meeting might impose an ad valorem tax on all taxa ble property in the district for the erection of school houses, and to defray the incidental expenses of the districts, and for the support of teachers. All chil dren between the ages of four and twenty-one years were entitled to the benefits of public education. 24

It is unnecessary to the purposes of thjs history to follow the legislature of the first territorial assembly further. No money having been received 25 for the payment of the legislators or the printing of the laws, the legislators magnanimously waived their right to take the remaining thirty days allowed them, and thus left some work for the next assembly to do. 2(

On the 21st of September the assembly was noti fied, by a special message from the governor, of the death of ex-President James K. Polk, the friend of Oregon, and the revered of the western democracy. As a personal friend of Lane, also, his death created a profound sensation. The legislature after draping both houses in mourning adjourned for a week. Pub lic obsequies were celebrated, and Lane delivered a highly eulogistic address. Perhaps the admirers of Polk s administration and political principles were all the more earnest to do him honor that his successor

24 Says Buck in his Enterprises, MS., 11-12: They had to make the first beginning in schools in Oregon City, and got up the present school law at the first session in 1849. It was drawn mostly after the Ohio law, and subsequently amended. F. C. Beatty taught the first (common) school at Oregon City in 1850. Besides chartering the Tualatin Academy and Pacific University, a charter was granted to the Clackamas County Female Seminary, with G-. Abernethy, A. L. Lovejoy, James Taylor, Hiram Clark, G. H. Atkinson, Hezekiah Johnson, and Wilson Blain as trustees.

25 Lane s Rapt, in 31st Cong. , 2d Scss. , H. Ex. Doc. , i.

26 One of the members tells us something about the legislators: I have heard some people say that the first legislature was better than any one we have had since. I think it was as good. It was composed of more substan tial men than they have had in since; men who represented the people better. The second one was probably as good. The third one met in Salem. It is my impression they had deteriorated a little; but I would not like to say so, because I was in the first one. I know there were no such men in it as go v to the legislature now. Buck s Enterprises, MS., 11. The only difference among members was that each one was most partial to the state from which he had emigrated, and with the operations of which he was familiar. This difficulty proved a serious one, and retarded the progress of business throughout. Or, Spectator, Oct. 18, 1849.