When appealing for military aid from the American Government in the aftermath of the Whitman massacre , the settlers detailed the structural weaknesses of the Provisional Government : The very nature of our compact formed between the citizens of a republic and the subjects and official representatives of a monarchy , is such that the ties of political union could not be drawn so closely as to produce that stability and strength sufficient to form an efficient government . This union between democrats of a republic and wealthy aristocratic subjects of a monarchy could not be formed without reserving to themselves the right of allegiance to their respective governments . Political jealousy and strong party feeling have tended to thwart and render impotent the acts of a government , from its very nature weak and insufficient . With the first set of laws , the people created a three-person Executive Committee to act as an executive . The Second Executive Committee was elected on May 14 , 1844 , and served until June 12 , 1845 . A December 1844 amendment of the Organic Laws eliminated the Executive Committee in favor of a single governor , taking effect in June 1845 . At that time George Abernethy was elected as the first governor . Abernethy would be the only governor under the Provisional Government . He was reelected in 1847 , and served until 1849
Whitman massacre
Whitman massacre
Provisional Government of Oregon