The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1866-12-01
LECTURES BY REV. h. h. SPAULDING
Early Oregon EEissioaas---Iheir Inn
pOrtance im Securing the COun-
try to Americans.
rNnnRryRr rHREE.1

Missionaries found large number of the
Flat Head aud Nez Perces Indians on
the lookout for teachers, and learned from
them that Mr.. Lee had passed their coun-
tries and gone on to the Kananas Koos
(salt water). They learned that these
we're the tribes who had sent three years
before for the book of God and teachers.
They found these Indians mlieh grieved
that Mr. Lee had passed by them. They
saw at once the hand Of God pointing to
these tribes as their future mission field.
They determined that while Mr.. Parker
should proceed with the Nez Perees and
Flat Head Indians to their countries. and
visit, also, the English Trading Posts on
the Columbia, and return to meet Doctor
Whitman aud party at that rendezvous
the next year, the Doctor should return
at once to the States, by the same com
pany, report to the Mission Board, and if
possible obtain associates during the win
ter, and so gain year, and putting them
selves under protection of the American
Fur Company, according to promises al
ready given, cross the mountains the next
year and meet Mr. Parker at the rendez-
vous, who after examining the Indian
countries and the trading posts, would be
able to report as to the prospects of the
proposed mission field, the number and
character of the Nations, the character of
the unknown country, its climate, its
soil, the character of the English Fur
Traders, whether Missionaries could count
upon their friendship or opposition,
whether bread could be raised and sup
plies of clothing had, and whether we
would be compelled to depend on wild
game and skins.
The Nez Perces, to make sure work and
not be disappointed again, sent two of
their boys, of about fourteen years of
age, with DR.. Whitman as kind of hosta-
ges for his sure return next year. The
Doctor and the Indian boys reached the
States tn the fall, with the Fur Company,
and received the kindest regards from the
preplietors of the Company, at st. Louis,
aud their renewed assurances that they
would afford him and his associates the
next year every protection aud faeil-
ity in their power for the invaluable SER
vices he had rendered to their Company
TO and from the mountains. He might
depend upon their steamer to convey his
ladies and baggage to Council Bluffs, and
their caravan to convey them to Green
river. and their hunters to furnish daily
food from the Buffalo bands
On receiving the Doctors Report, the
American Board resolved at once to send
Missionaries to the Nez Perces and Flat
Head Nations, and applied Immediately
to the several young ladies who had offer
ed themselves to the Board for the work
of Mission in the Foreign Field. Blu
while young men enough could be OBJ
tanned to undertake journey across the
continent, not young lady could be found
l%illing to face the Rocky Mountains ant
to risk the vast unknown beyond. TIL,
Board and Doctor then applied to severa
settled pastors who had signifed thei
Willingness to enter the Foreign Field
but with no better Success. Not a mar
ried or unmarried woman could be founc
willing to face the hazards of that gigan
tic Undertaking. Any other part of tn,
world Isles of the distant seas, tn,
dark mountains of Koordistan. the crowd
ed millions of China, the death pools o
the Senagall, anywhere else in the known
world but the unknown Northwest coast
where the foot of white woman had neve
i yet trod. None could be found of sufi
cient moral and physical courage to under
take this great work, but the early devot
ed Miss Prentiss, the intended wife o
DR.. Whitman but the Doctor could no
commence this desirable mission withou
an ordained missionary and his wife Tn,
winter was now far gone, and the Docto
was about to give up his mission, when
on arriving in Prattsburgh, n. Y, m,
own dear home, Git does my soul good t
write that name, after being dogged ant
hunted by the blood hounds and cayote
of Fanatieism for so long time in thi
country, and to think of one place in thi
world SO like the Kingdom of Heaven
he learned of the deep and early piety G
my angel wife, and was told if any bod
would so she would undertake the jour
ney, could the object be laid before he1
But myself and wife were appointed, an,
were on our way to the Usage Nation a
Missionaries
The Doctor Immediately got permissio
of the American board for us to chang
our destination if we should see fit. H
overlook and Immediately made himsel
and his object known to us. We turne
aside into an inn to consider the subject
The Doctor said this was his last hope
IF we, like the very many others VIII
had been solicited, should decline th
mission to the Nez Perces and Flat Hea
Indians, beyond the Rocky Mountain,
the undertaking must be abandoned, /;
least for another year.
That was most fearful moment in TIL
journey of my life. I had said in m
Academic lectures on Temperance, 9TH;
money enough was expended for rul
every year to build a second North Ame
ican Republic on the shores of the Pac
fc." But that was the republic of fame,
eight years before Now the very lik
q was reality. A stupendous question
4 4 taking in the whole of my life, and
: another life, more to me than my own,
be decided in twenty minutes. I aske
the Doctor many questions concerning tt
distance, the probable time of crossin
the mountains, the food, and the danger
He knew nothing Of the Hudson Ba
Company, or Of the vast region beyon
: the Rocky Mountains. In the first plat
e we must make up our mind to do withoI
: bread throughout the whole journey, an
until we could raise it from a quart