USA > Idaho > The history of Idaho > Part 2
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"In all your intercourse with the natives, treat them in the most friendly and conciliatory manner which their own conduct will ad- mit; allay all jealousies as to the object of your journey; satisfy them of its innocence; make them acquainted with the position, ex- tent, character, peaceable and commercial dispositions of the United States; of our wish to be neighborly, friendly and useful to them, and of our dispositions to a commercial intercourse with them; con- fer with them on the points most convenient as mutual emporiums, and the articles of most desirable interchange for them and us. If a few of their influential chiefs, within practicable distance, wish to visit us, arrange such a visit with them, and furnish them with authority to call on our officers on their entering the United States, to have them conveyed to this place at the public expense. If any of them should wish to have some of their young people brought up with us, and taught such arts as may be useful to them, we will re-
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DISCOVERY AND DESCRIPTION
ceive, instruct, and take care of them. Such a mission, whether of influential chiefs, or of young people, would give some security to your own party. Carry with you some matter of the kine-pox; inform those of them with whom you may be of its efficacy as a preservative from the small-pox, and instruct and encourage them in the use of it. This may be especially done wherever you winter.
"As it is impossible for us to foresee in what manner you will be received by those people, whether with hospitality or hostility, so is it impossible to prescribe the exact degree of perseverance with which you are to pursue your journey. We value too much the lives of citizens to offer them to probable destruction. Your numbers will be sufficient to secure you against the unauthorized opposition of individuals, or of small parties; but if a superior force, author- ized or unauthorized, by a nation, should be arrayed against your further passage, and inflexibly determined to arrest it, you must decline its further pursuit and return. In the loss of yourselves, we should lose also the information you will have acquired. By returning safely with that, you may enable us to renew this essay with better calculated means. To your own discretion, therefore, must be left the degree of danger you may risk, and the point at which you should decline, only saying, we wish you to err on the side of your safety and to bring back your party safe, even if it be with less information.
"As far up the Missouri as the white settlements extend, an in- tercourse will probably be found to exist between them and the Spanish posts of St. Louis opposite Cahokia, or St. Genevieve op- posite Kaskaskia. From still further up the river, the traders may furnish a conveyance for letters. Beyond that you may perhaps be able to engage Indians to bring letters for the government to Cahokia, or Kaskaskia, on promising that they shall there receive such special compensation as you shall have stipulated with them. Avail yourself of these means to communicate with us, at seasonable intervals, a copy of your journal, notes and observations of every kind, putting into cipher whatever might do injury if betrayed.
"Should you reach the Pacific Ocean, inform yourself of the cir- cumstances which may decide whether the furs of those parts may not be collected as advantageously at the head of the Missouri (con- venient as is supposed to the waters of the Colorado and Oregon or Columbia) as at Nootka Sound, or any other point of that coast, and that trade be consequently conducted through the Missouri and United States more beneficially than by the circumnavigation now practiced.
"On your arrival on that coast, endeavor to learn if there be any port within your reach frequented by the sea vessels of any
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THE HISTORY OF IDAHO
nation, and to send two of your trusty people back by sea, in such way as shall appear practicable, with a copy of your notes; and should you be of the opinion that the return of your party by the way they went will be imminently dangerous, then ship the whole, and return by sea, by the way either of Cape Horn or the Cape of Good Hope, as you shall be able. As you will be without money, clothes or provisions, you must endeavor to use the credit of the United States to obtain them; for which purpose open letters of credit will be furnished you, authorizing you to draw on the exec- utive of the United States, or any of its officers, in any part of the world, on which draughts can be disposed of, and to apply with our recommendations to the consuls, agents, merchants, or citizens of any nation with which we have intercourse, assuring them, in our name, that any aids they may furnish you shall be honourably re- paid, and on demand. Our consuls, Thomas Hewes, at Batavia in Java, William Buchanan, in the Isles of France and Bourbon, and John Elmalie, at the Cape of Good Hope, will be able to supply you necessities, by draughts on us.
"Should you find it safe to return by the way you go, after send- ing two of your party round by sea, or with your whole party, if no conveyance by sea can be found, do so; making such observa- tions on your return as may serve to supply, correct, or confirm those made on your outward journey.
"On re-entering the United States and reaching a place of safety, discharge any of your attendants who may desire and deserve it, procuring for them immediate payment of all arrears of pay and clothing which may have accrued since their departure, and as- sure them that they shall be recommended to the liberality of the legislature for the grant of a soldier's portion of land each, as proposed in my message to Congress, and repair yourself, with your papers, to the seat of government.
"To provide, on the accident of your death, against anarchy, dis- persion and the consequent danger to your party, and total failure of the enterprise, you are hereby authorized, by any instrument signed and in your own hand, to name the person among them who shall succeed to the command on your decease, and by like instru- ments to change the nomination from time to time, as further ex- perience of the characters accompanying you shall point out su- perior fitness ; and all the powers and authorities given to yourself are, in the event of your death, transferred to, and vested in the successor so named, with further power to him and his successors, in like manner to name each his successor, who, on the death of his predecessor, shall be invested with all the powers and authorities given to yourself.
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DISCOVERY AND DESCRIPTION
"Given under my hand, at the city of Washington, this twentieth day of June, 1803.
(Signed)
"THOMAS JEFFERSON, "President of the United States of America."
(Before this expedition started, France had ceded the Louisiana Purchase to the United States .- Writer.)
It is not our purpose to give any detailed descriptions of this great exploring trip, as it has already been published in detail from a daily diary kept by Captains Lewis and Clark while on this mem- orable trip through a country inhabited only by uncivilized Indians and wild animals.
