# Oregon Historical Quarterly/Volume 23/Number 3

​It was into such diplomatic and domestic interests that Floyd was to fling another element. A discussion of his motives will be presented later after there has been a presentation of what he actually did, together with his own words. However, to serve as an introduction to both, the immediate reason for the action he took will be related here.
By no one had the convention of 1818 been attacked with more bitter vehemence than by Thomas Hart Benton. He incarnates the western spirit of expansion, and in essays and newspaper articles had been urging for some years the definite acquisition of the Oregon River country by the United States. 3 It is not possible that Floyd could have missed reading these. Already he had a background of interest in his knowledge of the Lewis and Clark expedition through his personal relations with the Clark family.
When Benton arrived in Washington in December, 1820, he found that Missouri as yet was not legally a State in the Union, and thereby, he had no seat as senator. At the hotel where he lodged he found a man who was likewise a westerner, a Kentuckian, now serving Virginia in the national House of Representatives. 4 Benton found Dr. John Floyd to be a man of like ideas to himself. Two other men, former employees of J. J. Astor, happened to be in the hotel, men who had been on the Columbia. These four, the Senator, the Congressman and the two explorers, had many an evening's conversation together on the subject of Oregon. Of them all, Floyd was the only one who could do anything. As a result of these conferences and certainly with Benton's approval he undertook to bring the matter before the House.
The Committee presented their report January 25th, 1821. This interesting document has been reprinted in
3 Benton, Thirty Years View, Vol. I, 109-110.
4 Bruce, Romance of American Expansion, pp. 117-121. ​
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the Oregon Historical Society's Quarterly, and should be in pamphlet form on the shelves of every Oregon library. 5 It is not difficult to follow the main lines of thought of the author, for almost the entire authorship is conceded to Floyd.
He begins with an exhaustive examination of the basis for territorial claims in general and of the Terri- tory in question in particular. 6 The most solid basis, the one finally determinative, is that of settlement in a river basin which has been taken in possession by its discoverer in the name of his government. The extent of soil watered by this principle belongs en bloc to this government. Such, the report claims, were the discov- eries which gave to France the country called Louisiana from the Rio Grande del Norte along the mountains of Mexico and California as the eastern boundary. "The grant by Louis XIV to Anthony Crozat . . . compre- hends all lands . . . between Carolina on east, and Old and New Mexico on west." 7 Various French and Spanish authorities Vergennes and Lopez, to name two are quoted to prove that Louisiana is bounded on the west by the Rio Grande. The entire paragraph following is devoted to proving this northern boundary of Mexico.
Floyd is frank to confess that it is indefinite just how high the United States claims extended. He gives a satisfactory description of the Astoria settlement and enterprise and discusses the fur trade at some length, including the endeavors and profits of the Northwest Company. But by no means the least interesting or sig- nificant part of the report is its geography.
The Columbia River, Floyd tells the Congress, offers an easy means of ingress to the country and means of communication to the Atlantic Seaboard. A portage of two hundred miles would connect the upper reaches of
5 Oregon Historical Quarterly, Vol. VII, pp. 51-75.
6 Resume of Floyd's Report, Annals of Congress, XXXVII, 946-947.
7 Ibid., p. 948. ​
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the Missouri to the Columbia, both rivers "equally smooth, deep and certain." Thus are "two great oceans separated by a single portage of two hundred miles. 8 The practicability of a speedy, safe and easy communication with the Pacific is no longer a matter of doubt or con- jecture."
The report closes the examination of four more topics, the last three of which come to us with a decided his- toric flavor: (1) Timber and stock resources; (2) whal- ing; (3) the Russian settlement and expansion; (4) the value of the Indian trade. These with the two preced- ing the Columbia as an outlet to the Pacific commerce and the fur trade Floyd offers as the Six Reasons why the United States should assert their right to the Oregon River country. 9
"Your committee are well persuaded that by a little care and expense the citizens of this Republic might reap all the benefits of [the Russian] trade, not only profitable now but from every view of the subject there is a strong probability that it will increase for many years.
"Were an establishment made at the mouth of the Columbia River which should be allowed to take with them their women and children there can be no doubt of success, as so many years' experience of the English fur companies has amply shown this mode has the most pow- erful effect of separating the minds of the men from pursuits which often in frontier countries lead to strife, as it gives them a local interest and feeling and makes them even more vigilant and prudent in the discharge of all their duties. It is believed that population could easily be obtained from China by which the arts of peace would at once acquire strength and influence and make visible to the aborigines the manner in which their wants could be supplied . . ."
The closing paragraph is likewise worth quoting: "Under the strongest belief that by a new organization of the system of Indian trade comprehending a settle- ment on the Columbia River great benefits would result to the citizens of the Republic, whilst the aborigines
8 Ibid., p. 954.
9 Ibid., pp. 956-957. ​
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would be better protected and provided for by instruct- ing them in agriculture and the minor branches of the mechanic arts, the committee ask leave to present a bill."
Accordingly their bill was presented, 10 but so busy was the Congress in straightening out the last tangles of the Missouri question that no further attention could be given to the bill for that session. While Congress is deferring consideration it may be well enough to do like- wise and notice two or three aspects of the report. One clue to John Floyd's political thinking offers itself im- mediately.
His minute examination of the Mexican boundary which he places definitely at the Rio Grande can only mean a covert attempt to revive the American preten- tions to the Texas country that were lost by the San Ildefonso treaty of 1819. In a report on the Oregon Country it is purely a digression, but certainly not pur- poseless. It will not do to say that Floyd was simply offering the Oregon project as a blind to a move on Texas; future events refute such a charge. But it is safe to assume that expansion Oregon-wards would be accompanied by a companion movement toward the South, if the public mind should be propitious. Or, if Congress should prove cold to Oregon there was a chance that they might be moved to an interest in this other di- rection. Nothing came of the suggestion ; but there it stands as a clear index to Floyd's interests. It is true that it may have been merely intended to be a covert slap at Adams for surrendering Texas. Nevertheless, had the nation been in a different mood interesting de- velopments might have followed.
Secondly, Floyd's suggestion that a Chinese immigra- tion be encouraged smites oddly on present day ears. No doubt the Virginian runs the risk of the charge of not being a hundred per cent American. Undoubtedly it was in his mind that they should form a middle class
10 Bill presented Jan., 1821. ​
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between the white settlers and the aborigines, a proposal full of possibilities when one comes to think about it. Suppose it had been done ! Could not Oregon be imagined today as a country with a white aristocracy and baronial class, a yellow peasantry, and an aboriginal vassalage? Nowhere is there any indication that Floyd ever con- sidered slavery in connection with the Oregon country. This is an unique feature of the question that in a period when slavery seemed to be tingeing all national affairs it is never alluded to in any of the debates, nor the mo- tions on bills. The extension of slavery is decidedly one motive that can be eliminated in trying to solve Floyd's purpose. No northern opponent charges him with it, and the southern men showed an equal reticence.
Lastly, the influences of Benton on Floyd are plainly seen in his suggestions in regard to the Chinese, and in particular his emphasis on the value and importance of Oriental trade. This was an old hobby of Benton's and one of his chief motives in pushing the entire Oregon affair. His was the plan to establish a route up the Missouri and down the Columbia so as to reach the Ori- ental markets. "I believed that Asiatic commerce might be brought into the Mississippi valley along that line, and wrote essays to support that idea. . . . Asiatic commerce had been the pursuit of all western nations from the time of the Phoenicians down to the present day . . . during all this time this commerce has been shifting its channel . . . wealth and power followed it and disappeared upon its loss." 11
When Congress reconvened the following December, Floyd lost no time in recurring to the Oregon enterprise. On the tenth he moved that a committee be appointed "to inquire into the expediency of occupying the Columbia River and the territories of the United States adjacent thereto," and of regulating the Indian trade. 12 Permis-
11 Report American Historical Association, '14, 1, 284.
12 Annals of Congress, XXXVIII, 529. ​
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sion was asked to report by bill or otherwise. The mo- tion carried, and Floyd, Baylies and Scott were made the committee.
On January 18, 1822, the committee through Floyd made its report, which it accompanied by a bill. 13 This was read twice and reported to the Committee of the Whole. This act had been prefaced by a resolution on December 17, 1821, 14 which requested the Secretary of the Navy to report on the expense of examining the harbors belonging to the United States on the Pacific Coast ; also on the expense of transporting artillery to the mouth of the Columbia. The resolution was not adopted until the following day, when he reminds the House that the artillery could be shipped to the west coast as ballast, thereby saving expense. The resolution was adopted and with this encouragement the committee must have felt justified in presenting the bill they did a month later.
Thus in a single year, as Bourne notes, Floyd's terri- torial ambitions had spread from a simple settlement in the valley of the Columbia to "territory adjacent." Whether this was a conscious and cautious meditated progression, or whether Floyd's designs actually grew during the year as he thought upon them, it is difficult to say. In other words, it is a question whether he had or had not laid with Benton definite plans toward which he moved as soon as he had brought public opinion up to his previous position, or whether it was his own natural enthusiasm which led him to an expansion of the original design. Nor is it a matter of great im- portance. Certain things do point to the second solu- tion, as affected by other events.
More disturbing than the ever-present English rivalry was the imperial Russian ukase issued earlier in 1821. It would seem that Alexander I, alarmed at Floyd's re- port and bill in January, had decided to forestall any
13 Ibid., p. 774.
14 Ibid., p. 553. ​
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possible aggression on the west coast. 15 He made the Bering a closed sea as well as the Pacific north of 51 de- grees which he fixed as the southern limit of Russian possessions. In addition to this, however, he declared the existence of a buffer zone one hundred miles in extent (north and south) which likewise was to be closed to settlement and exploitation. The National Intelligencer, the semi-official government organ of that day, comments as follows :
"If that decree . . . has no other effect, it gives interest to the proceedings in Congress relative to a set- tlement at the mouth of the Columbia River. It will not be a matter of surprise to us that it will have the effect to procure the passage in Congress of an act to authorize the establishment of a post at the mouth of the Columbia, which however earnestly proposed by the mover has hitherto hardly been seriously entertained by the House whose attention has been called to it."
Whether or not the Russian ukase had been called forth by American action, it was assuredly the cause of immediate action on the part of Floyd. 16 While its ex- istence was still a matter of unofficial rumor, he intro- duced a resolution on February 15th, demanding to know "what the claims of any country were to the territory of the United States on the Pacific Coast." The next day the House accepted his resolution without opposition. With this much done, however, the House seemed content and there let the affair rest. The Secretary of the Navy had reported prior to the bill of January 18th that the cost of the expedition proposed would be $25,000. 17 With this much data in hand, the Oregon question was allowed to rest for almost ten months.
The short session of the seventeenth Congress opened and on December 11, 1822, Floyd's bill of the previous session was found to be next in order. Floyd announced
15 Niles Register, XXI, p. 279; (quotes also extensively from National Intelligencer.}
16 Niles Register, XXI, 400; 415.
17 Ibid., p. 302. ​
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that information he could have laid before the House the previous session, he was at that moment not prepared to present. By a bit of parliamentary tactics the bill was enabled to be brought up again. 18 On December 17 this was done and the House went into Committee of the Whole on its consideration.
Floyd defended the bill in a speech which was mainly a resume and amplification of the report of the Commit- tee of Occupation which had previously been presented. One finds here traces of the objections which the pro- posed scheme had evoked since it had been brought for- ward: He dismisses the charge that the measure is "fanciful" or that he himself is a "bold projector." He warns his fellow Congressmen of the inevitable progress of population westward. It had always proceeded in spite of whatever attempted inhibition on the part of governmental authority.
The dominating note of his speech is commercial : 19
"The settlement on the Oregon as contemplated by this bill connecting the trade of that river and coast with the Missouri and Mississippi is to open a mine c . wealth to shipping interests and the western country surpassing hope of avarice itself. It consists principally of things which will purchase the manufactures and products of China at a better profit than gold or silver, and if that attention is bestowed upon the country to which its value and position entitle it, it will yield a profit, producing more wealth to the nation than all the shipments which have ever in one year been made to Canton from the United States."
Bold words, these. The doctor seemed to be basing them on what he considered to be the laws of probability rather than actual statistics. Undoubtedly they reflect his conversations with Benton and the two former associ- ates of Astor. There is the true Bentonian ring when he pictures the fleets from the Atlantic seaboard to the
18 Annals of Congress, XL, p. 355.
19 Ibid., 198. ​
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Oregon river returning with "the rich exchange" after Oregon furs have turned the balance of trade in China to us and have stopped what many have been bemoaning a flow of specie Chinawards.
It is interesting and revelatory to observe the interest which motivated these "fathers" of a century ago. Their vision for the future was inevitably in terms of their own days ; is it true then that legislation other than from day to day can be nothing much beyond a series of lucky or unlucky guesses? Statesmen have been wise have been "seers" because their projects happened to work, when as a matter of fact their purposes and motives have not actually been at all the same as those apparently impelling them to their designs. There is a large prag- matic element in history. To one looking back across the developing roll of events and seeing exactly how things did, it is easy to endow the men of a past time with the ability to foresee what for him is a matter of retrospect, and to assume that the factors making for success or failure were the same as those actuating them.
As a matter of fact many paths of action turn out to be blind alleys. Many of the arguments urged by Floyd and his supporters, indeed many that they con- sidered most important and conclusive, as well as those of their opponents have not at all been justified by time. It is a commentary on the futility of dogmatic, final decisions and a warning that neither in princes nor con- gressmen can a trust as to utter wisdom be reposed. At the same time it is not impossible that in some of their plans the "fathers" were wiser than their children who have departed from them. The importance of the China trade bulked large in the minds of these men of the first half of the nineteenth century. 20 It would seem that it has taken a hundred years to bring their descendants even to a near acceptance of their views.
The topics of Floyd's remaining arguments will be
20 Op. fit., 398. ​
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given briefly as they indicate the main lines of support and attack. New sources of whale fishing were needed; those found in the Pacific would contribute to the wealth of Oregon. All the meager trade then carried on on the Pacific Coast was that of the annual visit of the whale- ships thither, "with no other cargo than some hardware and ornaments to traffic with the natives." Military protection would be furnished by such a move as that proposed. "The route [by land] to the mouth of the Co- lumbia is easy, safe and expeditious." Floyd outlines the possibility of steamboat communication virtually across the continent and gives an ingenious itinerary. 21 The commerce derived from the fur trade is a third ar- gument and the British revenues from this source are compared with the scanty sum derived from the Ameri- can fur trade. "Save Oregon from monarchy" is a fourth plea. Finally, Oregon is the land of the plough. "The lands of the Oregon are well adapted to the culture of v/heat, rye, corn, barley, and every species of grain; their position [that of the settlers?] will enable them to sell the surplus and purchase the manufactures of China by an exchange of labor." 22
This ended the preliminary discussion and marked out the future grounds of debate. The Committee rose, reported progress to the House and obtained leave to sit again.
