A series of meetings at Champoeg were held in the early 1840s by Oregon Country pioneers attempting to work out collective solutions to problems such as wolves, crime, and inheritance.
Interest in self-government grew, and on May 2, 1843 the Provisional Government of Oregon was established. A government isn’t worth much without laws, so a provisional government committee met to address the issue. On July 4, 1843 they had their draft of the de facto first Oregon Constitution, and on July 5, 1843 those Organic Laws of Oregon were adopted by popular vote.
Five years later the provisional government was replaced with a territorial government when the US government established the Oregon Territory.
It was in December, 1883 that Senator Benj. Harrison directed Major Ezra W. Clark to draft
the Bill that became the Harrison Alaska Organic
Act. One of the goals was to extend the Oregon
Pains and Penalties Act to the five Arctic Islands
annexed Between June 2,- August 12, 1881, viz.,
Bennett, Henrietta, Herald, Jeannette, and Wrangell.
This five Arctic islands and the island name Forrester of the San Carlos Islands entered
the District of Alaska on May 17, 1884 with the
Pains and Penalties Act of Oregon that date.