The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-02-22
Puget Sound Settlers
"Gypped" by Oregon
Menaeed by British Fort"
Gen. Joe Lane 10 The Rescue
Two Presidents Involved
BY r. T. SHORT


TOR some time before John h
Chapman took up his donation
claim at Steilacoom in 1851. set
tiers in Oregon north OF the Co
lumbia river had been in revolt.
Because the greater part of the
population was south of the CO.
lumbia and consequently controlled
the most votes. the government of
the territory of Oregon was a gov
eminent of for and by the people
south of the river The seat Of
government was between three and
four hundred miles from the prin-
cipal settlements north of the Co
lumbia. Money appropriated for
highways had been spent south of
the river. North, the settlers de-
pended on trails made by them
selves and nayigable waters for
transportation.
The attitude of the Hudson s
Bay company was another thorn
in the flesh of the northern set
tiers. The instinct of self-preser-
walton caused the company's rep
resentatives to do everything TO
discourage settlement north of the
river.
Those who established them
selves on Puget Sound did 50
'over the heads OF that COM
pany. like an army storming
castle, hence but few were
willing to incur the displeas-
ure of large moneyed insti-
tuition and a British fort at
that"
Absence of wagon roads and the
British company's control of water
transportation prove another
grievance and handicap to set
Element in the north.
These grievances set the stage
for Chapmans Fourth of July
speech calling on the settlers to
appeal to congress for their rights.
The effect was the calling of the
Cowlitz convention which prepared
a memorial to congress asking for
the ablishment of separate
territory north OF the Columbia.
The memorial set forth the
grievances mentioned above
and pointed TO the assets and
advantages which would be
greatly increased IL the peo-
pie were given an opportunity.
Among these were 5000 set
tiers denied the right of Amer
lean government; vast areas
of fertile land. and timber and
mineral resources: numerous
streams adapted 10 hydro
electric development; deep,
well protected harbors, etc.
The committee met at Cowlitz
landing near the end of August,
1851. The memorial signed by
Chapman as chairman Of the COM
mittee on territorial government,
was given to Gen. Joe Lane, Ore
gon territorial delegate. for trans
to congress.
The document went TO Gen.
Lane with the blessing Of the
oregon legislature. The set
tiers south of the river we're
tired Of the complaints from
the north and were glad TO get
rid of the responsibility.
Events moved slowly in those
days Months passed and nothing
was heard from Washington An
other Fourth of July celebration
at Olympia and Daniel r Bigelow,
father of Mrs. " =. Bonney, made
a speech demanding recognition of
the settlers north Of the Columbia
As had been the case the year
before. the people demanded an
other convention to petition con-
gress for territorial government.
The. convention was held at Mon
tiCello. also on the CoWlitz river.
The attendance vas muah larger
han II the CoWlitz Landing con-
gention for The Columbian. 4
1eWspap per established that year
At Olympia did lot Of good pro-
notion work
Delegates sogndly psnned con-
Zress and Gen Lane for neglecting
10 Do something about the Covlitz
4anding petition and sent neW
Message on 70 Washington. Ac-
ording 10 the best information. the
memorial reached Wash
ngton Just IS Gen. Lane was max
ng speech urging organization Of
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