The next day, December 18th, the House, in commit- tee, resumed the discussion of the bill; a few minor changes were agreed to, and the debate commenced. Mr. Wright led off in favor of the bill. His position was that the territory had been purchased from France thus making the Louisiana Purchase apply to the Oregon country, something Floyd had not done and that the Spanish treaty had excluded any other possible claims. It was a purely constitutional question: a reciprocal
21 Op. cit., 407.
22 Op. cit., pp. 410, 411. ​
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obligation of protection was owed to the allegiance of the inhabitants of that region. In addition he urges the im- portance of the fur trade and the fisheries, and scouts the preposterous claims of Russia.
Baylies, the second member of the committee, then undertook to answer certain objections. The expense of establishing a government where it was proposed would not be of long duration. 23 He gave a romantic description of the possible money turnover in the Ori- ental trade. He also alludes to the practicability of a water communication joining the two oceans. His speech closes with discussion of a topic that has not here- tofore appeared the benefits of colonization.
Baylies may or may not have deserved the first part of J. Q. Adams* stinging characterization, that "he was the most worthless and most talented man in Massachu- setts," but of his talent there can be no question. He was a brilliant speaker, which Floyd was not; was logi- cal, consistent, pleasing. His personal history shows him to have been another in whom the expansive spirit had not yet been satisfied and therefore checked. One paragraph from this speech indicates his style while the content is truly prophetic. He has just been picturing the change which those still living had seen in the trans- formation of "humble colonies to a mighty empire." 24
"Some within these walls may before they die witness scenes more wonderful than these; and in aftertimes may cherish delightful recollections of the day when America, almost shrinking 'from the shadows of coming events/ first placed her feet upon the untrodden ground, scarcely daring to anticipate the grandeur that awaited her."
He is, one can plainly see it, an apostle of the "mani- fest national destiny."
The first speech in opposition is made by Tucker. He is of an interesting type of obstructionist unfortunately
23 Op. cit. supra, p. 418.
24 Op. cit., p. 422. ​
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not unknown in our history. He frankly grants the impossibility of arresting the westward progress of the population, but he objects to the bill because he has no wish to accelerate something he considers inevitable. His main reason is one evidently not peculiar to him, since Floyd had already animadverted to it in his own speech : 25
"In the nature of things the people of the east and west sides of the Rocky Mountains must have a perma- nent separation of interests. . . . (The states of the Atlantic seaboard) are held together by bonds of com- merce and self defense. The commerce of the Pacific slope people will be carried on with the Orient. They can have no inducement to trade with us. ... The connection would be an inconvenience and a burden to both."
It must be apparent already on what a vagueness of geographical knowledge both the friends and enemies of the measure were proceeding. Tucker is a good exam- ple ; his Oregon is 4000 miles away. The distance varies from three to four thousand miles though one speaker raises it to five thousand. It is apparent that Tucker regards westward expansion on the analogy of the swarming of a beehive : Density leads to emigration and the result is an independent swarm. As an alternative he saw but one thing, colonization. He, in company with a large number of others, disliked a colony as uncon- genial to republican institutions. So far as they were concerned there were but these two sides to the situa- tion, unencouraged but unobstructed emigration followed by political independence, or a long, expensive, anti-re- publican colonial system. They had no desire to see in- troduced "those distant praetorships whose effects were so pernicious in the Roman Empire," As to the protec- tion of the whaling industry all that would be necessary would be a military post; ships could refit or rebuild on
25 Op. cit., p. 423. ​
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the Columbia as it is ; therefore, there is no need for a settlement.
This ended the debate for a time. The struggle was more fairly joined, and Floyd moved the postponement of the bill until the second Monday in January, 1823. The factors in the problem both of defense and attack are (1) commercial, and (2) diverging political theories. To the men of the 'twenties the first was framed in terms of Oriental trading, whaleries, fisheries, furs, Indian trade, and to a minor degree, grain and lumber, while the second meant a colony or no-colony system. So much for man's prevoyance; the relative importance of these half a century and a century later are sufficient comment, yet Oregon did become a territory of the Union, and her people came like the swarming of a hive, ignored by their government, yet they stayed loyal.
On the day appointed, a member from New York, Mr. Golden, after proposing that the occupation should depend upon the opinion of the president as to when "it may be consistent with public interest," makes a long and cogent speech for the bill. 26 His main argument is that standby of the measure's supporters, the Asiatic trade. He shows how fallacious it is to estimate the prosperity of the country on customs house receipts of exports and imports. Like others of the expansionists, Golden suggests the possibility of steamboats established "on all the waters between this [the Capital] and the mouth of the Columbia." This speech shows a very care- ful and accurate study of conditions particularly geo- graphical on the Columbia. It finishes with a warning that it will be better to take possession now than after the English or Russians or Spanish have seized the Co- lumbia mouth and then be obliged to do so.
The rest of the debate requires only a summary. With a certain faction no occupation other than by a military force was desired. Some among them did not object to
26 Op. cit., p. 583. ​
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some degree of encouragement to settlers. It was felt that there was no necessity yet for civil government. This, it should be reiterated, was always a definite line of cleavage: The transportation of a machinery of gov- ernment versus a laissez faire policy. Mallory, of Ver- mont, while twitting his colleagues on boasting of Amer- ican enterprise and then fearing to occupy America's own territory, is definitely opposed to any colonial sys- tem. "It could never be adopted by our government; it was abhorrent to our principles."
Following this debate the House disposed of the bill temporarily by laying it on the table, but Friday, January 24 (1823) it was again taken up. 27 Mr. Mallory, alluded to above, had offered an amendment which is only im- portant because Floyd offers as a substitute for his origi- nal bill the first three of the amendment's six provisions. 28 All through the years of struggle Floyd is conspicuous as willing to compromise, to be content with half a loaf, to accommodate the ideas of others, while holding tena- ciously to his central purpose.
By the change (1) the President was not only author- ized but required to occupy the country, (2) by a military force and fort, (3) for which a tract of Indian country not to exceed thirty square miles was to be secured. A dispute arose over the words "and required" but they v/ere retained. (Vote, 55-50.) What Floyd gave up by this substitute was his scheme for the regulation and reorganization of Indian affairs. It is admissible to suggest that much of the opposition to the original bill had come from powerful interests (existing even then) to whom the reconstruction of the Indian affairs would have been distasteful. This part of the bill, which it will be remembered was the major part, was ignored in the debates and then dropped without even a word from its author. Evidently he did not wish to jeopardize the
27 Op. cit., pp. 678-691.
28 Op. cit., p. 601. ​
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Oregon scheme by any unpopular attempts at adminis- trative or departmental reform.
An attempt made to table the entire bill failed, prin- cipally, it would seem, because the House wanted to hear Baylies speak on it again. 29 The debate continued on the 25th but nothing new was added. Breckenridge of Kentucky, who was later to be associated with a vice- presidential candidate from this same Oregon country, held that the scheme offered was neither constitutional nor politic. He reiterated the "no community of inter- est" argument.
By this time the House was evidently content with what it had heard arid carried a motion to table the bill, ayes 76, noes 61. 30 The margin was not great and on the 27th Floyd moved that the House proceed to the con- sideration of the bill, but the negative side had received astonishing accessions and his motion was rejected 100 to 61.
One hears no more of the Oregon question in the House that session except when Mr. Little of Maryland presented a memorial from "eight enterprising farmers and mechanics in his district praying that the bill for occupation be passed, and intimating their wish to re- move thither for the improvement of that country and their condition." This also was ordered to lay on the table. 31 This is of interest and some importance as the first official record of popular interest in the affair. In- deed, one of the objections made in January had been that no petitions had been received from merchants or anyone else. However, there can be no doubt that popu- lar interest along with popular knowledge about Oregon was very slight. The country was not yet through its first period of purge through emigration, and was hardly in any condition to attempt anything so formidable as
29 Op. cit., pp. 683-684.
30 Op. cit., p. 696.
31 Op. cit., p. 1077. ​
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a settlement of Oregon, so readily, let us say, as they had undertaken the settlement of Kentucky or the Ohio River country.
However, Benton, now in the Senate, took action to keep the Oregon affair alive. On February 14th he proffered a resolution inquiring as to the expediency of enabling the President to take possession of the United States territory on the northwest coast. 32 February 17th it was amended and agreed to. Thus was the torch kept burning. Oregon's friends, beaten in the first fight, were girding themselves anew for the second battle.
The course of this first period of action has been given thus fully, and perhaps dully, as an accompanying circumstance, in order to show the actual amount of in- terest and consideration given to Oregon, to show the untiring activity of Floyd, and to indicate that which is more interesting than important, that Congresses of one day differ little from those of another.
To trace the details of the next campaign would not be extremely fruitful notwithstanding that it met with a half-success. A brief summary will suffice: "The pioneer work of the 17th Congress was actively followed up by its success. The not too discouraging results of 1822-23 were the prelude of the more determined assault in 1823-24, followed by the campaign of 1824-25 which resulted in the passage of the bill by the House." On December 23, 1824, Floyd had the satisfaction of seeing his bill authorizing the President to occupy with a mili- tary force and to set up a territorial government, passed by a vote of 113 to 57.
The cause for this change of heart on the part of the House can be explained by the fact that the weight of government approval was given to the bill. Both the Secretary of State and Monroe had simply been biding their time waiting to get other matters off their hands which to them seemed more important before turning
32 Op. ciL, pp. 235-246. ​
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to this. Adams* irritation at Floyd and the commence- ment of the agitation was due far more to his belief that it was a political move which would entangle him with Canning when England's cooperation was really essential to the forthcoming Monroe Doctrine, than to any oppo- sition to Oregon itself. 33 Adams' official letters to Rush as well as his Memoirs furnish conclusive proof as to his real attitude on the Oregon question. He would have been lukewarm toward any attempt at heavy emigration, but he desired an occupation and there is no doubt that Floyd's second bill is an accurate expression of Adams' views. 34
Accordingly, when the President's message urged an occupation of the Columbia, Floyd's bill appeared in the light of an administration measure. Calhoun as well as Adams backed it; Crawford had induced Floyd to reduce it to its present modest form. 35 But its little day was brief indeed. Neither the strenuous efforts of Benton nor the perfunctory support of Barbour of Virginia could insure it a very long shift. Dickerson, at the head of a politely incredulous Senate, disposed of it deftly and with dispatch.
The cause of the failure is not hard to find. There was no great popular interest in the question or a popu- lar demand for expansion. Floyd spent his efforts in a period when popular indifference was the determining force against him. The old centers of population had not sufficiently refilled after the emigrations following the War of 1812 to feel the need yet of another draining. Nile's Register of November 25, 1825, voices an opinion that would have found general acceptance. 36 It "hopes that the project for establishing a chain of military posts
33 J. Q. Adams Memoirs, Vol. I, 260 (Jan. 29, '21) and Vol. II, 139 (Jan. 27, '24).
34 Am. State Papers, Vol. VI, pp. 790-791, Adams to Rush, July 22, 1823; also p. 792.
35 Memoirs, Vol. I, p. 250 (Mar., '24) ; p. 428 (Nov., '24).
36 Niles Register, Vol., p. 151. ​
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will be postponed yet a little while. It is not in the in- terest of any part of the country that more immigration should take place."
With five years of work surveyed now, some evalua- tion of Floyd's motives and purposes other than was suggested at the beginning of this study, may be at- tempted. Nothing is more dangerous than this assertion of motives, particularly in the absence of letters, diaries, or any private documents which to the prying historian do give an insight into the cause of a man's actions. Even then there are intimacies of hope and motive and ambition which are not revealed and can never be known. This summing up of the motives actuating Floyd must be considered as suggestive rather than dogmatic.
It may help to see how he was regarded by two other prominent men of the time, Benton and J. Q. Adams. The latter it should be observed has two opinions, one in the early days of the contest when he saw in Floyd's "futile fight to occupy the Oregon country" a play of politics to assist Clay in beating Adams for the presi- dency, and a later one when these difficulties had been ironed out. 37 Floyd from a man "eager for distinction, forming gigantic plans upon crude and half digested in- formation" became one "energetic and well-meaning."
Benton, after describing the doctor as "an ardent man of great ability and decision of character," says that the proposition to occupy and settle the Columbia region made by him was taken up "with the energy which belonged to him, and it required not only energy but courage to embrace a subject which at the time seemed more likely to bring ridicule than credit upon its advocate." 38
Adams in conversation with Monroe reduced Floyd's motives to (1) political maneuver; (2) an opportunity to open more government positions; (3) provide an
37 Memoirs, VI, 58.
38 Thirty Years Fiew, Vol. I, 13. ​
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asylum for an embezzling relative whose exile the Vir- ginian probably intended to share. 39
Shippee in his "Federal Relations of Oregon" notes three factors as well: (1) Floyd's general attitude as a Westerner (his rearing had been in Kentucky, be it re- called) ; (2) the incentives from Crooks and Farnham's accounts of the Oregon country; and (3) Benton's in- terest in Oregon and his writings thereon a topic which has been thoroughly discussed previously. 40
It has been suggested that Hall Kelley's interest in Oregon had set Floyd on the same trail, as furnishing an opportunity to bring himself to the notice of the coun- try and his colleagues; but there is no evidence that Floyd ever heard of Kelley. It is far more likely that Kelley owed to Floyd instead.
There is nothing discreditable in personal ambition when coupled to honesty and sincere patriotism, but Floyd's unflagging efforts for ten years will hardly allow of explanation on that ground. Had his original bill gone through he could have hoped for nothing from Monroe. If Clay had succeeded to the presidency, pre- ferment might have been opened to him, but he pursued his purpose under Adams with the same degree of ardor when he could only have expected less from him than from Monroe.
The energetic support he gave Jackson in 1828 might have given him reason to expect some reward, but it is in the highest degree unlikely that he would have cared for a post thousands of miles away from the center of national affairs. Indeed his own known ambitions would have precluded his so isolating himself. More- over, his early break with Jackson removed him from national politics but his interests and sympathy for the Oregon country never moved.
It must not be forgotten that in looking over Floyd's
39 Memoirs, V, 237-8.
40 Oregon Historical Quarterly, v. XIX, 113. ​
214 VERNE BLUE
reports and bills, three distinct projects are suggested or proposed: (1) Revival of claims to Texas and expansion southwestward ; (2) a radical reorganization of the sys- tem of Indian administration; and (3) the occupation of the Oregon country. Floyd could be as truly charged with motives of personal, i. e., selfish ambitions in regard to any one of these as another. In fact it is not beyond possibility to accuse him of designs on the presidency of the Transcontinental Steamboat System, that was pro- posed on the floor of the House.
From a study of such documents as are obtainable (the ones quoted at various times in this study), the motives which it seems safe to suggest are these: The desire to prevent Great Britain (whom Floyd detested) and Russia from overreaching the United States, com- bined with an ardent patriotic ambition stimulated psychically by the traditional pioneer spirit.
