Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-11-10
Oregon "reminiscences.
lsl:S.
continued.


"All who bad lots We're requierd
to pay Mr. Hastings five dollars for
deed of land which they knew
very we'll the yrantor did not own,
and which We hope he never will
own. but tha, COngress Will r,Iss Il
special act, granting each man his
lot and impr vements. =
To those who applied aud paid their
five dplt"rs. all was right with the
Doctor, while those who considered
Ills title to the ian,i not 80 I'd, and
that therefore he had no right to
direct who should build ard who
should not. had their lots sold to
others. In ono case the purchaser
Game to the original claimant and
ordered HIM to stop digging the
ground which lie WIS preparing for
garden, and commanded him to
remove his fences, nv he had DR..
McLoushin's bond in liz pocket for
the lots, and if he did not ms've the
fence, he would, and take 1orcible
possession, and those who desired
to have no difficulty, and did not
apply for a deed, have lost their lots,
the Doctors promise and all. And
Mr.. Hastings, the Doctors agent, il
now offering for sale the lots on
which part Of the mission build
ings stand; and if he succeeds in
finding purchaser, they must eth.
or contend, or lose their buildings
too.
"Dr. Mclaughlin las held claims
in other places, south of the Co.
lumbi" river; at TuaIutin plains, and
at Clackamas plains. he has huts
erected to prevent others from build
! ing. And such is the power of DR..
Mclaughlin. that many persons are
actually afraid to make their situs-
tions known, thinking if he hears Of
it he will stop their supplies. Let
ters were received here from Messrs.
Ladd & Co.. of the Sandwich Is
lands, in answer TO q letter written
by the late Mr.. Ewing Young, for II
few supplies, that orders wero re.
ceived forbldding the Company
vessels carrying any goods for the
settlers of Oregon. Every means
will be made use of by them to
break down everything that will
draw trade to this country, or enable
persons to get goods at any other
place than their store.
Zone other item and We are done,
When the United States Govern
ment officers Of distinction arrive,
Vancouver, is thrown open and
every facility afforded them. They
were even more coudescending to
the settlers during the time the ex-
ploring squadron was in the Colum-
bia. Nothing was left uodone to
give the officers high opinion of the
Hudson's Bay Company.
To all it is we'll known that DR..
John Mclaughlin was then, and
since the combination of Hudson's
Bay and Northwest Company's had
been, in charge OF the Hudson
Bay Company affairs west of the
Rocky Mountains. The policy con.
demned, had been established by
him, and the foregoing charges de-
tail series of acts, dishonest, sOr.
did and selfish upon hi, part; mean.
oppressive and ruinous to the set.
tier. That good cid man was long
since called to his reward. All
those who Robert Shortess names as
connected with the authorship of
the petition are no moro, add happy
is the duty in giving publicity to
the manly aud generous views of
the conceiver of that Petition. -
In the letter to the author, quoted
above. Mr.. Shortess. says:
" Ia short time the entire policy
OF the company, or at least of DR..
Mclaughlin, underwent u change,
aud he, the Doctor. afforded very
Sreat facilities to immigrant aud
settlers, for which, iu many cases
he received an ungrateful return.
He was . man of excellent qualities
of head and heart. and few men
welding the power that he did
would have done it with greater len.
ity."
This document recites the follow.
ing alleged grievances:
| l. The policy adopted by DR..
Mclaughlin. refusing to sell cattle
at all for many years, aud after
wards selling at lower rates than the
settlers;
2. Doctor Mclaughlin claimed
what is known as the " Oregon City
claim" It was valuable a. q town
site and for its wonderful water.
power. Such features made it val.
liable toAthe Methodist Mission, to
the American settler. A bitter con.
test was waged. The petition de.
nounces the Doctors cts of set.
Element as in bad faith. that his
claim is without shadow of right;
boldly it asks that he may be dives
ted OF interest, his claims be ignored
and disregarded;
3. He can build mills and saw
lumber cheaper and undersell the
settler;
4. In buying wheat he insists
upon good measure;
5. Those who had recognized
his claim to Oregon City and had
obtained grants of lots from him,
he notified to comply with their con-
tract;
6. The Company's vessels were
not allowed to bring goods to set
tiers, from the Sandwich Islands:
! Z. The Co,npany's officers were
more hospitable TO visiting officers
and persons of distinction than to
private citizens.
1t is but simple justice to the
memory of the dead to quote DIR.
McLouehlin's own comments upon
these imputations upon his personal
integrity, his method of dealing.
OF the cattle policy and the Oregon
City claim more extended discussion
| L.