May 2nd 1843 Oregon Country
From 1843 to 1849 Oregon was a country. Of course before the Europeans it was a "country" too, but 1843 was the first Anglo American recognition of that republic.
Today (well yesterday was) is the anniversary of the day there was an election to create
a European style republic in the Pacific Northwest. The country was
called Oregon and even minted its own money called beaver money.
The "beaver" side of the Oregon state flag maybe the original flag
of the country that included the current state of Washington, Idaho,
western Montana (west of the Rockies), a small portion of western
Wyoming (west of the Rockies) and British Columbia. The settlers
casting that vote were a mix of French, American (Bostans), British
and Metis males (most were married Native women). There is
arguement as to there goal of the "provisional government".
Obviously the pro American expansists were modivated by the idea of
manifest destiny for the US while the employees of the Hudson Bay
Company were ordered to cast votes to stop American interest in the
area, but what is often left out of that history are individuals
like Osborne Russell who favored (was even on one of the first
executive committees and ran as first governor) total independence
of the country of Oregon. Another aspect that is totally neglected
by historians we the development of a new grouping population that
was a mix of Native peoples with the new settlers (not all
were "Anglo American" settlers like the American National mythology
will suggest). This new population spoke as their "mother tongue"
Chinook Jargon (literally from their mothers and fathers who were of
mixed cultures) and for these people this region was not just
called "Oregon", but Chinook Illahee (the land of the Chinook Jargon
speakers). The ethnologist Hortatio Hale of the US Exploring
Expedition of 1841 described the use of Chinook Jargon during his
stay at Fort Vancouver by a new emerging culture of Chinook Illahee
in the 1840s:
"These are Canadians and half-breeds married to Chinook women, who
can only converse with their wives in this speech, and it is the
fact, strange as it may seem, that many young children are growing
up to whom this factitious language is really the mother tongue, and
who speak it with more readiness and perfection than any other."
some links of interest:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Oregon_Lyceum
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Champoeg_ Meetings
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Executive_ Committee_(Oregon_Territory)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Osborne_Russell
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Provisional_ Government_ of_Oregon
www.oregonpioneers.com/ govt.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Oregon_Country
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Beaver_Coins
Dr. McLoughlin advocated for an independant country
I just want to stress this one note in one link( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Lyceum) about the Oregon Lyceum:
During these debates in Oregon City the European settlers argued about whether an independent country should be formed, or if a provisional government should be formed.[5]
The group advocating an independent country tended to be British, including Dr. McLoughlin and the his HBC employees.[5] The Catholic block that consisted of mainly former French-Canadian trappers also sided with McLoughlin on this issue.[5] Their goal was to prevent the territory from becoming a part of the United States by forming a new country.[5] McLoughlin's attorney , introduced a resolution on his behalf to the Lyceum as follows:
"Resolved, That it is expedient for the settlers of the coast to organize an independent government."[5]
That resolution was adopted by the Oregon Lyceum.[5]
cited from
memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r
all posted at
portland.indymedia.org/en/200...2.shtml
further down in the thread of the Portland Indy Media post:
More rousing Cascadian independence precedent 03.May.2007 00:24
citizen joe link
In reasearching a lecture on Cascadia I gave in January at Reed College, I uncovered some interesting bits of information regarding the Oregon Republic. Contemporary sources discussed the topic of an independent nation, but by the 1890's there was no mention of the subject. Joe Meek's line in the sand at Champoeg was drawn to divide those for organizing a government, from those opposed to a government, not to divide those for the American side from those for the British side. The government formed was independent, as Meek himself said on his trip to Washington DC in 1848 following the Whitman massacre "I am Envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary from the Republic of Oregon to the Court of the United States"
A few more rousing words about Cascadia on our national holiday:
"In the legislative committee for 1844, and in the executive committee also, who were revolving in their minds the question of an independent government; that is a government owning no allegiance either to the U.S. or Great Britain, but which should lay the foundations of an empire on the Pacific Coast... as strong as any state or power on the American continent"
Fuller Victor, Frances, River of the West 114, 116
And of course Thomas Jefferson "One Day I see a free great and independent empire on the banks of the Columbia River," 1813
Tear down the stars and stripes and hoist up the Doug flag of Cascadia
From 1843 to 1849 Oregon was a country. Of course before the Europeans it was a "country" too, but 1843 was the first Anglo American recognition of that republic.