Floyd's final efforts of 1828-29 round out his work of a decade, but they have little that is new to offer. Some familiar names are missing Baylies is no longer there and others have come to take their stand on one side or the other. Before surveying the subject briefly a list of objections to the proposition will be given. They fur- nish a summary of the negative position, for the new opposition adds nothing greatly but amplification and reiteration to the arguments of old. The course of his- tory has decided their validity.
(1) Expense.
(2) Anxiety over destruction of the Indian tribes.
(3) Impossibility of agriculture.
(4) Danger of dismemberment of Union. (Baylies' answer to this, Ann. Cong. XL, 416, is thorough- ly worth reading.)
(5) Unsuitable climate and forbidding geography.
(6) Offense given to Czar of Russia.
(7) Military occupation would violate treaty obli- gations with England, on the other hand.
(8) Civil settlement would be wholly impracticable.
(9) Any colonizing plan is bad policy for the nation. ​
THE OREGON QUESTION 1818-1828 215
(10) Capital and population would be drawn from the United States.
(11) No surplus population.
These are all answered or refuted in the earlier de- bates, but the later ones show on the whole a wider knowledge, and therefore the existence of more accurate information. Both the opponents and defenders of the measure had much greater armaments of facts at their disposal.
An entry in the Register of Debates for Tuesday, December 23, 1828, reads with a very familiar ring. 41
"On motion of Mr. Floyd of Virginia, the House then went into Committee of the Whole upon the state of the Union and proceeded to the consideration of a bill to authorize the occupation of the Oregon River."
The only thing new in his speech was the principle that "the best way to settle a new country was to leave it to the enterprise of private individuals, merely ex- tending to them the arm of national protection." This is in direct reference to a petition then before Congress from a company of persons in New Orleans offering to found a colony in Oregon at its own expense.
This is of some importance for at the same time there were like petitions before Congress from Kelley and his associates in Massachusetts, 3000 in number, and Albert Town and his company in Ohio. It indicates a great change in popular opinion of a few years before when eight Marylanders presented their petition as has been recorded. The geographical location of these three movements showed how widespread interest was : North- east, West, and South.
Their demands were colonizing grants pure and sim- ple and the attack came on that ground. On the 29th of December, Bates, a Missourian, made a long and tell- ing argument against the establishment of such a system.
41 The source of authority is the Congressional Register of Debates, Vol. V. Page numbtrs standing alone will refer to this. ​
216 VERNE BLUE
To him the danger of a proprietary government loomed large. "The settlers would be entirely dependent upon the will of the individuals for whom such great and ex- clusive privileges were asked."
One of the best and carefully balanced speeches was made by James K. Polk. 42 For him it was a matter of formal legalism. He called attention to existing treaties ; all action must be inside, not outside, these. His cold, precise manner shows the literalist in every phrasing; it sounds like the chipping of ice and is a beautiful example of chill exposition from which all the fire of vision has been extinguished.
Day after day the debate went on. 43 Mitchell of Tennessee, an orator of approved Western type, made a flamboyant speech in which he opposed the scheme in toto. One reads these later speeches in the vain hope of finding some new argument advanced. The impossibil- ity of keeping Oregon in the federal union is repeated to weariness. No one appears to doubt our legal right to the country, but to many this is an irrelevant argu- ment for occupation.
After sitting in Committee of the Whole for five days the House rose. Polk endeavored to secure the transfer of the Oregon bill to the Committee on Territories where it would have slept its life away, in all likelihood, but the House adjourned before the motion was taken.
The discussion was resumed on the 31st of December but it makes disheartening reading as it gets nowhere. It would seem to the average reader that the objections to the measure were in each case matched and overcome by its protagonists, but against pure inertia they could make little headway. One definite piece of action taken this day was the vote not to include the Ohio association among the settlers to whom certain privileges were to be granted. This foreshadowed the fate of the entire bill.
42 P. 130.
43 Pp. 134, 135, 136, 137, 138. ​
THE OREGON QUESTION 1818-1828 217
From now on the House had indulged itself in a species of believe play, emasculating the bill a little bit at a time, but now its final intentions could hardly be in doubt.
After Mr. Weems' lachrymose plea that some "last dernier [sic] refuge" be saved to the "poor illiterate in- habitants of the wilderness," the amendment which would have provided for the Louisiana company was negatived. On the heels of this an amendment was pro- posed to leave to the President's discretion, instead of requiring him, to establish posts, and to provide for ex- ploration.
At this final mangling of the bill, Floyd rose to make a last speech in its support. It is long and tinged with bitterness. He said himself to be "really at a loss to account for the peculiar objections made. The principal one was an incessant reiteration of the cry, 'What will England think ?' . . . What was it to them what Eng- land thought, or whether she condescended to think at all about the matter?" He charged that the opposition from Bates had its origin in a jealous fear that St. Louis would be injured in its commercial interests. 44 He closed with the warning that they should be cautious in receiv- ing the testimony of individuals engaged in the pursuits connected with the Oregon country for many of them were employed by the Hudson's Bay Company or agents of private associations who might fear disturbance of their establishments."
Bates retorts in a manner as bitter, but his words are worth giving, an interesting example of dramatic irony:
"The gentleman from Virginia has so long and so zealously dwelt upon this subject that he seems to have arrived at the conclusion that nothing is wanting but a little aid from the government to make this river of his adoption a great channel of North American commerce and the establishment at its mouth the great entrepot of Eastern and Western intercourse. . . . Let the gov- ernment put forth all its strength and pour out all its
44 P. 150. ​
218 VERNE BLUE
treasures, it cannot change the character of the country or the river ; the one will remain sterile and inhospitable, the other will continue hard to enter and harder still to navigate. . . . // you establish on that river a province with a population as dense as that of China, and build a fortress as strong as the seven walls of Constantinople you can do no more. The physical difficulties of the country forbid it."
In closing, however, he said one fairly good thing: "The progress of this debate has had, I believe, no other effect than to prove how ignorant we all are of the sub- ject matter of the bill, and how unfit we are, at this moment, to act understandingly." This was, of course, an exaggeration, but it indicated that a steady progress of knowledge, a "campaign of education," would be all that would win to the protagonists of the measure a pre- ponderance of popular and official opinion.
On January 6, 1829, when Floyd again brought the House in Committee of the Whole, the drama was rapidly drawing to its close. The bone of contention is now whether there shall be a military post or not. The bill has progressed in a certain order of attenuation: (1) settlement plus military protection; (2) military posts only; (3) exploring party sufficient; (4) straight out negation.
The proposal for an exploring party seemed for a moment destined to favor but by the time an amend- ment was offered and a vote taken on it, no quorum was found to be present, so the remaining members departed leaving the question undecided. On the 7th, as soon as the House had gone into committee again, it cheerfully voted the amendment down.
Then an amendment was offered providing for the
trial of American citizens by United States courts. Some
debate followed over this new turn given to the question
the legal protection of United States citizens. The
committee good-humoredly passed both this amendment ​
THE OREGON QUESTION 1818-1828 219
and the one to which Floyd had objected a few days be- fore.
The final form of the bill follows: It authorized (1) the building of forts; (2) exploration from these; (3) provided for trial of Americans; (4) and carried an ap- propriation of $25,000. 45
On January 8th the bill came before the House for a brief consideration, but before it was ordered to its third reading the House adjourned. The next day, Jan- uary 9, 1829, it was brought up for the last time. It was out of Committee of the Whole now, into the House itself, and the members were anxious to dispose of the matter as expeditiously as possible. The amendments reported by the committee were concurred in, and the question was then on ordering the bill to a third reading. Mr. Weems attempted a momentary diversion by resub- mitting an amendment which was voted down. The yeas and nays were then taken on the bill itself, as to its being ordered to a third reading, which failed, by a vote of 99 to 75. This meant the rejection of the bill. It may be interesting to note that Buchanan was recorded as not voting, while Folk's vote was negative.
So Floyd's long work was done, for he left Congress at the close of that session, and for ten years the name Oregon is not listed in the Congressional annals of the House. A great failure, a complete fiasco, one might say, was Floyd's fate; but at least there is this which should keep green his name among the names of his country's statesmen, that when national indifference had all but let the Columbia Valley and the Oregon country go by default, he had kept the fire of national rights burning on his country's altar.
45 P. 190. ​
EDUCATION IN THE OREGON CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1857*
By IRA W. LEWIS
In considering the educational provisions in the Ore- gon constitution provided by the state convention in 1857, the readiness and the lack of opposition to the educational measures put forth makes it evident that the people of Oregon were prepared for the organization of a state educational system. A large number of the people who had emigrated from the central states 1 which had favored educational development, brought with them the same or similar ideas toward education. The condi- tions in Oregon, namely the sparseness of population and the difficulties of conveyance due to lack of roads, weather hindrances and the rough country, caused a slow varied progress, that was controlled by local conditions and group sentiment. The economic status in those pioneer days of the majority of people was not sufficient to aid materially in overcoming the natural handicaps. The progress as a result was retarded although the majority of the people were in favor of it. Some however, as shown by the editorial in the Oregon Statesman, 2 clung to the more conservative aspect and preferred the private schools to the public free schools.
The tendency toward better education became active in 1849 through Rev. G. H. Atkinson of Oregon City. Through his efforts a state school system was provided for, including a state superintendent of public instruc- tion, district trustees, methods of granting teaching cer- tificates, board of supervisors, irreducible school fund and a two-mill county tax. The development of Oregon received a big set-back on account of the discovery of gold in California which caused nearly half of Oregon's
University School of Education.
1 Especially from Illinois and the adjacent states.
2 See Oregon Statesman, Sept. 29, 1857. ​
EDUCATION IN CONVENTION OF 1857 221
population to move there in a short time. This with the natural hindrances in the earlier beginnings of educa- tion were sufficient to defeat the issue from a practical point of view. As a result in two years the provision for a state superintendent of public instruction was re- pealed. Growing out of this system two counties 3 hav- ing more concentrated population, in 1854 organized their school systems and divided the counties into districts. The prominent feature resulting from Rev. Atkinson's system was the preparing of public opinion and senti- ment for the progressive constitutional measures that were adopted with little opposition in the state conven- tion.
The importance of the work of the convention is very evident when the influence of the constitution in shaping the future is considered. The constitution outlines and directs the educational development. The main prin- ciples remain in the educational system. The constitu- tion was very difficult and expensive to change, requiring a majority vote of the people, after the legislature rec- ommends it for the people to vote on. Legislative laws merely required a majority vote of their bodies to change or repeal them.
Oregon being among the later group of states to de- velop and form a constitution, naturally her constitution was modeled after the earlier ones. Oregon was settled largely by people from older, more developed states and consequently her educational system would be similar to the systems of the older states. In the older states there are three types of constitutional provisions for education that served as a basis for Oregon. These types are rep- resentative of three periods 4 of development. The first period, beginning with the nation's independence and lasting up to the year 1803, was characterized by short
3 Marion and Multnomah counties.
4 Following Hindsdale's Report of U. S. Commissioner of Education, 1892-93, Vol. 2, p. 1312. ​
222 IRA W. LEWIS
general provisions in less than half the states. The other states failed to mention education. These general provisions in accordance with the recommendation of Congress encouraged the establishing of elementary schools and the protection of the colleges. In the second period the constitutions began broadening out and pro- viding for the safeguarding of the school lands and funds. This latter part was less evident in the southern constitutions. The rapid extension of the population from the east toward the west affected the constitutions of this period. The last period beginning in 1835 in- fluenced the formation of Oregon's educational provisions more than the others. This period was characterized by more liberal reactions to educational needs. Michigan 5 was the first state to permanently establish the state superintendent of public instruction. Numerous details as placing a minimum on the price of school lands for sale, setting a minimum school term and the like, 6 were included so that long provisions were necessary and were characteristic of this period. These detailed provisions removed the authority largely from the legislature and placed it in a more permanent unflexible form, less liable to be changed. State institutes, normal schools and libraries were created in this period. It was also marked by the first antagonism of the ecclesiastical bodies toward state schools.
The constitutional convention 7 met, as authorized by the legislative assembly of the Oregon territory in the previous year, in Salem at the court house. The dele- gates assembled August 17, 1857, and completed their work September 18, 1857. The delegates were repre- sentatives of the counties based on population and com- posed of many able and capable men. Some that stand
5 In 1837.
6 See Constitution of loiva, 1846, Article IX; Wisconsin, 1848, Article X; and Michigan, Article XIII.
7 Journal of the constitutional convention of Oregon. ​
EDUCATION IN CONVENTION OF 1857 223
out as influential state leaders are Judge G. H. Williams, 8 who was mayor of Portland and played a prominent part in national politics, M. P. Deady, who was a district judge and took an active part in molding state politics; L. F. Grover, who later as governor and senator was active in protecting and improving the state's interests; Jesse Applegate, an organizer of the early government; Delazon Smith, a senator, and David Logan, an energetic lawyer. With delegates as these and others like them, the convention was amply capable of forming a con- stitution.
President Deady appointed as a committee 9 on edu- cation and school lands, Messrs. Peebles, Boise, Marple, Shattuck, Starkweather, Kinney and Robbins. Mr. J. C. Peebles, who was chairman of the committee, grew up in Pennsylvania and Indiana. He had held public positions as clerk of the House of Representatives, mem- ber of legislature, state librarian, county judge and clerk of the Senate. R. P. Boise, 10 who was reared in Massachusetts, was a college graduate and practiced law for two years. He became prosecuting attorney and later chief justice of the new state. He was chosen for the supreme bench. E. D. Shattuck was educated and taught school in Vermont. He was admitted to the bar and came to Oregon the next year. He became professor of ancient languages in the Pacific University at Forest Grove. Later he was superintendent of schools for Washington county and then probate judge. W. A. Starkweather was born in Connecticut and taught school both there and in Ohio. He was a member of the House of Representatives and a state senator. R. C. Kinney from Illinois was engaged in wool manufacturing and
8 Biographies found in H. K. Hines' History of Oregon, and in H. O. Lang's History of the Willamette Valley.
9 See Journal of the constitutional convention, p. 16.
10 Biographies found in H. O. Lang's History of the Willamette Valley, and in H. K. Hines' History of Oregon. ​
224 IRA W. LEWIS
flour milling. He was a member of the territorial legis- lature.
These men formed the articles which were largely approved by the convention and consequently little time was needed for discussion. All together the time ex- pended by the convention on education was not more than a day. 11 The discussion that took place favored delaying indefinitely the establishing of a state univer- sity, preserving the university fund irreducible for ten years and providing no restriction on the color of chil- dren attending the schools. The minority report of Mr. Marple differed with the ideas of the majority of the committee, consequently was reported separately. It was not considered seriously by the convention and in a short time was laid aside.
