The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1866-11-24
How tho Oregon Territory. was
saved 10 the United States.


We presume il is not general known to
our citizens on the Paci6e coast, nor to
many people in the Atlantic States. how
near Ne came to loosing. through execu-
tive incompetence, our just title to the
whole immense region king west of the
Rocky Mountains Neither has due hon
or been accorded 10 the brave and patriot
lie man through whose herculean exer-
tons this great loss and sacrifice was pre-
vented.
The facts we're briefly and freshly
brought out during the recent meeting
at Pittsburg Of the American Board Of
Commissioners for Foreign Missions. z in
the course of an. elaborate paper, read by
Dir. Trent. one Of the secretaries Of the
Board. on the g incidental Results Of Mis-
sions :"
In the year 1886 the Americon Board
undertook TO establish mission among
the Indians beyond the Rocky Mountains.
Two missionaries. Rev Mr. Spaulding
and Or Whitmau. with their wives-the
first white women who had ever made
that perilous journey-passed oyer the
mount9ins With ineredltabls toll, to reach
Oregon. the field Of their labor After
remaining there for a few wears. Dir.
Whitman began to understand the effect
of the misrepresentation of the Hudson
Bay Company. lie SAN. contrary to the
reiterated public statements OF that Com
pany
l. That the land was rich in minerals.
2. That emigrants could cross the
Rocky Mountains in wagons. feat which
they had constantly asserted to be impos-
sibIe.
5. That the Hudson Bay Company
was planning to secure the sole eceupan-
cy of the whole of that country. By obtain
ing a surrender of the American title in
to the hands OF the British Government.
Seeing these things but not knowing
how yery near the British scheme was to
its accomplishment, Dr. Whitman resolv-
ed. at every hazard, to prevent its con-
summation lie undertook. in 1912, to
make a journey on horseback to WASH
ington, 70 lay the whole matter clearly
before our Government by personal re-
presentations Beng a man of great
physical strength and an iron constitu-
tien, be accomplished the long and peril
Gus journey, and reached Washington in
safety. The remainder Of the stGFy we
viii relate in the language of the Boston
C0agregationozid Reaching Washing
ton, he sought an interview with Presi-
dent Tyler and Daniel Webster. then
Secaetary of State, and unfolded to them
distinctly what was going on. Here he
learned that treaty was almost ready to
be signed. in which al this northwestern
territory was to be given up to England
and We were to have in eompensatioHa
greater facilities IL catching fish DR..
-kaitman iabored TO convince Mr. Web
ster that he was the victim of false repre-
sentations with regard to the character Of
of the region, and told him that the intend
ed to return to Oregon with train OF
emigrants Mr. Webster, looking him
full in the eye. asked him if he would
pledge himself to conduct train of emf
grants there IN wagons. He promised
that he would Then, said Mr. Webster,
this treaty shall be suppressed, Dr.
Whitman, in coming on, had fixed upon
certain raliying points where emigrants
might assemble to accompany him on his
return He found nearly 1000 ready
for the journey. After long travel, they
reached Fort Hall, British military sta
ton, and the commandant undertook to
frighten the emigrants by telling them
that it was not possible for them to 60
through with wagons; but DIR. Whitman
reassured them, aud led them through to
the Columbia, and the days Of the supre-
macy of the Hudson's Bay Company over
Oregon were numbered.-TN 7. Even
ing Post.