The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1879-04-25
THE PIONEERS or OREGON.
ny H. II. wELL8.

The history Of the missionary estab
lIshments, dating even prior to the Ter
ritorial Government Of Oregon, has. in
a manner, been written; but an account
of those fnen, through whose energy and
struggles the savages were quelled and
order maintained, has not been written
The trip which Gen. Lane, the first Ter
ritorial Governor Of Oregon, made oven
the continent 20 reach his post was per
haps the most wonderful ever achieved
The massacre Of the Whitman family
induced the General Government to ~.
tablish Territorial Government al
once, and, knowing that the position
was ono requiring brave and energet-
&c man, appointed Gen. Lane Governor.
II company with his spn, the General
and about twenty others left Lcaven.
worth, Kan, in the latter part of the
winter OF 1913, and commenced the
journey for Oregon. When the noun.
tains were reached, heparty, instead Of
passing through them. turned south as
far as Mexico, and made their way 10
San Francisco, and from thence TO the
mouth Of the Columbia river by vessel.
From there Cen. Lane made his way to
Oregon City, with his party, in canoes.
# the party had not turned south when
they reached the Rocky Mountains. IL
IL probable not one weuld have escaped
with his life. Gen. Fremont, who was
few days behind Gen. Lane, attempt.
cd to pass through the mountains, and,
u will be remembered, almost his en-.
tire party (all his scientific retinue)
persisted by the intense cold
The game night Gen. Lane arrived at
Oregon City lac wrote ort and issued a
proclamation announcing his arrival
and intention. There was II small ia.
per then published at Oregon City by a
gentleman named Curry (whoaftorward
became Governor). and by this means
the Governor published his announce
ment. Up to this time the people had
been almost entirely without regulation.
II required stout heart aud AN ener-
getic hand to reduces tho savage tribes
aud bring order out of the chaotic con.
fusion. But tho President had made
no mistake in the appointment of Gen.
Lane. Tho various tribes of hostile In
dians were soon taught to know that
punishment was sarc to follow any out
rage. The names of those men who
aided III the permanent organization of
the Territorial Government and subiu-
gated the Indians will be inscribed in
the history Of Oregon. when that histo.
~ shall Jbe made up and written. as
human bcneiactors. The means for
communication from the capitol to the
different parts of the then Territory of
Oregon were limited and precarious.
Yet there was no hardship these men
were NOS ready TO undergo, 10 danger
they were not willing To face, and no
difficulty too arduous for them TO un-
dertakc. when the safety OF defenseless
families WAS jcopardized. Settlers and
their families had dilTased themselves
throughout the Territory, even to the
more remote parts These, Of course,
had to be protected from hostile Indi-
ans. The establishment Of a Judiciary
for the ninintainance of law and Justice
was work Of no insignilicance, but
this was accomplished and protection
afforded 10 all, So far as i was possible
with the means ut command. Schools
were provided, the most prominent of
which-the Willamette University-
stands to-day monument to the ener
gy of the founders and All ornament to
the State.
Some of these men are now living
aud some have passed away; but those
who have passed away have not passed
from the memory of those whom they
benefited. They have not lived in vain,
their sacrifices have not been made for
nothing, and could they be among the
living of to-day they would see, staud
ing upon the foundation which was es-
tablished by their labors, and cemented
by their blood, n grand State, prosper
our and wealthy. "The Rogue River
War" which occurred at later date,
was the finishing stroke that prostrated
the tribes of Southern Oregon. The re-
mains of many brave men to-day occu.
Py an unknown grave. Lane, Mes
mith, Waldo, Gains, Applesate, Gro
yer (now Senator), contributed to the
successful termination of this war.
But we can only speak in general
terms, and leave the historian to do the
work of justice the "Pioneer of Ore
gen."