In providing for an executive for the state educational system the convention was strongly inclined toward con- servatism. Instead of creating a state superintendent of public instruction, as other states had done, since it began in Michigan in 1837, they sought to place the power and duties on an existing state official. The secretary of state was suggested by the committee 12 but the gov- ernor was preferred and chosen by the convention. The convention accepted the report of the committee on this provision with little discussion. The governor was given the duties and powers that were prescribed by law. He was to hold the position for five years, then when the legislature saw fit, it could provide by law for the election of a state superintendent of public instruc- tion and designate his powers and duties. The governor being busy with official duties did not have time to carry the additional burden of organizing, systematizing and building up the schools. This delay in establishing a separate state superintendent of public instruction lasted
11 A half a day was spent in the committee of the whole, and the rest practically in the routine of passage.
11 Report of the convention in the Oregonian, Aug. 26, 1857. ​
EDUCATION IN CONVENTION OF 1857 225
fourteen years instead of five years and was a great hindrance to educational advancement. No definite poli- cies were established so that the county superintendents organized the schools to suit themselves. The salary of a county superintendent was small at that time and not sufficient to draw capable men. As a result many men of mediocre caliber held these positions. Their work in general corresponded with their salaries and, coupled with the lack of a state policy or plan, the school advance- ment was retarded to a great extent.
The common school fund 13 was very amply provided for in the Oregon constitution, perhaps including more definite sources than any other state up to this time with the exception of Wisconsin. 14 This section is like the one in the constitution of Wisconsin in many respects, in fact the similarity is remarkable even to the wording. It includes the proceeds from the lands given to the state for educational purposes, or when the purpose is not stated, from escheats and forfeitures, military exemption money, gifts, bequests, lands given by Congress and five per cent of the sales of all public lands. The fund was to remain irreducible, while the interest was for the support of the common schools in each district and suit- able libraries. The income from this fund was to be distributed among the counties in proportion to the chil- dren residing therein between the ages of four and twenty years.
The details of the system of the common schools were left to the legislature, the only provision being that the system be established in a general and uniform manner. 15 A motion to limit the schools to white children failed, as the convention thought that negroes and Indians could be excluded otherwise.
13 See Oregon Constitution, Article VIII, Section 2.
14 Wisconsin included fines from the penal law violations which Oregon omitted.
15 See Constitution of Oregon, Article VIII, Section 3. ​
226 IRA W. LEWIS
The sharpest difference of opinion came about as a result of Mr. Deady's motion to strike out the provision for a state university ls for, he said, experience had demonstrated that state universities were of little use to anybody. Mr. Reed thought that every avenue to the acquisition of knowledge should be opened. Mr. Peebles stated that the University of New York was in a flourishing condition. Mr. Boise said the situation in Oregon was peculiar. Other institutions in the older states were so far away that the parents did not want to let their children go so far from home at such an early age. Mr. Smith said it was the poor people who wanted the university, not the rich. The rich could afford to send anywhere. The young people should be well edu- cated if educated at all. On the other hand Mr. Farrar and Mr. Love joy claimed that a university would be par- tisan and sectarian in spite of all opposition, as was old Harvard and others. Mr. Deady suggested, as the trend of the time was toward these tendencies and a state uni- versity would be certain to be sectarian, that it w r ould be better to divide the university fund among the present sectarian colleges in proportion to the number of stu- dents. Mr. Boise opposed this on account of the ten- dency to separate the people of the state into clannish groups. The western state universities were considered generally as failures, Mr. Watkins thought. Mr. Kelsay claimed that universities were expensive and only the rich could afford them.
Many members 17 wanted the university fund trans- ferred to the common school fund, but Mr. Waymire said a law of Congress made it illegal, so that the question was whether to have a state university or let the funds lie idle. The common school fund was sufficient without the university fund, Mr. Smith thought. They finally
16 Report of convention in the Oregon Statesman, Sept. 11, 1857.
17 Those that stated their desire to transfer the fund were Messrs. Kelsay, Farrar, Campbell, and Logan. ​
EDUCATION IN CONVENTION OF 1857 227
decided by a vote of 27 to 15 not to expend the university fund for at least ten years. Since the fund was small, this delay was a good thing. The people as a whole were not prepared or ready for a state university and did not want it at this time. They did not feel that they could support it and send their children to it. The fund was to be invested so that it would increase.
The convention established a board of commissioners consisting of the governor, the secretary of state and the state treasurer. Their duties were to sell the school and university lands, invest the funds arising therefrom and such other duties as prescribed by law. The placing of politicians in the leading educational offices was a bad feature, as they did not give due diligence in protecting the schools' interests. No minimum price was placed on the lands for sale, as later there was in some states, 18 and consequently gave ample opportunities for fraud.
Mr. P. B. Marple, disagreeing with the majority of the education committee, submitted a separate minority report. This report was more exhaustive and detailed than the majority report, containing eight 19 instead of five sections.
There are three outstanding differences brought out by Mr. Marple. In the first place the land assets and moneys now constituting the university fund shall (as soon as Congress shall consent thereto) be and remain a part of the common school fund. This provision was practically useless, as there was a legal objection to it. Congress had never consented to it for any other state and was not likely to in this case. Secondly, no county shall receive its apportionment of the school funds unless there shall have been raised in that county an amount of money for the schools equal to one-half of the appor-
18 For example, such a provision was made in the constitution of Washington, Article XVI.
19 See manuscript copy of the minority report of the state constitu- tional convention, at the Oregon Historical Society at Portland. ​
228 IRA W. LEWIS
tionment. The last difference was that no part of the common school fund shall ever be granted for the use or benefit of any religious sect. Included with this was the provision that no distinction shall be made for or against any person on account of any religious opinions in any department of the common school system. In view of the consequent results the broader view of edu- cation was worked out successfully without being limited to exclude sectarianism or possible sectarian prejudice. This report was not considered seriously by the mem- bers of the convention and was soon laid on the table.
The final product of the convention was approved by nearly 20 all of the members. Their approval largely represented the opinion of the public concerning it. The public had tried at one time 21 to organize a school sys- tem, so they were ready and desirous of governmental provisions that would make the school organization ef- fective. The work of the convention on education for this reason was well received by the public.
The provisions gave Oregon an encouraging outlook for the advancement of education. The organization of the schools established the needed system and put it on a uniform basis. Although the state superintendent of public instruction was delayed, all the schools were en- couraged to rise higher and to come up to certain stan- dards among the counties.
The university was delayed until the people were ready for it and at the same time the fund would in- crease to more nearly meet the needs.
The provisions were sufficient to set forth a general plan and to direct the system of development. On the other hand they were not too rigid or inflexible to pre- vent expansion as society might demand after rapid changes. If details and limitations were definite and exacting, the system would be outgrown when changes
20 Opposed by Messrs. Deady, Marple, and Dryer.
21 In 1849. ​
EDUCATION IN CONVENTION OF 1857 229
in society occurred, and would be a hindrance. For example, a maximum placed on financial expenditures or on the amount to be derived from sources at that time would have unnecessarily cramped the present day broadening and development.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Atkinson, G. H. Early History of the Public School System of Oregon with the General Outlines of its legal aspects. Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, 1876, pp. 4-26.
2. Bryce, James. The American Commonwealth, Chapters 27 and 28. Macmillan Co., New York, 1920, 4th Ed. On State Constitutions.
3. Hines, H. K. History of Oregon. Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, 1893. Including biographies of prominent men of Oregon.
4. Hinsdale, B. A. Report of the Commissioner of Education for the year 1892-93, Vol. 2, pp. 1312-1415. Provisions of state constitutions re- lating to education.
5. Lang, H. O. History of the Willamette Valley. Himes & Lang, Publishers, Portland, 1885. Giving biographies of prominent men.
6. Marple, P. B. Minority Report of the state constitutoinal conven- tion. Manuscript copy. Oregon Historical Society.
7. Oregon. Journal of the Constitutional Convention. State Printer, 1882.
8. Oregonian. Condensed stenographic proceedings of the constitu- tional convention, Aug. 22, 1857, to Oct. 10, 1857.
9. Oregon Statesman. Condensed stenographic proceedings of the constitutional convention, Aug. 25, 1857, to Sept. 29, 1857.
10. Sheldon, H. D. Education in American State Constitutions. (Un- published.) ​
DOCUMENTARY
THE MISSION RECORD BOOK OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL
CHURCH, WILLAMETTE STATION, OREGON
TERRITORY, NORTH AMERICA,
COMMENCED 1834
INTRODUCTION
The important part that the Methodist Mission in the Willamette Valley had in early Oregon history is generally understood. It is safe to say that aside from its influence upon the religious, moral and educational life of the old Oregon country, which was considerable, the success of the United States in establishing its claim and asserting its sovereignty was in no small degree due to the mission and to the efforts that were made by Jason Lee and others connected with the mission to stir interest at Washington and to stimulate immigration to Oregon.
The Record Book of the Mission has never been pub- lished, and few students of the history of the period have had access to it. However, two of the mission- aries, Daniel Lee and J. H. Frost, published in 1844 their "Ten Years in Oregon" which was a full and in- teresting narrative, describing the founding of the Mis- sion and depicting the events of importance during the ten years of its existence. This little book lived up to its promise of giving "a tolerable idea of the toils, priva- tions and difficulties" through which the missionaries passed from the time the Mission was founded in 1834 until it was substantially given up in 1844. Besides this publication, Jason Lee left an important Journal or Diary in his own handwriting, with entries covering the orig- inal journey from Liberty, Missouri, beginning Septem- ber 20, 1834, to the establishing of the location on the Willamette in the autumn of that year, and containing ​
OREGON MISSION RECORD BOOK 231
also a single entry dated August 18, 1837, and other entries covering in part a journey to the eastern states by Jason Lee between March 25 and July 7 of the latter year. This Diary is in the possession of the Oregon Historical Society and it has been published in the Quar- terly. 1
The Mission Record Book is a folio blank book in plain and legible handwriting. The original is in the Metho- dist Church depositary in the city of New York, and a photostat copy has recently been acquired by the Oregon Historical Society. The regular entries from day to day are between April 25, 1834, and the end of December, 1838, and the remainder consists of accounts of clothing and supplies furnished to various Indian children at the Mission, a list of accessions to the Mission School, and a marriage record. Altogether it is an interesting nar- rative that covers the history of the early years of the Mission, with details that are not included in the Diary. It depicts a pathetic struggle against sickness and death, and in simple words shows missionary life in a new country, with some indication of the attendant hardships and discouragements. Although in barest outline, the story is ever memorable because of the examples here given of earnest faith and steadfastness, which while seemingly resulting in little else than dismal failure, nevertheless had a profound and far-reaching effect.
CHARLES HENRY CAREY.
Early in 1833 a notice appeared in the Christian Ad- vocate & Journal, published in the City of New- York, stating that several Indians belonging to the flat head tribe west of the rocky mountains, had made a weary journey to St. Louis in Missouri for the express purpose of enquiring after the white man's God and true manner of worshiping him. In consequence of this report a gen-
1 Vol. VIII, 225; Vol. XVII, pp. 116-146, 240-266, 397-430. ​
232 CHARLES HENRY CAREY
eral feeling of Christian sympathy was manifested in the Churches for these interesting heathen and the of- ficers & mam'gers of the missionary society of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church immediately determined by leave of Providence to establish a mission among the Flathead indians. Pursuant of this determination, a request was presented to Rev. Jason Lee of Stanstead L. C. to under- take the superintendency of sd. mission and having complied with the request, was solemnly set apart for the purpose at the sitting of the New-England conference in the City of Boston, in June, 1833, by Bishop Hedding.
In August following Rev. Daniel Lee of the New- hampshire & Vermont conference, was appointed, at the sitting of the Troy conference, colleague with Rev. J. Lee to labour among the Flatheads. In Nov. of the same year notice appearing in the public A: journals that Capt. N. J. Wyeth of Cambridge Mass, had recently returned from a tour west of the mountains & that he contem- plated returning in the following spring on receiving this intelligence J. L. immediately repaired to Boston had an interview with Capt. W. and readily obtained permission to accompany him back to the mountains. There he procured an outfit which he shiped on board the May Dacre bound to the Columbia river, and engaged Cyrus Shepard, lay member to accompany the mission. Early in 1834 the brethern left New-England on their way to the west & all met at Independence, Mo. (place of general rendezvous before starting for the moun- tains) on the 24th April 1834. Messrs. P. L. Edwards (lay member) and C. M. Walker (non professor) both of Richmond, Mo., having previously joined the mission party.
Friday 25 April 1834.
Made preparation for departing & on Saturday 20th journeyed a few miles & put up at the house of a Mr. Rickman, who gratuitously provided food both for our- selves & animals. ​
OREGON MISSION RECORD BOOK 233
Saturday 3d May.
Arrived at the U. S. agency for the Kansas Indians & lost our beef cow before crossing the river.
Saturday 17th May. Arrived at the river Platte.
Sabbath 8th June. Left the Platte after travelling on its banks 21 days.
Friday 20th June.
Arrived at the general rendezvous of the fur traders on Ham's Fork, a branch of the Colerado of the west.
Wednesday 2d July.
Left rendezvous and on Thursday 15th arrived at the site on which Fort Hall now stands on Snake river in 43 14' North Latitude. Tarried here till 30th July then left for Walla^-wallafe on the Columbia. Two good horses were presented to J. Lee before leaving Fort Hall by two Kiouse Indians. Journeying in company with Mr. Thos. McKay & Capt. Stewart.
Saturday 16th Aug.
This day took leave of Capt. McKay who kindly pre- sented us with a quantity of flower & some sugar before taking leave, journeyed the rest of the way to Walla- walla with Capt. Stewart and a few Indians.
Wednesday 27th Aug. 1834.
Arrived at the Kiouse camp & tarried here the fol- lowing day found the Indians very friendly & desirous we should stop among them. They presented four good horses for which J. Lee made them suitable presents, etc.
Friday 29th.
Left the Indian camp and on Monday 1st Sept. ar- rived safely at Walla-walla.
Thursday 4th Sept.
Put our effects on board one of the Hudson fray Go's boats & in the afternoon launched forth for Vancouver down the Columbia. ​
234 CHARLES HENRY CAREY
15th Sept.
After a tedious voyage & much delay, occasioned by strong head winds the party arrived in health at Van- couver much fatigued by a long journey - - - Were hospitably entertained by the Gentlemen of the Fort, slept in a house this night the first time for one hundred & fifty two nights - Since we left the U. S. have travelled 105 and rested in camp 35 days in all 140. Thursday 18th.
J. & D. Lee set out on an exploring excursion, in- tending to visit the Willamette country and return in a few days, their object is to make observations relative to the best location for the mission. Saturday 27th.
Messrs. Lee returned having explored the country as far as they intended, but are as yet undecided as to a location. A station on the Willamette is strongly rec- ommended by the gentlemen of Vancouver. Sabbath 28th.
J. Lee preached twice at the Fort these were the first sermons preached in this place.
Monday 29th Sept. 1834.
After much prayer for direction as to a place for present location, the Wo-llamette has been decided upon and Messrs. Lee, Edwards & Walker, together with some men to assist in taking up the goods of the mission left Vancouver in one of the Company's boats. C. Shepard remained at Vancouver in charge of the school at that place.
Tuesday 30th.
