4S6 AMENDMENT OF THE ORGANIC LAWS.

to have some resolutions attached, reclaimed the documents from him, 30 during which time McCarver clandestinely added his name as speaker of the house to the objectionable organic law.

White had no sooner started on his long-deferred journey than Barton Lee offered a resolution expos- ing the secret action of McCarver, disapproving it, and declaring that the house was under the humili- ating necessity of signifying its displeasure to the United States government by causing the resolution to accompany the other documents. The discussion occasioned by this discovery and the explanation of McCarver ended in the house passing another resolu- tion to despatch a messenger to Vancouver to bring back the documents in order to have McCarver's sig- nature properly attested, and a second one that the speaker, having signed certain documents from a mis- taken sense of duty, and not from contumacy or con- tempt, should be required to follow White to Van- couver and erase his name from the organic law and from two resolutions in favor of White. From this requirement he was, however, excused. While reso- lutions were in order, Applegate offered one declaring that it was not the intention of the house, in passing the above-named resolves, to recommend White to the United States government as a suitable person to fill any office in Oregon ; with another that an attested copy should be forwarded to Washington. Mean- while, the messenger who had been despatched to bring back the memorial and organic law had over- taken White's party and presented the order of the house. But unwilling to risk any changes being

30 The resolutions were to the effect that the adoption of the organic law by the people of Oregon was an act of necessity rather than choice, intended to give them the protection which their government should have extended to them, and not an act of defiance or disregard of the laws of the Unite I States; and that in establishing a territorial government, congress should legalize their acts so far as they Mere in accordance with the constitution ot the United States. Also that White be requested to furnish a copy ot the organic law to congress, said copy being indorsed with the above resolutions. G rover s Or. Archives^ 10G.