult to organize without them. At that meeting, February 18, 1841, a missionary was called to the chair, and two secretaries, one from each side, were appointed.^^ A committee was named to draft a provisional government. Of this committee, one was a Catholic priest, three were Methodist preachers, three were French Cana- dians, and two were American settlers. But one of their number had any knowledge of law or the manner in which legal meetings should be conducted. They decided to defer the election of a governor to a later session, owing to the jealousy of the several missionary aspirants, and the opposition of the settlers to a government by the mis- sionary party.^^ A supreme judge was appointed, with pro- bate powers, and instructed to act according to the laws of New York State until a provisional government should be adopted.^^ After appointing a clerk of the courts, a public recorder, high sheriff and two constables, they adjourned to meet June 7. At the adjourned meeting it was found that nothing had been done, no code had been drafted; jealousy and strife had begun to show itself. British interest versus American; Catholic versus Protestant. The Catholic priest asked to be excused from the commis- sion; an American settler was chosen in his place. ^'^ The 12 Grover, Oregon Archives, p. 5. 13 Ibid, p. 6. 14 Brown, J. H., Political History of Oregon, Vol. I, p. 84. 15 Grover, Oregon Archives, p. 6. 16 Brown, J. H., Political History of Oregon, Vol. I, p. 84. 17 Grover, Oregon Archives, p. 7.
