Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-10-26
HOW OREGON TERRITORY WAS
SAVED 80 THE UNITED STATES.

We presume it is not generally known to
our citizens on the Pacific coast, nor to
many people in the Atlantic 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 hercuean exertions this
great loss and sacrifice was prevented
The facts were briefly and freshly brought
out during the recent meeting at PIttstield
Of the American Board of Commissioners
for Foreign Missions, in the course of an
elaborate paper, read by Mr.. Treat, one of
the secretaries of the board, on the Incl
dental Results of Missions
In the year 1886 the American board
undertook u establish a mission anloug The
Indians beyond the Rocky Mountains Two
missionaries, Rev. Mr. Spalding and Dr.
Whitman with their wives-the first white
women who ever made that perilious jour
ney-passed over the mountains with in
credible toll, to reach Oregon, the field of
their labor After remaining there for
few years, DR.. Whitman began to under
stand the object of the Misrepresentation
Of the Hudson Bay company. He saw,
contrary to the reiterated public statements
Of the company:
/, That the land was rich In minerals.
?. That emigrants could cross the Rocky
Mountains IN wagons, feat which they had
constantly asserted to be impossible.
3. That the Hudson 5 Bay Company was
planning to secure the sole occupancy Of the
whole of chat country by obtaining surren-
der of the American title into the hands of
the British Government,
Seeing these things, but not knowing how
very near the British scheme was tc its ac-
complishment, DR. Whitman resolved, at
every hazard to prevent its consummation,
Ae undertook, in IS42, to make a journey
On horseback to Washington, to lay the
whole matter closely before our Government
by personal representations. Being a man
Of great physical strength and an iron CON
stitution, he accomplished the long and
perilous journey, and reached Washington
in safety. The remainder Of the story we
viii relate in the language Of the Boston
COngTegdti0nalist: Reaching Washing
ton he sought an interview 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 almost 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. DIR. Whitman labored to
convince Mr. Webster that he was the vic
tim of false representations with regard 10
the character of the region, and told him
that he intended to return to Oregon with
a train of emigrauts. Dir. 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 rallying
points where emigrants might assemble to
accompany him on his return. He found
nearly 1000 ready for the journey. After
long travel they reaced Fort Hall, British
military station, and the commandant under
took to frighten the emigrants by telling
them that it was not possible to go through
with wagons; but DR.. Whitman reassured
them, and led them through to the Colum-
bia, and the days of the supremacy of the
Hudson Bay Company over Oregon were
numbered