Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1845-1851, 1846-06-20
Twentp Ninth Congress.
MIR. DcmtOn'S Oregon sprccn.
In Stnate, nay %, lSiG.


the expcdiion arrived the mouth of the Columbia
March 18th, 1911. The approach to the coast re-
veacd nothing but lofty ranges of mountane, white
with snow, through gap Of which the great river
of the West entered the The weather was bad
the night dark-two boats had been swamped-no
pilots lights or bunys-yet the captain "a rash man
who afterwards blew up his ship at Noctka) entered
safely, and anchored at midnight lii cnnimodIous
harbor- On tire 18th of April after examining both
SIDES OF the bay for the best suatIon n site was
chosen the south side about four or five leagues
from the sea- and the foundation of Astoria begun
name in itself the badge of American title. On
tire 18Th of July. the young Astoria received an
important visit, which is thus described
"A ready at the day appointed, (for an expedition
INTERIOR preparing TO load the canoes,
when towards mid day, large canoe, carrying
Az. which rounding the point called by us Tongue
PUNT We ignorant who they might be, for we did
for people who las the reader
mcmbci) the continent by the route which
Cart,in> aud Clarke had fowcd in 1909 and
for tins purpose the banks Of tn
bani>hd of the which
landed little quay had built facilitate the
nDIading OF vessel The nlg whc, his carried
he British flag; and her amounted to only nine
persons in all man. quite well r>ed AMI WIN appeared
mrnan1. Ieapsd FIR the shoe aud aocos'ing
out 'eenony toll " mat ne was Davi homp"h ana was
uf the prspetots of the Northwest Company. We
invited him ascend lndgig, which in end
of The hei, house finished After The usual
hospiaes, Mr. Th,mpon told Us that he had crossed the
continent during the preceding wn'eri bur that the deser
ton OF his had Obliged HIM TO at the foot OF the
mountains the head II the Columbia that in the
sping he had built and had establishment
lie added that the prOprietUS wlHttng them had
solved abandon all the posts which they had of the
mountains rather than o competition with
condition would promise not TO trouble
trade the side; and what he said, he
produced letter 10 Mr. William McGn'ray 10 the same
effect
Mr.. Thompson kept. seemed me, regular jour
nal, and travelled rather gegtapher than trader
fus: he had good quadrant during urn Of eight
days. which he made establishment he had
TO AXE several astronomical obseIvations."
This visit Of great moment In the history of
Astoria and IN the consideration of the British claim
10 the Columbia, which has been lately brought for
ward. Mr. Thompson of the Northwest
Company, Its astronomer gentleman Of science and
character, TO whom greatly indebted for fixing
important geogra phIcal positions In the interior of
North America. He had crossed the continent from
Montreal simultaneously with Mr. Astors land expo
dlon from 81. Louis, but IN higher latitude ard
arrived few days before it. He to the Column
ba To give the information TO Mr. Astors agents that
the Northwest Company, to avoid competition with
them, would, abandon all their establishments west
of the mountains, provided Mr.. Astor would not IN
terfere with them the east. This proposal
agreed to. The valley of the Columbia was left to
the free enjoyment of the Americans and the extern
siono posts TO the mountains went without
question according 10 the original intention. The
Northwest Company, at that time, than the
British government had happened yet to take into its
head that the Columbia river, or any part of it,
British property
Mr. Astors agents proceeded to the establishment
Of interior posts, and the despatch of parties hun,
and trade up the Columbia 10 the mountains. The
Okanakan, about six hundred miles up on the north
side vi the river, and at the mouth of the river of
that name, was the most considerable, and was re-
markabe for being the TO the British estab-
Ishment III New Caledonia; for by that the
valley and district of Frazers river then known
and that years before Mr. Harmon published
his book. The Spokan, two hundred miles higher up
and on the south side, established at the same
The f,lau ftv,, hupHr and
fifty miles southeast from Astoria was established
the next year and of all these establishments Mr.
Francere gives particular account, which it is not
necessary to read here. The country was, at the
same time, completely penetrated by parties of trad
ers and hunters, up TO the head-watcrs of Cark's
FLYER, and of Lewis's river. and into the Rocky
Mountains. Two years every thing had gone on
without interruption, when two events occurred in
communicating which | Will Mr.. Francl res
own words
The 18Th Of January, 1873 Mr. Mackenzie arrived from
his establishment which he had abandoned after having
eaehcd part Of his effects. He announce 10 us
that war had been declared between Great Britain and
United States This had been brought post by
SOME gentlemen belonging II the Northwest Company
had gwen him letter containing the Presidents Pvcma
zion 10 that effect
On learning strongly dcsi ed-that H. all
Of u 1t Astoria who English aud Canaisns-to see
ourselves Canada but could not even permit our
selves To think least present We separated
Rom our country BY immense space and difficulties
of taxeI wcre ,surroun,,ne ., RI. - W. -
then sort Of council of AID after having thoroughly
weighed The in which found ourselves after having
considered seriously that although almost all Bit
In subjects nevertheless traded under the American
nag, and that could expect assistance the puts
the United States being probably bockaded, deod
abandon the establishment by the following sping In the
Beginning OF summer at farihest We did not tell our
engogees Of this resolve for fear that they abandon
their work al orce, but stopped trading with The natives
hom That moment, much because provided
with large supply of merchandise, that more
iuis than We Gould carry away"
Here is important fact stated that of hearing
OF the war and despairIng of protection from the
United States. The agents Of Mr.. Astor, upon full
consultation, determined to abandon the country.
Mr.. Francl G continues
Some days after Mr. Mackcnze's departure we pcrcev-
ed 10 GU great surprise, al The extremity Of Tongue Point
two the Birth flag and them an
ether bearing that of America. IL MIR Mackcr HIM
cell who returning with Nc,>TS G. Nc TavI>h and
Angu> Bcthune, If Northwest Company lie had moi
thee Iemcn the Rapids, aud t. re-
tan with rem To The estab hmen consequence If the
news winch they had gwen i'm They n light
canoes, having lett behind them MeSsr Ju Stuart ard
Mcclellan with brigade Of eight loxled with fuls
Nh NC a'i,h came up TO our Judging and showed
letter which had been Written to HIM by Mr. shaw one
Il the of the Northwest Company. Th, gent, man
announced him III the >hip Todd had
sailed hon London IN Mach company with The fig tic
III ebe, and that they coming order the govern
ment TO take possession Of estabmenthi, establish
ment being ePe ented TO The Ld- Of The Adna ~ a, an
ImioftaEt colony founded by the Ame lean government
The eight Which hid been lct behind having
pinned The hst. camp Scvent, five mon was
we're without prOvi-ipnS We iunl he'd them what the
needed; nevertheless kept quad fea, Of some
surprise ON them. for IurIlor to them in
number.
caused their very disagiceabc with
out lsions and without merchandise procure any from
the natives, who lJuket eve having
god hunters but wanting mruniton Tined of recurring
necessarily 10 US oi pIo,Isos they proposed that we shou
sell them establishment and is Placed the
stoation M which we were, Ia the daily expectation Of
reg an Eng i>b man-ofv appear q tai W hat