Today (well yesterday was) is the anniversary of the day there was an election to create
a European style republic in the Pacific Northwest. The country was
called Oregon and even minted its own money called beaver money.
The "beaver" side of the Oregon state flag maybe the original flag
of the country that included the current state of Washington, Idaho,
western Montana (west of the Rockies), a small portion of western
Wyoming (west of the Rockies) and British Columbia. The settlers
casting that vote were a mix of French, American (Bostans), British
and Metis males (most were married Native women). There is
arguement as to there goal of the "provisional government".
Obviously the pro American expansists were modivated by the idea of
manifest destiny for the US while the employees of the Hudson Bay
Company were ordered to cast votes to stop American interest in the
area, but what is often left out of that history are individuals
like Osborne Russell who favored (was even on one of the first
executive committees and ran as first governor) total independence
of the country of Oregon. Another aspect that is totally neglected
by historians we the development of a new grouping population that
was a mix of Native peoples with the new settlers (not all
were "Anglo American" settlers like the American National mythology
will suggest). This new population spoke as their "mother tongue"
Chinook Jargon (literally from their mothers and fathers who were of
mixed cultures) and for these people this region was not just
called "Oregon", but Chinook Illahee (the land of the Chinook Jargon
speakers). The ethnologist Hortatio Hale of the US Exploring
Expedition of 1841 described the use of Chinook Jargon during his
stay at Fort Vancouver by a new emerging culture of Chinook Illahee
in the 1840s:
"These are Canadians and half-breeds married to Chinook women, who
can only converse with their wives in this speech, and it is the
fact, strange as it may seem, that many young children are growing
up to whom this factitious language is really the mother tongue, and
who speak it with more readiness and perfection than any other."
some links of interest:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Oregon_Lyceum
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Champoeg_ Meetings
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Executive_ Committee_(Oregon_Territory)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Osborne_Russell
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Provisional_ Government_ of_Oregon
www.oregonpioneers.com/ govt.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Oregon_Country
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Beaver_Coins
Dr. McLoughlin advocated for an independant country
I just want to stress this one note in one link( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Lyceum) about the Oregon Lyceum:
During these debates in Oregon City the European settlers argued about whether an independent country should be formed, or if a provisional government should be formed.[5]
The group advocating an independent country tended to be British, including Dr. McLoughlin and the his HBC employees.[5] The Catholic block that consisted of mainly former French-Canadian trappers also sided with McLoughlin on this issue.[5] Their goal was to prevent the territory from becoming a part of the United States by forming a new country.[5] McLoughlin's attorney , introduced a resolution on his behalf to the Lyceum as follows:
"Resolved, That it is expedient for the settlers of the coast to organize an independent government."[5]
That resolution was adopted by the Oregon Lyceum.[5]
cited from
memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r
all posted at
portland.indymedia.org/en/200...2.shtml
further down in the thread of the Portland Indy Media post:
More rousing Cascadian independence precedent 03.May.2007 00:24
citizen joe link
In reasearching a lecture on Cascadia I gave in January at Reed College, I uncovered some interesting bits of information regarding the Oregon Republic. Contemporary sources discussed the topic of an independent nation, but by the 1890's there was no mention of the subject. Joe Meek's line in the sand at Champoeg was drawn to divide those for organizing a government, from those opposed to a government, not to divide those for the American side from those for the British side. The government formed was independent, as Meek himself said on his trip to Washington DC in 1848 following the Whitman massacre "I am Envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary from the Republic of Oregon to the Court of the United States"
A few more rousing words about Cascadia on our national holiday:
"In the legislative committee for 1844, and in the executive committee also, who were revolving in their minds the question of an independent government; that is a government owning no allegiance either to the U.S. or Great Britain, but which should lay the foundations of an empire on the Pacific Coast... as strong as any state or power on the American continent"
Fuller Victor, Frances, River of the West 114, 116
And of course Thomas Jefferson "One Day I see a free great and independent empire on the banks of the Columbia River," 1813
Tear down the stars and stripes and hoist up the Doug flag of Cascadia
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