Having received the goods belonging to the mission of Capt. Lambert from on board the Brig May Dacre, Messrs. L. E. & W. with their assistants left the Brig late in the afternoon & proceeded up the Wallamette and after much toil and hard labour, arrived at the place of landing on the mission farm on Monday 6th Oct. & im​immediately commenced preparations for erecting a house, &c. &c.
Sabbath 19th Oct.
J. Lee held a meeting at the house of Mr. Joseph Gervais where there is an opening for meetings every Sabbath.
Monday 3d Nov.
Moved the goods into the house which as yet is only partly covered. It is built of rough logs 32 feet in length and 18 in breadth—only about 10 feet of the roof is now covered—For four weeks the goods have been sheltered by our tent the last of which the rain fell most of the time—All have been constantly employed during the day during the day in puting the tools in order, preparing timber & building the house and have often been obliged to retire early in the evening to a small borrowed tent (scarcely large enough for all to lie in) with clothes wet, to prevent being thorougholy drenched. Yet through God's blessing have enjoyed uninterrupted health, though far from being comfortable in many aspects. Have laboured hard through the the week and walk two miles every Sabbath to meeting. Blessed be God for all his mercies.
Friday 7th Nov.
Sintwa a Calapooya Indian boy about 10 years of age came to reside in the family.
Sabbath 16th Nov.
Kye-a-tah sister to Sintwah came to live at the Mission she is about 12 years of age, they are orphans. We have given them the English names of John Mark and Lucy Hedding.
Saturday 29th.
Wednesday 10th Dec.
J. Lee set out for Vancouver & arrived there safely on Friday 12th. On the following Sabbath he preached and baptized Two women and sixteen children and on the Monday evening following baptized two more women and 1 child. In consideration of these services he received donations amounting to five pounds for the benefit of the mission.
Thursday 16th Dec.
J. Lee set out for the mission and arrived safely in a few days.
Feb. 23d 1835.
J. Lee arrived at Vancouver & as C. Shepards health is poor, has concluded to have him return to the Mission house.
23d Feb. 1835.
J. Lee arrived at Vancouver & on Monday 2d March, left for the Mission in company with C. Shepard (whose health at present is much impared) and an Indian from Vancouver to assist in taking up the canoe and on Saturday 7th arrived safely at the Mission. The river high & current rapid ascending in a canoe very difficult.
Sabbath 26th April.
Mishael La Framboise brought two indian lads (one of the Silelah, the other of the Kil-a-mook tribe) for the purpose of having them educated.
Wednesday 17th June.
The Father of the Kil-a-mook lad came and took him away, much to our regret as he is a youth of promise and bade fair to improve rapidly. Ken-o-teesh the Silelah boy has lately killed a panther measureing eight feet from the end of the nose to the tip of the tail.
30th June.
J. Lee has in the course of this and the last month has been once to Vancouver and twice to Ft. Wm. and the falls of the Wallamette, once to Ft. Wm. by request ​
OREGON MISSION RECORD BOOK 237
to settle some differences that had arisen between Capt. Wyeth and his men, all parties having agreed to abide by his decision. His business at the falls was to pur- chase & salt salmon for family use & succeeded in pro- curing 6 barrels which he with other help brought up the river in a canoe with much difficulty and hard labour the river being very high. Kenoteesh is fast wasting with consumption.
Wednesday, 19th Aug. 1835.
This morning at fifteen minutes before three o'clock the spirit of Kenoteesh took its flight to the invisible world. Aet. about 15 years. He was a youth of good promise & an amiable disposition. How mysterious the providences of God. May we be submissive & learn in silence at the feet of Jesus. The remains of this Indian youth were this evening commited to their mother dust with appropriate devotional exercises, our neighbours generally attended the funeral. Have finished gathering in our crops of wheat, peas, oats & barley & by God's blessing have a good supply.
24th Aug.
J. Lee set out for Vancouver accompanied by Mr. Nuttall who has been with us on a visit for a few weeks past.
26th Aug.
Kenoteesh's brother came and tarried with us over night, at his request the remains of K. were disinterred that he might once more have a view of his countenance & see how he was buried &c he appears satisfied with what has been done. C. Shepard is now suffering from a severe relapse of intermittent fever.
29th Aug.
Lassee, a Callapooya girl was sent here today by her father to be taught to read and work, we have given her the name of Ann Webster. P. L. Edwards has returned from Ft. Wm. where he has been for six or eight weeks ​
238 CHARLES HENRY CAREY
past preparing to take his departure for the U. S. in the Brig May Dacre, Capt. Lambert.
Tuesday 1st Sept. 1835.
D. Lee by request attended the funeral of Lewis Shangarati at Campment Du Sable & returned late in the evening quite unwell with ague accompanied by J. L. on his return from Vancouver. Have heard this day that the Indian who has lately visited us, although he ap- peared satisfied, was nevertheless quite dissatisfied and intended taking the life of Messrs. D. Lee & Shepard the night he tarried here but was prevented from executing his design by another indian w r ho accompanied him. This may be true it may be false, the report came from the Indians on the other side of the river, with whom he had a skirmish after he left here & killed several of them.
Tuesday 8th Sept.
Messrs. Lee, Edwards & Shepard have all been sick with intermitent fever, now on the recovery Sophia Charponca an orphan (about four years old) was taken this day into the mission family.
Tuesday 29th Sept.
D. Lee left the mission House accompanied by P. L. Edwards. The former for Vancouver to obtain medical assistance being afflicted with a pain in the chest, the latter for the Brig in which he is expecting to embark for the United States.
Tuesday 13th Oct.
Heard this day that D. Lee by the advice of Dr. Mc- Loughlin, has embarked on board one of the Hudsons Bay Go's ships bound to Oa-hoo. This measure has been deemed advisable for the re-establishment of his health P. L. E. has in consequence of this relinquished the idea of leaving at present. J. Lee gone to Campment Du Sable to settle the affairs of the late Louis Shangarati and bring his family to this place, having been appointed thereto by Dr. McLoughlin. ​
OREGON MISSION RECORD BOOK 239
Sabbath 18th Oct. 1835.
The above mentioned family, consisting of Isabel, Joseph and Nicholas, children of the said Louis, Sookta, Cartoosh, Marlooah, Solomon and kalt, formerly slaves but free since they came here for slaves cannot be with us. "They pass our threshold and their shackels fall" Sookta and his little son about 3 years old are both un- well.
Monday 19th Oct. 26th Oct.
Began ploughing to sow fall wheat. P. L. Edward commenced school at Campment Du Sable. Tuesday 27th
John Mark left the mission by agreement he has been unwell of late and expressing a desire to visit his people, was permited, but on returning became unsteady & when told that he must either mind or leave the mis- sion he preferred the latter.
Monday 9th Nov.
Two Indian youths of the Chenook tribe came and requested admitance into the Mission family having been advised to this measure by Dr. McLoughlin and bringing his recommendation. They are brothers and have re- ceived from us the names of Wm. Brooks & Ozro Morrill. Saturday 14th Nov.
Finished sowing fall wheat in all 27 bushels 19 white & 8 of read.
Thursday 26th Nov.
Rev. Mr. Parker (a Presbyterian Clergyman from the State of New- York) visited us this day he has been sent out by the A. B. C. F. M. to explore the country, and ascertain the most eligible situation for a mission. We receive him with all joy as a servant of our common Lord & trust his coming will prove a refreshing season to our souls.
Friday, 27 Nov. 1835.
This morning at 25 minutes past Five o'clock A. M. the immortal part of Nicholas Shangarati took its flight ​
240 CHARLES HENRY CAREY
to the world of Spirits he was taken last Saturday with a pain in his head, in a few days lost his reason and after extreme suffering died as above mentioned Aet. 8 y His remains were interred this evening at 4 o'clock, the neighbours generally attended the funeral and much solemnity was apparent on every countenance Prayer by Mr. Parker, burial service by J. Lee after which the hymn was sung by the youth present beginning "Death has been here and boarn away" &c. was sung. Saturday 28th Nov.
Much to our regret Mr. Parker left us this morning having arranged his business so as to preach at the lower settlement to-morrow and return on his way to Vancouver on Monday Finished digging potatoes have put 225 bushels into the cellar.
Monday 30th Nov.
Have commenced giving instruction to the children every afternoon those in our family and those belonging to our neighbours amount to 20 in number During the summer and fall we have given instruction only three times in a week except on the Sabbath several of the children are making laudable improvement. Monday 7th Dec.
Commenced drawing timber for an addition to our house the dimensions of sd addition to be 32 feet by 16 one of our Indian lads shot a swan this evening that measured 8 feet 6y 2 in. across the wings when extended & 4 feet Iiy 2 inches from the end of the bill to that of the tail and weighed before dressing between 26 and 27 Ibs.
Friday llth Dec. 1835.
This evening our dog took after a deer drove it near the house and finally among the cows which hooked it to death. Its flesh was tender, very excellent and af- forded us a seasonable supply. ​
OREGON MISSION RECORD BOOK 241
Sabbath 13th Dec.
Died this day Sookta (one of the Indians belonging to Louis* family) Aet. about 30 years he has long been afflicted with a distressing pain in his head. Monday 14th.
Funeral of Sookta. Neighbours attended and with our family made the number present Forty five. Tuesday 15th.
Last night died the little son of Sootka Aet. about 3 years. He was afflicted with a sore disease which he inherited from his mother. Was an interesting child and had won much upon our affections, his remains were this evening intered by his father's. Saturday 26th Dec.
J. Lee by the request of Mr. Gervais, baptized his son Isaac who is sick and apparently near his end. The season was solemn and profitable.
Thursday 31st Dec. 1835.
At the close of this year we have abundant cause for thankfulness while recounting the mercies of God to us during its revolutions of moments, hours, days, weeks and months and though some of His providences have been to us dark and mysterious, though we have been called to pass through some trying scenes and have met with many discouragements, yet on the whole we have great reason to bless the Lord, and with grateful hearts exclaim "Surely goodnes and mercy have followed us" through the past year. "His mercies are new every morning and fresh every moment." During the past year there have been admitted into the family Thirteen Indians and one halfbreed four of whom have died, one has been dismissed and nine remain also one that was admited in 1834 so that we have now ten youths who are under our care and instruction and who are making some progress in the knowledge of manners, science and useful labour By the blessing of God on our labours we have a sufficiency of comfortable food both for our own ​
242 CHARLES HENRY CAREY
& their support P. L. Edwards a member of this mis- sion is teaching a school at Campment Du Sable composed of thirteen youth whom he is instructing in the first rudiments of Education D. Lee not yet returned from Oahoo.
1836.
llth Feb. in compliance with a previous invitation all the neighbours visited us at the Mission house P. M. at which time a temperance society was formed the first existing west of the Rocky mountains T Three of our neighbours readily signed the temperance pledge, others made frivolous excuses for not signing and others wanted time to consider of the subject. The following day three of them came and signed The following week J. Lee obtained nine more subscribers there are in all Eighteen members, Lord save this rising settlement from the curse of intemperance.
Tuesday 23d Feb. 1836.
J. Lee left the Mission house to proceed on business to Vancouver & on the following morning Wm. Brooks left in a canoe which is to convey them down the river in company with Messrs. Gervais & Smith. Saturday 5th March.
J. Lee returned in health and safety from Vancouver, bringing with him Chas. Cohana a half breed youth, (who is now admited into the family) and having re- ceived a letter from D. Lee (yet at Oa-hoo) bearing the welcome intelligence that his health is much improved and that for the general good of the cause he has con- cluded to tarry till another opportunity presents of re- turning to this place. He also acknowledges the receipt of $250.00 collected for the mission in a native contri- bution and in presents from benevolent individuals Also a present of $25.00 for himself. J. Lee also re- ceived a letter from Dr. McLoughlin enclosing a Sub- scription paper for the benefit of the mission, of which the following are copies ​
OREGON MISSION RECORD BOOK 243
Fort Vancouver 1st March 1836 The Rev. Jason Lee Dear Sir
I do myself the pleasure to hand you the inclosed subscription which the Gentlemen who have signed it request you will do them the favour to accept for the use of your mission and they pray our heavenly Father with- out whose existance we can do nothing, that of his in- finite mercy he may vouchsafe to bless and prosper your pious endeavours and belive me to be with esteem and regard your sincere well wisher and humble servant
JOHN McLoucHLiN The Rev Jason Lee
Subscription in aid of the Methodist Willamette Mis- sion
S D S D John McLoughlin 600
Duncan Finlayson 6
James Douglas 5 " "
Benj. McKenzie 2 " "
Boulton 2 " "
George T. Allan 2 " "
John M. McLoud 3 " " 26
Saturday 26th March 1836. Found one of our cows dead by poison.
Thursday 31st March
Two Indian lads formerly slaves to Louis Shangarati absconded from the mission. They were lads of little promise. Finished sowing spring wheat began on the 16th inst.
Saturday Eve 30th April.
J. Lee was called to attend the death bed of G. Sar- gent, a native of New England. He found him in ex- treme agony both of body and mind, was perfectly sen- sible and said he was about to die an awful death Mr. L conversed and prayed with him, during prayer he ap- peared deeply wrought upon and at the close added a hearty Amen. Early on the following morning 1st May his immortal spirit took its departure from the tenement of clay. ​
244 CHARLES HENRY CAREY
Monday 2d May 1836.
Funeral of Mr. Sargent. J. Lee improved the occa- sion by discoursing from 40th Ch of Isaiah 6th 7 & 8th verses. There were present a goodly no. of people and the season was one of great solemnity May the living lay it to heart.
Friday 20th May.
J. Lee was suddenly seized with ague and on the following day had a very severe fit, since that by the goodness of God he has been on the recovery.
Wednesday 12th July.
Had a short visit from Dr. McLoughlin. J. Lee yet quite unwell not having recovered from the debilitating effects of ague.
Saturday 16th July
Welaptu-lekt a Kiouse Indian came to visit us and brought two of his sons (Wis-la-how-it-ka and Si-ah-hen) whom he wishes to have remain with us to be educated, he was also accompanied by two Indains from near Wal- la-wal-la This Indian travelled with us some clays while on our journey from Fort Hall to Wa-la-wal-la and with other of his tribe seemed very attentive to religious in- struction and desirous to have missionaries settle among them but none having yet come We-lap-tu-lekt has come to us a distance probably of between two and three hun- dred miles.
Tuesday 18th July.
Welap left this morning, accompanied by the two Indians that came with him, on their return to Wal-la- wal-la, He intends coming back with his family as soon as possible.
Thursday 14th July commenced
reaping barley, Thursday 21st commenced reaping wheat and Saturday 23d commenced pulling peas. Wednesday 3d August 1836.
Finished cutting fall wheat & Thursday 4th finished ​
OREGON MISSION RECORD BOOK 245
peas & oats & commenced cutting spring wheat. Isabel
Denton and Lucy Hedding have been sick several weeks.
Saturday 13th Aug.
Finished cutting wheat. This day two chiefs from Walla-walla came to the mission house with two boys whom they wish to leave to be educated, of course their request is not refused.
Sabbath 14th.
