The weekly Butte record., 1866-12-15
How Oregon Territory Was Saved to thu
United States.

United States.
We presume that it is not generally
known to our citizens on, the Pacific
Coast, nor to many people in the Allan
tic States, how near We came to losing,
through executive incompetence, our
Just title to the whole immense region
lying west of the Rocky Mountains.
Neither has due honor been accorded to
the brave and patriotic man through
whose herculean exertions this great
loss and sacrifice was prevented.
The facts were briefly and freshly
brought out during the recent meeting
at Pltts6eld of the american Board
of commissioners for Foregion Miss
ions,'' in the course of an elaborate pa
per, read by Mr.. Treat, one of the sec
retaries of the Board, on the Incidental
Results of Missions
In the year 1886, the American
Board undertook to establish a mission
among the Indians beyond the Rocy
Mountains. Two missionies, Rev. Mr..
Spalding and DR.. Whitman, with their
wives-the first white woman who had
ever made that perilous journey-pass-
ed over the mountains with incredible
toll, to reach Oregon, the field Of their
labor. After remaining there for few
years, DR.. Whitman began to uuder-
stand the object of the misrepresenta-
tons of the Hudson Bay Company
He saw contrary to the reiterated pub
lie statements of that Company:
1. "That the land was rich in min
erals.
2. "That emigrants could cross the
Rocy Mountains in wagons, feat
which they had constantly asserted to
be impossible
3. ''That the Hudson Bay Company
was planning to secure the sole ocupan-
cy of the whole of that country by o6-
tanning surrender Of the American
title into the hands of the British Gov
ernment."
Seeing these things, but not knowing
how very near the British scheme was to
its accomplishment, DR.. Whitman re-
solved at every hazard, to prevent its
contamination. He undertook, in 1912,
to make journey on horseback to
Washington, to lay the whole matter
clearly before our Government by per-
sonal representations. Being man of
great physical strength and an iron
constitution, be accomplished the long
and perilous journey, and reached
Washington in safety. The remainder
of the story We will relate in the Ian
guage of the Boston Congregationalist:
Reaching Washington, he sought an
inter view with President Tyler, and
Daniel Webster, then Secretary of
State, and unfolded to them distinctly
what was going on. Here he learned
that a treaty was Utmost ready to be
signed, in which all this northwestern
territory was to be given up to England,
and we were to have in compensation
greater facilities in catching fish. DR..
Whitman labored to convince Mr.. Web
ster that he was the victim of false rep
reservations with regard to the charac-
ter of the region, and told him that he
intended to return to Oregon with a
train of emigrants Mr.. Webster,
looking him full in the eye, asked him
if he would pledge himself to conduct a
train of emigrants there in wagons.
He promised that he would. Then,
said Mr.. Webster, this treaty shall be
suppressed. DIR. Whitman in coming
on had fixed upon certain in rallying
points where emigrants might assemble
to accompany him on his return. He
found nearly one thousand ready for the
journey. After long travel they reach
ed Fort Hall, British military station,
and the commander undertook to fright
en- the emigrants by telling them that
it was not possible to 60 through with
wagons; but DR.. Whitman treasured
them, and led them through to the Col
umbia, and the days of the supremacy
of the Hudson Bay Company over Ore
gon, were numbered. ~. Y. Eren-
ing Post.