Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-02-19

United States exploring expedition, Capt.
Charles Wilkes commanding, spent the
summer exploring and surveying these
waters, verifying the accuracy aud thor
oughness of Vancouvcr's rcconna sance, a
half century previous. But hitherto,
no attempt has been made to establish
American settlements in the Puget Sound
country.
It now becomes necessary to rccur to
/ the then condition of Oregon, in which this
region was embraced. The Territory west
of tho Rocky Mountains, between the de-
grces Of 42o and $40 4O> north latitude,
the Oregon of history, was open to occu-
pancy by the citizens and subjects Of the
United States and Great Britain, under
the Convention ofils27, by which tn. two
governments pledged themselves to each
other, that no act should be done in pref
udice of the claim of either of the high
contracting parties. 1t permitted joint
occupancy by citizens of the two nations
it was non-occupancy by the two govern
ments. The American settlements in
1874, were exclusively confined to the
Wallamet valley. North of the Columbia
river, the only settlements were the trad
ing establishments of the Hudsons Bay
Company, and small farming colonies un-
der their auspices. The controversy in
regard to the Oregon country between the
two, was really restricted to the portion Of
the present Territory of Washington,
which lies north and west of tho Columbia
river Great Britain, time and again, had
offered as a boundary, the line of 400
westward of the Rocky Mountains to its
intersection of the Columbia river, thence
by its channel out to the Pacific Ocean.
The aim of that nation was to secure
perpetual right of navigation of the Co.
lumbia river and sole supremacy of the
Puget Sound Basin. Under the blind
that the navigation of the Columbia was
the boon she sought to save, her real mo-
tive being unobserved, that would also be
secured. That this Territory of ours, now
our homes was the real subject matter Of
that protracted controversy, gives it no
slight claim to historic regard American
title at that time was hazardcd by the fact
that Great Britain through the Hudsou's
Bay Company, held possession of many
points in the disputed Territory, while the
United States was uureprescnted by a
single settler.
An American audience on the Pacific
Coast need not be adviscd-that the pres
encc Of the I1udson's Bay Company in a
region, added untold discouragcmcnts to
the individual settler. The American
pioneer in Northern Oregon commands
regard for those increased difficulties he
was compelled to encounter by this condi-
ton of affairs. But as we observe him
standing up all alone, asserting in his very
presence his country's title to this re ,ion
against that mammoth company, who
were laboring TO wrest it from its rightful
owner, how lofty becomes his claim to our
gratitude and pride. He there appears in
the double character Of champion of our
national honor and reclaimcr of the
Wilderness for the homes of men.
1t may be said that the presence of the
Company, had rendered the native popu-
lation acquainted with the white race
that the dangers to be apprchcndcd by
the settlers from hostility by the Indians
were Modified by the fact that the latter
were in fear of the company. But it will
be found on careful examination that the,
Oregon pioneers we're subjected to most
OF the difficulties incident to settlement in
a new country peopled by Indians, and to
Imminent anxiety as to the results likely
at any moment to flow from this mixed
jurisdiction or sovereignty. And those
who settled north of the Columbia river,
accepted a possibility of becoming dena-
tionalized Such was the Oregon terri
tory quarter of a cen.ury>ago, when it
began to be peopled by American men
aud women. Such in an especial degree
was the situation Of the Puget Sound re-
giou. .. 90. w..
| How often and how justly has the
American in boasting his nationality, cited
the voyage Of the May,lower, landing her
precious freight on the rock-ribbed shores
Of Massachusetts,, houseless and homeless,
amid the cod and desoiation of New
England winter. With proper awe for the
dread ordeal through which the Pilgrim
Fathers passed, he traces every movement
! Of the little party from their debarkation
until they planted upon this continent the
germs of nation to be dedicated to civil
and religious freedom. How VIC revere
the memories Of those Founders of Re-
publics. We love to linger on their every
act to boast them as our ancestry. Do
we not in addition to the immensity Of
benefit which resulted from their labors,
love them as men and women, too, or " be-
cause Of the dangers they had passed"
! because Of the risks they invited, be.
! cause Of their mourning the continued
ever-preseut apprehension of death from
the perddy and jealousy o. the Indian
race. pF fa 1888 Hfa1'-a' 80 Hss
True We are blest with more genial
climate than New England, but to level
the forest and make home on these shores
required great labor and vast courage The
Indian race on Puget Sound are no excep-
tious to Indian character, no improvement
on their predecessors Of 1920. The annals
Of New England settlement present no in.