Jason Lee was this morning seized with a severe fit of intermittent fever which is the second attack he has had this season.
Monday 16th.
The chiefs took their leave apparently well pleased, the two boys remain.
Thursday 2d Sept.
Heard that D. Lee has arrived safely in the Colum- bia, having taken passage in a ship from England bound to Vancouver, there are also on board Rev. Mr. Beaver and Lady sent out as Chaplain of H. B. Co. to Vancouver. Monday 6th Sept.
J. Lee set out for Vancouver on business and took Lucy Hedding with him to obtain medical assistance she being in low health having buffered a long time from a severe attack of scrofula Welap-tu-lekt and family ar- rived this evening. Nearly all our family are sick with intermittent fever and sore throat. A son was born this night to Welap-tu-lekt and wife to whom has since been given the name of Mosley Dwight.
Sabbath llth Sept. 1836.
D. Lee arrived to our no small joy His health though not perfectly restored is much improved. Monday 12th.
J. Lee returned in prosperity. Have heard of the safe arrival at Walla-walla of Rev. Mr. Spalding and wife, Dr. Whitman and wife and a Mr. Grey they have been sent out as missionaries by the A. B. C. F. M. It is truely a cause of thanksgiving to Almighty God have ​
246 CHARLES HENRY CAREY
been protected in their dangerous journey over the Rocky mountains to their field of future labour. that they may be both faithful and successful in winning souls to Christ.
Friday 23d Sept.
P. L. Edwards left for Vancouver with Isabel Denton. She has had a sore throat for about two months the swelling is now very great and it is thought expedient to have medical advise.
Friday 30th Sept.
Brother Edwards returned and with him Isabel Den- ton and Lucy Hedding. The last mentioned apparently near her end, she has been under the doctor's care at Vancouver for several weeks, but has been much dis- contented and her desire to return home so great that her physician thought it advisable to indulge her. Wednesday Eve 5th Oct 1836.
Died Lucy Hedding aged about 14 years during her severe sufferings since her return from Vancouver she showed wonderful patience and entire satisfaction with all that has been done for her was apparently attentive to religious instruction and said she endeavoured to pray for a new heart Her Funeral was attended on the Thursday following & her body comited to its mother dust.
Saturday 22d Oct.
J. Lee had another attack of intermittent and so severe as to deprive him of reason for a short time.
Monday 24 Oct. began ploughing
began sowing on the 2d and finished on the 22d Nov & have sowed thirty four bushels.
Monday 21st Nov.
Jason Lee set out for Vancouver for the benefit of medical advice having been much reduced by repeated and severe attacks of fever and ague. Wednesday 30th Nov.
Died Joseph Pournaffe a member of our day and ​
OREGON MISSION RECORD BOOK 247
Sabbath-school Aet. 17 years when our Sabbath school was first opened in April 1835 he could not tell one let- terAt first he attended only on the Sabbath but latterly on week days whenever he could, and made rapid prog- ress, spelt well and could read tolerably well in the Tes- tament he was also very attentive to religious instruc- tion left off play & work on the Sabbath immediately on being told that it was wrong, and often expressed much thankfulness that we had come to the country to learn him to read and tell him about God. After the last harvest when he came one day to school having been long absent, he said to his teacher (his contenance beam- ing with joy) "now I am coming every day" nevertheless He whose ways are not as our ways" had otherwise de- termined and this lovely & interesting youth was de- tained by ill health from attending school after this ex- cepting two or three of the following days. In his death we have much consolation and trust he has gone to rest
forever in the kingdom of his Father and God His
natural father was a Canadian Indian his mother a native
this side the mountains His funeral was attended on
Thursday 1st Dec. with much solemnity After prayer & exhortation at the house of his Father-in-law by D. Lee, his remains were followed to the Mission burying ground by a large procession and then deposited in the silent grave. D. Lee read the burial service over his remains and an appropriate hymn was sung by the youth at the grave.
Wednesday 28th Dec.
J. Lee returned from Vancouver with his health somewhat improved so that he is now comfortable, though still weak and feeble. Blessed be God for all his goodness.
Saturday 31st Dec.
In reviewing the events of the past year we find abundant cause to speak of the loving kindness of our God to us ward, though sickness has been in our family ​
248 CHARLES HENRY CAREY
most of the time for six months past & at sometimes six or eight sick at a time yet death has been permited only once to enter our dwelling and thin our number. During the past year we have taken into the mission family eighteen children and adults who, with those that were with us at the commencement of the year, leaving out two of the last mentioned that have absconded and that has died, make the number now in the family Twenty five. By the blessing of God we have an ample supply of wheat, peas, barley, oats, potatoes, pumpkins, squashes, carrots, beets, turnips, cabbages, onions and a little corn, some beans a supply of butter a little chesee and four hogs fattening May we be as thankful as our Great Benefactor is bountiful.
Monday 2d Jan. 1837.
Agreeable to previous notice the members of the Oregon Temperance Society convened at the Mission house and the meeting being opened with prayer by J. Lee, interesting portions of annual reports of several Temperance Societies, both in England and America, were read by D. Lee after which the Society proceeded to business One member was excluded and three new ones added and among other important resolutions it was unanimously resolved that the following request should immediately be forwarded to Messrs. Young & Carmichael who are preparing a distillery for the pur- pose of manufacturing ardent spirits in this settlement. Messrs. Young & Carmichael,
Gentlemen :
Whereas the members of the Oregon Temperance So- ciety have learned with no common interest and with feelings of deep regret that you are now preparing a dis- tillery for the purpose of manufacturing ardent spirits to be sold in this vicinity and whereas, we are most fully convinced that the vending of spirituous liquors will more effectually paralyze our efforts for the promo- tion of temperance than any other, or all other obstacles ​
OREGON MISSION RECORD BOOK 249
that can be thrown in our way and as we do feel a lively and intense interest in the success of the temper- ance cause believing as we do that the prosperity and interests of this infant & rising settlement will be ma- terially affected by it both as it respects their temporal and spiritual welfare, and that the poor Indians whose case is even now indescribably wretched will be made far more so by the use of ardent spirits and whereas Gentlemen you are not ignorant that the laws of the United States prohibit American Citizens from selling ardent spirits to Indians under the penalty of a heavy fine and as you do not pretend to justify yourselves but urge pecuniary necessity as the reason of your proceedure and as we do not cannot think it will be of pecuniary in- terest to you to prosecute this business, if as you have determined to do, you discontinue it the present season and as we are not enemies but friends, and do not wish under existing circumstances that you should sacrifice one penny of the money you have already expended, We therefore for the above and various other reasons which we could urge
Resolve 1st that we the undersigned do most earnestly and feelingly request you Gentlemen to forever abandon your enterprise. Res 2d. That we will and do hereby agree to pay you the sum you have expended, if you will give us the avails of your expenditures or deduct them from the bill of expenses.
Res. 3d. That a committee of one be appointed to make known the views of this society and present our request to Messrs. Young & Carmichael.
Res. 4th. That the undersigned will pay the sums severally affixed to our names to Messrs. Y. & C. on or before the thirty first day of March next the better to enable them to give up their project.
Resolved 5th
That the inhabitants who do not belong to this society shall be invited to affix their names to this re​
250
CHARLES HENRY CAREY
quest, and to give what they feel free to give for the pro- motion of this object.
Members of the society.
his
Joseph x Gervais mark
Deportes x McKay
John x Hoard
John x Turner
Xavier x La-de Rout
Joseph x DeLoire
Charles Roe
S. H. Smith
James O'Neal
Webley J. Hawkshurst
Calvin Tibbets
Winslow x Anderson Plante Rondeau Pecord Furcier
The following are not members. $Cts
Pierre x Depot 8 00 A. Erquet
John B. x Perrault 8 00 George Gay
400 P. x Billick
400 6 bush wheat
400 400 6.00 5.00
6 bush wheat
Chas. x
Chas. x
Andre x
Louis x
T. J. Hubbard 8 00
Etienne x Lucier
Slisha Ezekiel
The undersigned jointly promise to pay the balance be the same more or less
Jason Lee
Daniel Lee
Cyrus Shepard
P. L. Edwards
To the foregoing request Messrs. Young & Carmichael subsequently returned the following answer.
Wallamette 13th Jan. 1837. To the Oregon Temperance Society,
Gentlemen,
Having taken into consideration your request to re- linquish our enterprise in manufacturing ardent spirits we therefore do agree to stop our proceedings for the present. But Gentlemen the reasons for our first begin- ning such an undertaking was the innumerable difficul​
OREGON MISSION RECORD BOOK 251
ties and tyranizing oppression of the Hudson's Bay Com- pany here under the absolute authority of Dr. McLough- lin, who was treated us with more disdain than any American Citizen's feelings could support. But as there have now some favourable circumstances occurred that we can get along without making spirituous liquors, we resolve to stop the manufacture of it for the present.
Gentlemen, We do not feel it consistent with our feelings to receive any recompense whatever for our ex- penditures, but are thankful to the Society for their offer. We remains yours &c
YOUNG & CARMICHAEL
Wednesday llth Jan. 1837.
J. Lee returned from Campment DuSable accom- panied by Wm. A. Slacum Esq of the U. S. Navy who is visiting the country &c. He appears to feel much in- terest in this rising settlement and willing to do all in his power to benefit the inhabitants and has offered to carry a party in his vessel to California free of expense except board, to purchase cattle for the inhabitants there being no neat cattle owned in the settlement excepting a very few belonging to the mission the rest have been loaned by the H. B. Co. to the people barely for their milk. The inhabitants are to meet here to-morrow to form a company & make arrangements to bring about so desirable an object. D. Lee has this day been re- quested to baptize a child of Mr. Gervais and has accord- ingly performed this rite.
Thursday 12th Jan. 1837.
Agreeable to previous arrangements, a number of the settlers convened at the mission, house for the pur- pose of forming a company and making other necessary preparations for the California expedition &c. Mr. S. tarried with us this day he highly approves of the method we have pursued to benefit the Indians & says he is perfectly astonished at the improvement they have ​
252 CHARLES HENRY CAREY
made who are under our care. Died this day the child of Mr. Gervais Aet. 2% y.
Friday 13th Jan. 1837.
Mr. Slacum left the mission accompanied by J. Lee. To-day they are to visit the several farms in the settle- ment this evening finish the arrangements for the con- templated expedition and to-morrow are to proceed to Vancouver &c.
Saturday 14th Jan.
Funeral of Mary Gervais. Services performed by D. Lee. Mr. Edwards returned from Campment Du Sable and informed us that he is going with the party to California. Busily engaged in geting ready. Monday 16th Jan. 1837.
Br. Edwards left this morning to join those that have concluded to go for cattle. They expect to sail on Thurs- day next.
Sat. 28th Jan.
J. Lee returned in comfortable health the Brig in
which Mr. S. sails has not yet [left] the Columbia On
Br. Lee's taking leave of Mr. Slacum he presented him with a donation of Fifty Dollars for the Mission in a letter of which the following is a coppy.
American, Brig Loriot, off the Willamette Oregon Kiver
18th Jan 1837. My dear Sirs.
I have much pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of your kind favour of the 16th and I beg leave to thank you for the expressions of regard contained therein. It was indeed a source of regret that I could continue no longer at your Mission on the banks of the Willamette
for the visit was to me one of exceeding interest On
my return to the civilized parts of our country I shall not hesitate to express my humble opinion that you have already effected a great public good by practically shew- ing that the Indians west of the Rocky Mountains are capable of the union of mental and physical discipline ​
OREGON MISSION RECORD BOOK 253
as taught at your establishment For I have seen with my own eyes Children who two years since were roaming their own native wilds in a state of savage barbarism now being brought within the knowledge of moral and religious instruction, becoming useful members of society by being taught the most useful of all arts, Agriculture and all this without the slightest compulsion.
As an evidence of my good will towards the laudable efforts you are making in this remote quarter, debared of almost every comfort, deprived of the associations of Kindred & of Home, I beg you to accept herewith the sum of Fifty Dollars Only regreting that my means at present will not allow me to add more I pray you to accept my dear Sirs the assurance of the unfeigned regard of your friend & obb svt
WM. A. SLACUM
U. S. N. To the Rev. Messrs. Lee
Messrs. Shepard & Edwards
Mission House Willamette
Tuesday 21st Feb. 1837.
Have been greatly afflicted with sickness in our family for a week past an unusually severe cold or influenza having suddenly seized most of the children seventeen of them have been nearly confined to their beds for sev- eral days requiring care both night & day so that we are nearly worn out with labour and watching. Some of them are now getting better. This evening died Mosley Dwight infant son of Welap-tu-lekt and Maria aged five months and fifteen days his disease appeared to be croup several of the other children have also to appear- ance had a touch of that disease.
Wednesday 22d Feb 1837.
Funeral of Mosley.
Wednesday 15th March.
Died Samuel son of Welap-tu-lekt between one & two years old his Funeral was on the following day. ​
254 CHARLES HENRY CAREY
Friday 17th March.
Welap-tu-lekt left us in our canoe he has taken with him Maria, Susan and James, also Clarrissa his daughter who has for several weeks past been sick with a fever and is apparently near her end. We have told him that she is not fit to be moved but as he is set upon taking her to Vancouver to the hospital, we do not deem it pru- dent to urge the matter he is intending to proceed from Vancouver on a visit to his people. Maria & Clarrissa are to return it is however doubtful whether C. lives to reach V .... r
Tuesday 21st March.
J. Lee was called to bury the mortal remains of Hec- tor McGilvery a half breed young man aged about 21 y at Campment Du Sable, he died on the 19th Inst while at the Campment Du Sable he by request baptized Joseph, son of Mr. McKay, who is sick of consumption. Thursday 23d March.
J. Lee was called to Campment du Sable to bury the remains of Joseph McKay who died yesterday Aet. about eight years.
Tuesday 28th March 1837.
Maria returned from Vancouver and informed us that Clarissa died just at the moment of their landing at V. on the 25 Inst. and was buried there. Welap, Susan & James have gone up the Columbia Clarrissa was an active promising girl about ten years of age, learned well and was much loved in our family. Saturday 1st April 1837.
J. Lee was requested to go to Campment du Sable to baptize a child of Mr. Longter he accordingly went tar- ried over night, held a meeting on the Sabbath and on Monday united a couple in matrimony & returned to the Mission house.
Friday 28th April
Death has been permitted to enter our dwelling and remove an inmate of the family Ann Webster died about ​
OREGON MISSION RECORD BOOK 255
12 o'clock at noone Aet about 12 years, she has been sick for four or five months past and for two or three days has suffered extremely but was very patient. Sabbath 30th Apr
Meeting at Mission house and funeral of Ann Web- ster Full attendance.
Tuesday 9th May.
J. Lee attended the funeral of Chariot an Indian girl who was a member of our Sabbath School, she died yes- terday at Mr. Gervais' Aet. about 10 years. Saturday 13th May
Heard that the individuals designed to reinforce this mission, twelve in number have arrived at the Sandwich Isls.
Thursday 18th May.
