The Ronan pioneer., 1917-07-27
FIRST EXPEDITION
INTO NORTHWEST

NlU NUkTHWEST
WASHINGTON GAVE $25; JEF-
F'ERSON AND HAMILTON
GAVE $3.50 EACH.
Fuhd OF 1928 was Raised tn Send
Andrew Michaux to Exn,ora tho
Missouri and Go to Coast; Genet's
intrigue Blocked Mission; Jeffer-
son Rivived Project Later.
In these days of big accomnlish-
menus, When a state like Montana
contributes a sum of $4,000 900
10 the Liberty bond issue. if is
interesting to recall that when JEFF
le[soh induced the American Philos-
ophlcal society to undertake the ex-
ploratlon OF the unknown west. a
public subscription was raised to fin
ance the expedition The fund total
ed Sl2S.25. OF this amount Presi-
dent Washington contributed s25:
Jefferson, his secretary of state
Sl250, and Hamilton, secretary of
the treasury, like amount: It is
said that Jefferson would have con-
trlbuted more, but he did not care TO
go beyond the subscription of the
First American,
The man selected by Jefferson to
lead THIS expedition was the famous
french botanist, Andre Michaux. JEFF
1erson assured Michaux that the
Phllosoph1cal society would see that
friendly Indians would conduct him
from Philadelphia to Knakaskia He
ordered MlchauX to then cross the
mississippi and travel to the nearer
part or the Missouri, above the Span
lsh settlements. He was told to fol-
low such larger tributaries of the Mis-
souri, river as might lead by the
shortest way to the Pacific coast.
Jefferson's instructions continue:
"A River Called the Oregon"
1T would seem by the latest mans
as if river called the Oregon. inter
locked with the Missouri for a con-
siderable distance, and entered the
Pacific ocean not far southwark of
Nootka sound" Maps of a century
ago were indefinite and Jefferson ad-
vised the explorer to use his own
Judgment
country, study it's soil, rivers, noun
ta1ns and ductions-animal, veg
etable and mineral. Under the head
of animal history that of the NAM
moth was particularly recommended
to him. He was also instructed to
take note of the aborigines. and was
advised to write his notes on the
back of the paper birch, "a substance
which may not excite suspicious
among the Indians" Thus instruct
ed, and with the contribution of the
fathers in his pocket, Michaux, the
explorer, started on his journey.
The Genet Intrigue.
About this time Genet arrived in
Charlestown. France had deter
mined to regain her American pos
sessions, then in the hands of Spain,
and Genet was the man selected for
this delicate mission. He came ac-
credited as the minister of France,
but the real purpose of his coming,
was to take advantage of the friendly
feeling for France in the young re-
public, and to win back, by fair or
foul means, the Spanish colonies ly-
ing along the gulf of Mexico and be-
yond the Mississippi. The plan also
contemplated the conquest of Can
ada. The United States was to be
interested in the undertaking, if pos
sible, and in the event of Washing
toms refusal to involve his govern
ment in the intrigue, the French
minister was to incite the residents
of the Spanish colonies to revolt.
Genet approached George Wash
ington. He met with cold refusal.
He then devoted his energies to TO-
menting the revolution. He succeed
ed in interesting the bolder spirits
of the Carolinas and Georgia, and an
army of backwoodsmen from those
states was raised for the conquest of
Florida. Michaux, on his way to the
west, met Genet, who unfolded his
plan to the explorer. Michaux i'm
mediately forgot all about Jefferson
and the great northwest, and entered
enthusiastically into the plans of the
French representative.
Michaux interested George Rogers
Clark, hero of the Kankankia cam
paign, and whose name was one to
conjure with in the backwoods coun-
try.
Michaux Abandoned Mission.
Clark agreed to raise an army of
Kentuckians, go down the Mississip-
pi river, and effect the capture of
New Orleans. Michaux, seeing visions
of glory for his beloved France,
abandoned his mission, and the
great undertaking had to wait until
Jefferson became president. The
French plan failed.
So the contribution of $25 by
Washington, as we'll as the subscrip-
tion of $3.50 by jefferson towards