The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1867-01-26
For tho STATE Rights Democrat.
LECTURES BY REV. H. 4. SPAULDING
Early Oregon BIissiOns..sThelr Inn.
pOrtance in Securing the COun.
try 10 Americans,
NpMPER NINE.
DIR. wHITMAN's SUCCESSFUL MISSION AT
WASHINGTON.

NpMPER NINE.
DIR. WHITMAN's SUCCESSFUL MISSION AT
WASHINGTON.
On reaching the settlements, DIR. Whit
man found that many of the now old Ore.
gonians-Waldo, Applegate, Hamtree,
Kyser and others-who had once made
calculations to come to Oregon, had aban-
doned the idea because of the representa-
tions from Washington that every attempt
to take wagons aud OK teams through the
Rocky and Blue mountains to the Colum.
bia had failed Or: Whitman saw at once
what the stopping Of wagons at Fort
Hall every year meant. The representa-
tions purported 20 come from Secretary
Webster but raally from Gov. Simpson,
who, magniiying the statements Of his
chief trader, Grant, at Fort Hall. declared
the Americans must be going mad, from
their repeated fruitless attempts to take
wagons and teams through the impossible
ragions to the Columbia, and that the
women and children OF those wild fanatics
had been saved from a terrible death only
by the repeated and philanthropic labors
Of Mr. Grant at Fort Hall in furnishing
them with horses. The Doctor told these
men as he met them that his only object
in crossing the mountains in the dead Of
winter, at the risk Of his life, and through
untold sufferings, was to take back an
American emigration that summer
through mountains TO the Columbia with
their wagons aud their their teams. The
route was practicable. We had taken
our cattle, aud our families through seven
years before. They had nothing TO fear
But to be ready on his return. The stop.
ping of wagons at Fort Hall was II. b.
Co. scheme to prevent the settling of the
country by Americans, till they could set
tie il with their own subjects from the
Selkirk settlement. This news spread
like fire through Missouri. The Doctor
pushed on to Washington aud immedi-
ately sought an interview with secretary
Webster-both being from the same State
and stated to him the object of his cross
ing the mountains, and laid before him the
great importance Of Oregon to the United
States. But Mr.. Webster lay too near Cape
Cod TO see things in the same light with
his fellow statesman who had transferred
his worldly interests to the Pacific coast
lie awarded sincerity to the missionary,
but could not admit for moment that
the short residence of six years could give
the Doctor the knowledge of the country
possessed by Gov. Simpson, who had al
most grown up in the country, and had
traYeled every part of it and represents
it as one unbroken waste of sand deserts
aud impossible mountains, ct aaly far tho
beaver, the grey bear, and the savage
Besides, he had about traded it off with
Gov. Simpson, to 60 into the Ashburton
Treaty, for q cod fishery on Ncwfound-
land.
The Doctor next sought an interview
with President Tyler, who at once appre-
ciated his solicitude and his timely repre-
sentations Of Oregon, and especially his
disiuterested though hazardous underta.
king to cross the Rocky Mountains in the
winter to take back caravan Of wagons.
He said that, although the Doctors rep
reservations Of the CHARACTER of the coun-
try, aud the possibility of reaching it by
wagon route, we've in direct ooptradiotion
to those of Gov. Simpson, his frozen
limbs were sufficient proof of his sincerity
and his missionary character was sufi-
cient guaraptee for his honesty, and he
would therefore as President rest up
these and act accordingly; would detail
Fremont with military force to escort
the Doctors caravan through the noun
tains; and no more action should be had
towards trading off Oregon till he gould
hear the result of the expedition. If the
Doctor could establish wagon route
through the mountains to the Columbia
River, pronounced impossible by Gov.
Simpson and Ashburton, he would use
his influence to hold on to Oregon. The
great desire of the DOCTOR, AmsriOan soul
Christian withal, that is, the pledge of
the President that the swapping Of Or
egon with England for cod fishery,
should stop for the present, was attained
although at the risk of life, and through
great sufferings, and unsolicited, aud
without the promise or expectation of a
dollars reward from any source. And
now, God giving him life, and strength,
he would do the rest; that is, connect the
Missouri and Columbia rivers with wag-
on track SO deep and plain that neither
patlonaI envy or FsecrIUuar rauaVio,v-.. :, ~,-.IA
ever blot out. And when the 4th of
September. 1843, saw the rear of the
Doctors caravan Of nearly two hundred
wagons with which he started from Mis-
souri, last of April, emerge from the wes-
tern shades of the Blue Mountains upon
the plains of the Columbia, the greatest
work was finished ever accomplished by
one man for Oregon on this coast. And
through that great emigration during that
whole summer, the Doctor was their every
where present angel Of mercy, minister.
ing to the sick, helping the weary, en-
couraging the WaVering, cheering the
mothers, mending wagons, setting broken
bones, hunting stray oxen; climbing pre-
cipices. now in the rear, now in the centre,
poW at the front; in the rivers looking
out fords through the quick sands, in the
deserts looking out water; in the dark
mountains looking out passes; at noontide
or midnight, as though those thousands
were bis oWn children, and those wagons
and those focks were bis own property
Although he asked not and expscted moi
a dollar as reward from any source, he
felt himself abundantly rewarded when
he saw the desire Of his heart accomplish.
ed 2-e great wagon route over the Ynoun.