Rec'd intelligence that the reinforcement had arrived at the Columbia and on the f ollowing day J. Lee departed in a canoe for Vancouver to meet and conduct them up the river to this place. Mr. Lamb, who has been with us for several weeks past, also left for Vancouver. Saturday 27th May 1837
J. L. arrived with five of our Brethern & Sisters, whose faces we rejoice to see and whom we hail with gladness as fellow-labourers in this distant land may the Lord make us and them abundantly useful we have also rec'd a large number of letters from our friends which have cheered & refreshed our drooping spirits. Sabbath 28th May
Saw-nik, a neighboring Calapooya was brought to the Mission house dreadfully mangled having been shot by another Indian while sleeping in his lodge this morning. He has requested surgical aid, but it is not likely that he will live to endure the operation. This is the second Indian that has come to be taken care of within a few weeks, both having been shot by an unknown hand. Thursday 1st June
Br. Beers and wife arrived at the mission and on ​
256 CHARLES HENRY CAREY
Wednesday 7th Br. Wilson the remaining member of the reinforcement arrived & J. Lee set out for Vancouver in company with Capt Hinkley & Lady who have been paying us a visit.
Tuesday 13th June
J. Lee returned. C. Shepard dangerously sick with inflamatory fever.
4th July
Annual meeting of the Oregon Temperance Society at Mission house, short & appropriate addresses were made by J. Lee, D. Lee, A. Beers, W. H. Wilson & Dr. White. Twelve new members were added and a most salutary influence gained in the cause of Temperance. Sabbath 16th July 1837.
A large assembly for this place convened in the pleas- ure grove in front of the Mission House for public wor- ship. Previous to the commencement of the usual ser- vices for the day the Rev. Jason Lee and Miss Anna Maria Pitman Mr Cyrus Shepard and Miss Susan Down- ing of the Oregon Mission and Mr Charles Roe and Miss Nancy an indian girl of the Willamette settlement, were united in lawful matrimony according to the form laid down in the Methodist discipline. After the usual ser- vices of the day which were very appropriate and at- tended with unusual solemnity, the sacrament of the Lord's supper was for the first time publicly celebrated in this place. The season was one of thrilling interest and almost breathless attention. The Spirit of God seemed working upon the minds of all present & each seemed to feel for himself "God is in this place." Two who profess to have recently experienced the comforts of religion united with us on trial one of them who was brought up a Quaker was baptized and both partook of the sacrament. Several others spoke of their determi- nation to forsake their former practices and seek the pardon of their sins. May God so assist us that "The covenant we this moment make, Be ever kept in mind." ​
OREGON MISSION RECORD BOOK 257
Wednesday 2d August.
Rev. J. Lee and wife and C. Shepard sat out in com- pany with Mr. Des-portes on an excursion for health, followed up the Willamette and its branches for several days and from thence crossed over to Pudding river, thence to the Campment Du Sable, thence crossed the Willamette & returned to the Mission where they arrived safely on Thursday 10th Aug. about 12 o'clock at noon, somewhat recruited in health found all well &c &c Monday 14th Aug 1837.
Messrs. Lee and Shepard with their wives and Mr. J. Gervais set out on an excursion to the Pacific. Crossed the Willamette about 1 o'clock P. M. and rode in a west- erly direction & encamped the first evening on a branch of the Yamhill river. Next morning continued on the journey through a most beautiful country and encamped at evening at the foot of the mountains. Wednesday commenced crossing the mountains & encamped at night in a deep valley. Thursday set forward again intending to reach the shores of the Pacific but were disappointed and encamped in a narrow vale 11 or 12 miles distant rainy during the night & next morning. Friday resumed our journey about 11 o'clock A. M. thinking the rain over but it commenced raining again soon and continued raining most of the way. Arrived thoroughly drenched at a beautiful encampment in a small grove of Cypres & pine about 5 p. m. and were soon dry and comfortable by the aid of a good fire.
Saturday 26th Aug. 1837.
Started on our return and arrived safely at Mission on Wednesday 30th. The way over the mountains is very rough, large trees have fallen across the path over which the horses were obliged to jump so that in some places we were obliged to allight every few minutes on the whole the journey has been one of fatigue but we hope will eventually prove a benefit to our health and better enable us to pursue the business of our calling. ​
258 CHARLES HENRY CAREY
Monday 4th Sept 1837
Messrs. D. Lee and Shepard started for Vancouver on business and arrived there on Wednesday 6th.
Thursday 7th Sept.
Messrs. Leslie & Perkins arrived in a canoe at Van- couver from Ft. George, having recently entered the river in the Ship Sumatra. They with Mrs. Leslie & three children and Miss M. J. Smith have been sent out by the board as a reinforcement to the Mission.
Sabbath Nov. 12.
Died Isabel Denton a member of the Mission family Age 15 y. We trust prepared through grace to enter heaven.
Wednesday 20.
The reinforcements all arrived at the Mission house about 11 o'clock P. M. Sabbath morn Nov. 12th died Isabel Denton, Aet. 15 years, of consumption.
Tuesday 21 Nov 1837
Rev. H. H. W. Perkins was married to Miss Elvira Johnson by Rev. Mr. Leslie all of the Oregon Mission.
Previous to last date the California cattle Co. had all arrived safely. Br. Edwards in good health. They brought in over six hundred head of neat cattle mostly heifers and some horses started from C. with eight hun- dred head.
Monday 25 Dec. 1837.
Formed a Missionary Society in the Willamette Set- tlement. The inhabitants generally came forward and subscribed liberally for the benefit of the Calapooya In- dians have rased the sum of Dollars for the ensuing year.
Monday 1st Jan. 1838.
Annual meeting of the Oregon Temperance Society. Address by H. H. W. Perkins &c.
Friday 16th Feb.
J. Lee set out in company with Mr. Burnie for for the Umpqua country on an exploring tour. ​
OREGON MISSION RECORD BOOK 259
Sabbath llth March 1838.
J. Lee returned after toilsome and dangerous journey the late rains having swolen the rivers and creeks to an incredible degree.
Wednesday 14th March.
It having been previously resolved by the brethern of this Mission to commence a new Station at the Dalles (so called) on the Columbia and Messrs. D. Lee and H. H. W. Perkins having been appointed to said Station they left us this day on their way thither thus there begins to be a separation in our little band, but we trust the cause of the Lord will thereby be advanced and bid them God speed in the name of the Lord. Monday 26th March
A majority of the members of this Mission deeming it expedient for the Superintendent of the Mission to visit the U. S. and represent personally to the board of managers of the M. S. M. E. C the situation of the country and Indians inhabiting it and it appearing to him to be duty, he has taken leave of his Companion and set out for Vancouver accompanied by Br. Edwards and two of our Indian boys Wm. Brooks & Thos. Adams It is truely affecting thus to part with our dear Brethern who are about to commence a most hazardous journey across the Rocky Mountains. May the God of Israel be their rock and defence.
Saturday 21st April.
Br. Perkins came after Sistr. P. He is much pleased with the new station, the Indian name of which is Was- copam.
Thursday 26th Apr.
Br. & Sister P. sat out on their way to Wascopam in a canoe accompanied by Indians.
Saturday 23d June 1838.
This evening between 9 & 10 o'clock P. M. Mrs. Lee after severe labour for several days was delivered of a fine boy whose birth caused much joy no doubt being ​
260 CHARLES HENRY CAREY
entertained but that the mother would do well. The life of the child however hung in doubt from its birth and on Monday following at 6y 2 o'clock P. M. its spirit left this troublesome world about the time of its death un- favourable symptoms appeared in Sister Lee and after a night of extreme suffering she died calmly on Tuesday 26th at 6 o'clock A. M. Thus death has been permitted to strike his fatal dart at one of our number with too sure an aim.
Wednesday 27th June Funeral of Mrs. Lee & child at 1 o'clock P. M.
Tuesday 14th Aug. 1838.
Having heard from Wascopam that Sister Perkins is sick and needs assistance Br. Leslie and Sister White with her babe (about eight months old) set out for W. in a canoe accompanied by Dr. Bailey and some Indians and arrived there safely on Monday the 20th. Found Sister P. much more comfortable then was expected, Br. Whitman from the Willetpoo station having previously visited her and administered much to her relief. On Wednesday morning 22d Mr. L. & Sister W. sat out on their return and arrived at the cascades that evening next day after making the portage took their canoe and proceeded the current still very rapid & water rough the - - being high. The river (the Columbia) in this place is thought to be about lyj mile wide and the canoe was about one third this distance from the nearest shore the canoe began to fill and in a few moments all were plunged in the frightful gulph of waters the Infant was asleep with its mother at the time the canoe went down and was soon lost in the raging flood. Br. L. arose and thinking of Sister W. immediately plunged to save her if possible, caught her clothes and came up again but was obliged to relinquish his hold he now thought that by giving her up he might possibly save his own life but again he thought she was entrusted to his care and if he died in the attempt he would do his best to save ​her & plunged again and succeeded in getting hold of her clothes. He now saw the canoe drifting ahead having been capsised when it went down, he soon gained it and got hold of the hand of an Indian that had risen on the other side of it, he again reached down and brought Sister W. head above water—they had now drifted nearer to the fartheres shore from where the canoe filled, and fortunately some Indians were on that side with a canoe who immediately upon discovering their situation put off to their relief joyful on beholding this they called on them to make all possible speed, by the aid of these friendly natives the party were all brought safe & alive to land except the babe whose body upon righting the canoe was found to have drifted along with it but the vital spark had forever fled. The Indians took them into their canoe one of them had a new blanket which he took off and wrapped round them and thus in their wet clothes they descended to Vancouver where they were received in the most friendly manner and had every assistance afforded them which sympathy could devise or their distressed circumstances demand. On Friday they left Vancouver and arrived at the Willamette on Saturday eve bringing the lifeless body of the blooming infant, whose remains were deposited in the Mission burying ground on the Sabbath following 27th Aug. 1838 when an affecting and very appropriate discourse was delivered by Br. Leslie founded on Deut. 8th ch 5th v. how wonderful in working is our God and his ways past finding out.
Wednesday 5th Sept. 1838.
Heard by way of Rev. Mr. Beaver (who has come on a visit to Willamette) that our Brethern have arrived safely at Rendezvous and that Br. Grey of the Presbyterian Mission has returned with a wife and four additional missionaries and their wives to labour among the Indians this side the mountains. Br. Grey was attacked by a band of Sioux Indians while on his way from ​
262 CHARLES HENRY CAREY
Rendezvous to the States, his Indians cut off to a man himself twice wounded by a ball but he escaped and a few more white men with him with one horse apiece having been robbed of every thing besides. Monday 17th Sept.
Br. D. Lee arrived in the evening was cause of much gratitude to our Almighty Benefactor and Preserver he was expected to be here more than a week ago and we had began to be very uneasy fearing something had befallen him and a party of men were to set out on the Morrow in search of him. The cause of this delay was the difficulty of travelling through the thickets and mountains between this and Wascopam they consumed all their provision and were at length driven to the ne- cessity of killing a poor jaded horse to support existance on the dried flesh of this they subsisted till they arrived at the Clakamas where they procured Salmon having consumed the remainder of their horse that very day. Br. Lee brought letters from Brs. Lee & Edwards dated at the American rendezvous in July last. They were in good health and spirits and were expecting to start for the States in a few days. He also brought letters to several of the Brethern & Sisters from the U. S. Wednesday 26th Sept. 1838.
Albert Brown one of our Indian boys was this morn- ing thrown from a horse and badly hurt so that he is deprived of his senses and his life doubtful. Daniel Lee has left this afternoon with a band of neat cattle for Wascopam two men from the settlement are engaged to assist him through.
On Saturday 29th.
Dr. Whitman of the Kiouse mission arrived on a visit and left on Tuesday 2d Oct. His visit and conversation among us was truely welcome and profitable. Tuesday 16th Oct.
Received letters from D. Lee by the return of the men that accompanied him, giving intelligence that he ​
OREGON MISSION RECORD BOOK 261
her & plunged again and succeeded in getting hold of her clothes. He now saw the canoe drifting ahead having been capsised when it went down, he soon gained it and got hold of the hand of an Indian that had risen on the other side of it, he again reached down and brought Sister W. head above water -they had now drifted nearer to the fartheres shore from where the canoe filled, and fortunately some Indians were on that side with a canoe who immediately upon discovering their situation put off to their relief joyful on beholding this they called on them to make all possible speed, by the aid of these friendly natives the party were all brought safe & alive to land except the babe whose body upon righting the canoe was found to have drifted along with it but the vital spark had forever fled. The In- dians took them into their canoe one of them had a new blanket which he took off and wrapped round them and thus in their wet clothes they descended to Vancouver where they were received in the most friendly manner and had every assistance afforded them which sympathy could devise or their distressed circumstances demand. On Friday they left Vancouver and arrived at the Wil- lamette on Saturday eve bringing the lifeless body of the blooming infant, whose remains were deposited in the Mission burying ground on the Sabbath following 27th Aug. 1838 when an affecting and very appropriate discourse was delivered by Br. Leslie founded on Deut. 8th ch 5th v. how wonderful in working is our God and his ways past finding out.
Wednesday 5th Sept. 1838.
Heard by way of Rev. Mr. Beaver (who has come on a visit to Willamette) that our Brethern have arrived safely at Rendezvous and that Br. Grey of the Presby- terian Mission has returned with a wife and four addi- tional missionaries and their wives to labour among the Indians this side the mountains. Br. Grey was at- tacked by a band of Sioux Indians while on his way from ​
264 CHARLES HENRY CAREY
Saturday llth Feb. 1837.
Mr. Solomon H. Smith was married to Miss Ellen of the Clatsop tribe at the house of Mr. Smith Willamette settlement by Jason Lee.
Monday 3d April 1837.
Mr. T. J. Hubbard was married to Miss Mary Som- mata at the house of Mr. Billeck Willamette settlement by Jason Lee.
Monday 1st May 1837.
Mr. John Hoard was married to Miss Liset De Fortes at the house of Mr. De Fortes Willamette settlement by Daniel Lee.
Sabbath 16th July 1837.
Were married at the Mission House Rev. Jason Lee to Miss Anna Maria Pitman, by Daniel Lee. Mr. Cyrus Shepard to Miss Susan Downing and Mr. Charles Roe to Miss Nancy an Indian girl by Jason Lee.
Tuesday 21 Nov. 1837.
At the house of Mr. Leslie Mr. H. K. W. Perkins to Miss Elvira Johnson by David Leslie.
Monday 22d Jan. 1838.
Were married Mr. Joseph Gervais to Miss Margaret of the Clatsop tribe Mr. Xavier La De Root to Miss Julia Gervais by Rev. Jason Lee at the house of Mr. Gervais Willamette settlement.
