Of the committee appointed to draft a constitution for
"Savannah Oregon Emigrating Company."
Whereas, in order the better to prepare the way for and to
accomplish our journey to Oregon with greater harmony, it
was deemed advisable to adopt certain rules and regulations;
and whereas the undersigned, having been appointed a
committee to draft and prepare said rules and regulations,
and having given the subject that attention which its
importance demands, beg leave respectfully to report the
following as the result of their deliberations, viz:
§ 1. This association shall be known by the style and name
of the "Savannah Oregon Emigrating Company."
§ 2. Any person over the age of sixteen may become a member
of this company by subscribing to this constitution and
paying into the treasury the initiation fee of one dollar.
§ 3. No person under the age of twenty-one years can become
a member without the consent of their legal guardian.
§ 4. No person shall be admitted whose intention is
obviously apparent to avoid payment of his debts.
§ 5. A majority of the members shall have power to expel any
member for good cause.
§ 6. The officers of this company shall consist of a
president, commandant captain, lieutenant, secretary,
treasurer, and executive council of thirteen, the commandant
being one thereof, and such other inferior military officers
as the executive council shall determine.
§ 7. The president shall be elected on the adoption of this
constitution, and shall continue in office until the
commandant captain shall be elected, when his functions as
presiding officer shall cease.
§ 8. The secretary shall be elected on the adoption of this
constitution, and shall continue in office until the
completion of the objects of this company; and he shall keep
a record of the transactions of the company, and perform
such other duties as usually pertain to his office.
§ 9. The treasurer (ditto as to election) shall collect and
safely keep, and at the direction of the commandant shall
disburse all moneys belonging to the company.
§ 10. The commandant captain, lieutenant, and such other
military officers as the council shall determine, shall be
elected when the company shall assemble at rendezvous
preparatory to a final start; and they shall hold office
until the completion of their journey, and shall perform
such duties as usually appertain to military officers of
their respective grades.
§ 11. The executive council, to consist of twelve men,
beside the commandant, shall be elected when assembled at
the rendezvous, and shall have general superintendence of
the affairs of the company, and perform such other duties as
may be assigned to them.
§ 12. The company shall elect, at least one month before the
rendezvous, three inspectors (not members of the company),
whose duty it shall be, after taking oath, to perform all
duty faithfully, to inspect the wagons, teams, cattle, and
provisions, and report to the executive council, who shall
determine upon their report as regards the outfit of all
members of the company; said inspectors to be paid a sum not
exceeding one dollar for every day actually engaged in such
services.
§ 13. The funds of the company shall be faithfully applied
for contingent expenses in furthering the objects of the
association.
§ 14. The necessary outfit shall consist of 150 pounds of
flour, or 200 pounds of meal, and 60 pounds of bacon for
every person (excepting infants) in the company.
§ 15. The wagons shall be expected to be able to carry
double the amount of their loads, and the teams to be able
to draw double the amount the wagons are capable of bearing.
§ 16. All cattle, excepting teams in use, shall be
considered as common stock; an inventory of age, brand,
kind, and number, shall be handed in by the contributor to
the secretary, and at the termination of the journey the
company shall account to each contributor for the amount
inventoried.
§ 17. The number of cattle thus inventoried and put in shall
never exceed fifty to one driver.
§ 18. No ardent spirits to be taken or drank on the route,
except for medicinal purposes, and if smuggled in shall,
when discovered, be destroyed under the control of the
commandant.
§ 19. Every person over the age of sixteen shall furnish
himself with a good and sufficient rifle, ---- pounds of
powder, and ---- pounds of lead, to be inspected by the
inspector, and reported on as in other cases.
§ 20. All members of this association shall assemble at
----, and on the ---- day of ----, 1845, and organize for
the final trip.
§ 21. * * * This constitution may be altered or amended at
any time by a vote of two thirds of the members present at
any regular meeting of the company, or at any special
meeting called by the commandant.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
JAMES OFFICER,
WM. DEAKINS,
B. M. ATHERTON,
C. F. HALLY,
_January 4, 1845._ Committee.
* * * * *
From _Western Journal_, March 15, 1845.