The
following table exhibits the names of the individuals who have been admitted into the Mission family since its establishment, with the date when received, tribe to which they belong and when they died or left. ​
OREGON MISSION RECORD BOOK
265
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LETTER ABRAHAM LINCOLN TO JAMES T. THORNTON
The following autograph letter of Abraham Lincoln was brought to Wilsonville, Oregon, from Urbana, Cham- paign county, Illinois, by J. W. Thornton, in February, 1906, and is a precious heirloom of his family, having been given him by his father, the gentleman to whom it was written. The Mr. Widmer referred to followed Mr. Lin- coln's advice and began the study of law, but before he secured a license to practice the Civil war began. Then his legal studies were dropped and he enlisted in response to the first call for volunteers, and rose from the ranks to a colonel. After the war he resumed his law studies and in a few years became eminent in his profession and now lives in Urbana, Illinois. It is believed that this is the first time that anything appears in Mr. Lincoln's writings describing how he acquired a knowledge of the law. The Historical Society is under obligations to Mr. Thornton for kindly loaning the letter to Mr. Himes, Assistant Secretary, with permission to both copy and photograph it.
"Springfield, Dec'r 2, 1858. "James T. Thornton, Esq.,
"Dear Sir : Yours of the 29th, written in behalf of Mr. John H. Widmer, is received. I am absent altogether too much to be a siutable instructor for a law student. When a man has reached the age that Mr. Widmer has, and has already been doing for himself, my judgement is, that he reads the books for himself without an instructor. That is precisely the way that I came to the law. Let Mr. Wid- mer read Blackstone's Commentaries, Chitty's Pleadings, Greenleaf's Evidence, Story's Equity, and Story's Equity Pleadings, get a license, and go to the practice, and still keep reading. That is my judgment of the cheapest, quick- est, and best way for Mr. Widmer to make a lawyer of himself. Yours truly,
"A. LINCOLN." ​
LETTER OF JOHN ORDWAY OF LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION TO His PARENTS
Camp River Dubois April the 8th 1804 Honored Parence.
I now embrace this oppertunity of writeing to you once more to let you know where I am and where I am going. I am well thank God, and in high Spirits. I am now on an expedition to the westward, with Capt Lewis and Capt. Clark, who are appointed by the Presidant of the United States, to go on an expidition through the interior parts of North America. We are to ascend the Missouri River with a boat as far as it is navigable and then go by land, to the western ocean if nothing prevents, &c. This party con- sists of 25 picked men of the armey & country likewise and I am so happy as to be one of them pick'd from the armey, and I and all the party are if wee live to return, to Receive our our Discharge whenever we return again to the United States if we chuse it. This place is on the Mississippi River oppisite to the mouth of the Missouri River, this has been our winter quarters. Wee expect to be gone 18 months or two years. Wee are to Receive a great Reward for this expidition, when wee Return. I am to Receive 15 dollars pr. month and at least 400 ackers of first Rate land, and if wee make Great Discoveries as we expect, the Dnited States, has promised to make us Great Rewards more than we are promised, &c ,for fear of exidants I wish to inform you that I left 200 Dollars in cash, at Hark- ensteins, put it on interest with a substantial man by the name of Charles Smith & Copertnership which weere three more Substantial men binding with him and Capt. Clark is bound to see me paid at the time and place where I Re- ceive my discharge and if I should not live to return my heirs can git that and all the pay Due me from the U. S. by applying to the Seat of Government. I have Reed no letters Since Betseys yet, but will write next winter if I have a chance.
Yours, &c. JOHN ORDWAY ​
JOHN ORDWAY TO His PARENTS 269
John Ordway & Stephen Ordway
The letter is written on two pages of paper 7x1214 inches in size, with 23 lines on the first page and 26 lines on the second page. The third page is blank, and the fourth page is blank except the space reserved for the ad- dress, which is as follows:
"Stephen Ordway "Hebron
"Newhampshire
"divert this to Concord post office, it being older than Plymouth Post Office, or Hanover post office."
The letter was "diverted" because in another hand writ- ing these words appear: "Concord N H Jun 27 Missent and Fow'd"
The letter was postmarked with a stamp thus : "Caho : April 14, 1804," meaning "Cahokia," as that was a mail station at that date.
Society by Mrs. Eva Emery Dye in 1903. During the year 1900, while en- gaged in securing sources of material relating to the Lewis and Clark Expe- dition of 1804-6, which formed the basis of her volume entitled The Conquest, she received this letter from a niece of Ordway. George H. Himes. ​
AN ACCOUNT OF THE FIRST ATTEMPT AT EXPLORATION OF THE "OREGON CAVES" 1
By WM. W. FIDLER
Two years ago Mr. E. J. Davidson, one of the most ad- venturesome and successful mountaineers and hunters of this region, while in pursuit of a deer he had wounded and was following with his dog, accidentally stumbled upon the discovery of what he took to be the mouth of a cave, and which conjecture has since proven to be correct. The discovery was made on the spur of a mountain familiarly known out here as "Old Grayback," and on the side that is drained off toward Sucker creek or Illinois river. It was not till July 5, 1877, however, that an attempt at ex- ploration of this subterranean cavern was made. Then the discoverer, in company with his brother, Carter David- son, and James Nail, undertook to penetrate its mysterious and marvelously beautiful apartments. Aided by pitch light, they were able to penetrate only two or three of the most accessible chambers, which intensified without satis- fying their curiosity; but their supply of illuminating ma- terial having become exhausted they were compelled to desist. It was on the strength of the report made by these parties, and at the desire of the discoverer of the cave, that, in company with a party of ladies and gentlemen of Williams creek, the writer visited this spot where Nature "thrones sublimity" in glistening if not in "icy halls." But to describe the trip fully I had best commence with the commencement.
Our party consisted at the start of but six, to-wit: Miss Eudora A. Godfrey, Miss Margaret Davidson of Port- land, Mr. Julius Goodwin, two boys and this deponent. We traveled up the right hand fork of Williams creek to its head, thence across one or two streams that run westerly into Sucker creek, then up a large mountain that puts out
1 For naming and reservation of the Oregon Caves, see this Quarterly, Vol. XX, p. 400. ​
EXPLORATION OF THE OREGON CAVES 271
from Grayback to the milk ranch of Messrs. Goodwin and Davidson. Here we camped for the night and partook of the kind hospitalities of these certainly highly elevated and obliging dairymen. The next morning our party was in- creased by the addition to our numbers of Mrs. Julius Goodwin, Mr. Frank Rose and E. J. Davidson. Of our party were also two young lads named David Johns Jr. and Ira Sparlin.
To the place we wished to reach was only about IVs miles from the milk ranch, but owing to the ruggedness of the route and the course we took to get there, we were fully three hours in reaching it with our riding animals. Soon after we reached the scene of operation, however, the work of exploration began and was entered upon by each member of our party with a zeal and enthusiasm that meant business. From the mouth of the cave emerges a branch of water, and it is up the bed of this stream we first begin our underground perambulations. The moun- tain is of limestone formation and the caverns and cross caverns, in almost every form imaginable and unimagin- able, which we beheld with delightful amazement, were evidently the result of the action of water. After pene- trating perhaps 100 yards, we leave the stream to examine upper and side rooms that do not require so much exposure of the feet to water. Every successive department reached evoked from each and every member such vociferative ex- pressions as "Oh ! Oh ! ! Oh ! ! ! Isn't it nice, isn't it beau- tiful," etc.; and one of the earliest convictions that over- came us most completely was that it v/ould be impossible for us in the short period of our stay to do anything like justice to the examination of these diversified, fantastic and indescribable realms of the underworld. Prentice's Ode to Mammoth Cave has now a much clearer meaning:
"Crystal founts,
Almost invisible in their serene And pure transparency high pillared domes With stars and flowers all fretted like the halls Of Oriental monarchs" ​
272 WM. W. FIDLER
Are expressions admirably suited to a description of this Josephine county cave. The stalagmite and stalactite for- mations of this cave surpass anything ever dreamed of in the sphere of arts, and nothing I ever beheld in Nature before so completely overcame me with suggestions of sublimity and beauty.
In some places the floor is almost as smooth as polished marble, and in others the ceiling is frescoed all over with bright crystals or stalactite in the shape and resembling icicles. In one chamber in particular, which we casually designated the King's Palace, was this the case. The vari- ous members of our party commenced here, in obedience to a very natural impulse, to break off specimens to bring away with them, but in obedience to a suggestion that it looked like a shame to desecrate or deface anything in na- ture so beautiful as that was, they readily ceased the work of spoliation; and let us hope that future tourists and ad- venturers will be governed by the same honorable deference and spare this apartment if none of the others.
A volume might be written descriptive of the beauties of the small portion we beheld, which portion did not com- prise one-tenth, perhaps not one ten-thousandth, part of these "Dirn and awful aisles."
One great clanger to be constantly guarded against is that of getting lost. Frequently we lost our way and got into narrow crevices, through which we could see a light in some lower apartment but could not reach it without retracing our steps and finding some larger crevice. What could be explored by enlarging some of these narrow fis- sures is a matter of conjecture. The farthest back any of our party got was perhaps not over 400 yards. To make that distance through its various angles, dips and ascents, required nearly an hour's travel after we were familiar with the route. We did not try to follow up the main stream of water, which undoubtedly must constitute the main part of the cave, but have left lots of work for future explorers. Our party obtained many beautiful and valu​
EXPLORATION OF THE OREGON CAVES 273
able specimens as souvenirs of their very hard and for the ladies dangerous journey. Many of the prettiest things, however, were spoiled in breaking them off. Some were like a mule's ear in shape, only three or four times as large and in places perfectly transparent. The ears of many of the animals were represented on the walls, together with many varieties of vegetables. These attractions, though, will rapidly disappear as the place becomes frequented by visitors.
We named the cave, in honor of the finder, "Elijah's Cave." It is situated in the southern part of the county, about 15 miles southwest of Williamsburg, or say 37 miles in the same direction from Jacksonville. A better route than the one we traveled can probably be found, when sightseers can reach the cave without roughing it as we did. It is a sight, however, well worth many times the trouble we encountered in reaching it, to anyone who has a particle of admiration for the sublime and beautiful. Yea, "beautiful are all the thousand snow-white gems that lie in these mysterious chambers." July 26, 1877. ​
HISTORY OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE MARBLE HALLS OF OREGON
By E. J. DAVIDSON, Pro volt, Oregon
I had quite an experience that day and well remember something of the time. As to dates I cannot be quite sure, but I think it was the year 1873, in the month of October. A crowd of six, including myself, planned for a hunt in the Siskiyou mountains. We packed several horses with provisions and our camping outfit, took our way up the middle fork of Williams creek along a dim, brushy trail, then took our course through the open woods, crossing over the divide at the head of the creek, then down to Sucker creek, where we halted for a short time and disposed of a much-needed lunch prepared for the occasion.
After lunch we continued on our way, which was any- thing but a smooth path. With a big mountain staring us in the face, and in many places almost perpendicular and no way around, we trudged on our weary way, trying to reach the top. Not a word was said, not a breath to spare, but all moved on in silence. Early in the evening we came to the Mountain Meadows, directly under the old noted Greyback mountain. And say, I want to tell you, it was an ideal camping place. Our faces soon lost their tired, weary expression and lighted up with pleasure at the thought of tomorrow's hunt. All got busy and very soon we had a comfortable camp everything in readiness for a good night's sleep.
Armed with our muzzle-loading rifles, we started early the next morning for our hunt. Every fellow was to select his own direction in which to follow. Something seemed to tell me to take the course that eventually led to the dis- covery of the caves. Picking up my rifle and taking my famous bear dog, Bruno, I started down the middle fork of Sucker creek and then across to another creek. Know- ing my dog so well, he gave me to understand there was something above. I at once, with the eagerness that only ​
DISCOVERY OF THE OREGON CAVES 275
an old hunter can feel, slipped through the brush hoping to catch sight of something, and as I cautiously crept along I spied a large buck with his head well elevated in the air. I quickly leveled my gun, holding high on his shoulder with a full bead, and let drive. At the crack of the gun the deer leaped into the air and was soon out of sight. Feeling sure I had hit him some, I told my dog to give chase. He was off like a flash and in less than a minute had the deer going down the mountain like double-geared lightning and into the canon below. Being somewhat swift myself on a down-hill push, I was soon at the spot where a desperate struggle was taking place. Knowing the fight could not last long, as Bruno had his favorite hold on the animal's left leg, I waited for the end to come. Soon the buck fell and his heels went into the air. Bruno jumped for his throat quick as a flash ; at the same time I seized a fore leg, threw it over his horns and with my hunting knife severed the jugular. It was then I discovered the wonderful head of horns. There were two perfect horns on one side and one on the other. The horns are still to be seen at Ad. Helm's place of business in Jacksonville.
Everything seemed to be leading me to the cave; for as I turned from my buck, I again found my dog with uplifted head and staring eyes directed into a clump of trees, waiting for the word "Go." I sprang for my gun and gave the word. He was off like lightning, while I fol- lowed as quickly as possible, and soon found myself in front of a large hole in the mountain. I could hear sounds of fighting coming from far back in the mountain. Unde- cided as to what to do, I stood waiting, when my dog gave vent to a wierd, agonizing howl as if he were in great pain. Hesitating no longer, I rushed into the opening and soon found myself coming up against sharp crags on the wall. I soon decided it was a hard chase to pursue without a light and, thinking of a few matches that I had in my old fashioned shot-pouch, very soon had a light and, to my surprise, found I was in some sort of a save ; but losing no ​time in looking around, as the fight was being continued, I struck match after match, thinking I would soon be at the scene of the struggle. But no ; my matches were gone ! I turned to go back, but could see no rays of light. With the deafening howls and groans coming to my ears from somewhere near, made me think were I only out I would not attempt such a thing again. I finally found my way back to a running stream of water and, following it, came to the mouth of the cave. I waited anxiously for Bruno to come, and very soon he came splashing down the creek, and but for a few scratches was unhurt.
Neither I nor my dog were satisfied with the outcome of the fight, so I determined to take another chance; but as it was now well on in the evening, decided to go back to camp and return on the morrow. Before going I conceived the idea of placing the buck that I had just killed near the entrance of the cave, knowing Bruin would be sure to come out for food and, after eating all he could, would, as is their habit, lie down by the remaining part, which would give me a chance to kill him.
The next morning I returned very early to the scene of my encounter of the previous day and, just as I had an- ticipated, found the monstrous black bear lying near the carcass of the deer.
ANNOUNCEMENT
A NEW HISTORY OF OREGON
History of Oregon, by Charles Henry Carey, will be ready for de- livery this autumn. The subscribers' edition will be delivered to ad- vance subscribers about October 1st. It consists of three large 8 vo volumes issued by Pioneer Historical Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, of which the first volume is the history proper, and the second and third volumes contain biographies. It is understood that Mr. Carey has had nothing to do with the biographies, concerning which he has not been consulted. The price of this edition is $40.00 at Chicago.
A separate one volume edition called the "Author's Edition," which will include the historical matter only, will be on sale about November 1, 1922, at the J. K. Gill Company book store at Portland, at $7.50. This will be identical with the first volume of the Subscribers' Edition, and will contain numerous illustrations and maps, with appendix and index,