This trip consumed about two and one-half years' time. The first Winter they stopped on the Missouri River; the second they spent on the banks of the Columbia near where it empties into the Pacific. They returned the following Spring. Suffice it to say, we consider this one of the most hazardous and yet the best man- aged expeditions that was ever made in the United States, and all credit is due to the cool, brave and intelligent management of Cap- tains Lewis and Clark. It was a complete success in every essential particular, and secured to the people of the United States such a knowledge of this Northwestern Territory that they were induced to undertake the settlement and reclaiming of it from the savages and from the claims of Great Britain and Spain.
It has been said by some that when President Jefferson sent his confidential message to Congress January, 1803, asking for an ap- propriation of twenty-five hundred dollars to fit out the Lewis and Clark expedition, Congress refused the appropriation upon the ground that the country was worthless. This is an error. Congress doubled the amount asked for and gave him five thousand dollars to fit out the expedition. (See page 496, Jefferson Cyclopedia, edited by John P. Foley, 1900. This we consider correct.)
The next thing of importance done by Americans in the North- west, was the establishment of a trading and supply post in 1811 on the Columbia, at the point where now stands the town of Astoria. This post was established by a detachment of the American Fur Com- pany, of which John Jacob Astor of New York was the head, but before this time, many of the French Canadians and some of the British had commenced trapping and trading with the Indians along the coast and up the Columbia and Willamette Rivers, and also in the interior of the country.
The coming of the American Fur Company created a sharp com- petition in the trade for furs with the Indians, the first traders hav- ing the advantage in knowing the country, the ways and customs of the Indians, and some of these men had also taken Indian wives.
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THE HISTORY OF IDAHO
Altogether, the advantges were decidedly in favor of the British company. This competition caused a large cut in the price of goods sold to Indians, and, correspondingly, a large increase in the price paid for skins and furs, all combining to make it an unprofitable business for the American Fur Company. This, coupled with the unfriendly treatment they received from the traders and the Indians, caused the Americans to return from the Pacific coast in 1814.
In the meantime, the question as to whom this western territory belonged, began to be agitated. The British claimed it; Spain had some claim, and Russia and also the Americans. At last it became necessary for the home governments to come to some definite under- standing as to the rights of the people. The matter was taken up by the British government and by the United States, and a treaty ratified October 20, 1818, whereby it was agreed that the territory should be occupied jointly by the subjects of Great Britain and the citizens of the United States for ten years from that date. (See Article 3, page 299, Revised Treaties United States.) In 1819, Spain ceded all of her right to this Northwestern Territory, north of the 42nd parallel, to the United States. (See Revised Treaties U. S., p. 712, February 22, 1819.) In 1824, Russia ceded all of her right to the United States, south of the 54' 40" parallel (see p. 664, Revised Treaties, April 5, 1824,) leaving only the United States and Great Britain contending for this great Northwestern Territory. On May 15, 1828, the treaty of agreement for joint oc- cupation of this territory between the United States and Great Britain was renewed, and was extended indefinitely, subject to be annulled by either of the contracting parties after giving the other twelve months' notice. (See p. 311, Revised Treaties United States, Articles 1, 2, 3 and 4.)
CHAPTER II.
HUDSON BAY COMPANY AND ORGANIZATION OF THE PROVISIONAL GOV- ERNMENT IN OREGON.
About the year 1821, what is familiarly known as the Hudson Bay Company, was organized-a British corporation with plenty of money, whose object doubtless was to absorb and monopolize all of the trade with the Indians in the Northwest Territory, from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific coast. Soon after this organization was effected, Dr. John McLoughlin was placed at the head of the company as general manager. He was a very brave, good and far- seeing, shrewd business man, and while always kind and generous to needy American emigrants, he never lost sight of the main object of his company, which was to hold all the Indian trade and discourage emigrants from settling in Oregon. Dr. McLoughlin built and established his headquarters at what is now known as Vancouver on the north bank of the Columbia River, now in the State of Washing- ton. This place was soon stocked with all necessary supplies and plenty of such goods as were needed for Indian trade.
Very soon after this, the Hudson Bay Company had control of all the Indian trade throughout the Northwestern Territory. The employees, consisting of English, French, Canadians and Indians, traversed the country in different sections from the Rocky Moun- tains to the Pacific coast, with the object in view of controlling the entire fur trade which was very large and remunerative. So com- plete was this organization in all its details, that any and all Amer- icans who ventured to take part in this fur trade, were soon com- pelled to quit. The competition was too great for them. But this did not deter the Americans from making their way across the plains, as it was then called, with their ox teams and bringing their families to settle and make homes in the far northwest.
Captain Bonneville of the U. S. A., was given leave of absence to explore the Northwest in 1832, and with about ninety men, he crossed the plains and came as far west as the Columbia River. Later, others came to stay. Many who came between the years 1836 and 1843, received valuable assistance in the way of provisions and seed from the kind-hearted and generous Dr. McLoughlin, who could not bear to see emigrant families suffer. However, things generally were in a very unsatisfactory condition, especially for the Americans.
Governor McLoughlin, as he was sometimes called, seems to have
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THE HISTORY OF IDAHO
had some rules or regulations by which he governed his men and employees, including the Indians, but the Americans had neither laws, rules nor regulations of any kind to restrain them from doing violence to themselves and others. They seemed, however, to have been a good and orderly set of people; still there was a great deal of dissatisfaction, especially in regard to the Hudson Bay Company, which acted as if they owned the whole country, while the Americans considered the country as belonging to the United States and that they had the best right; and last, but not least, it was claimed by the native Indians who had occupied the country long before the advent of the white man.
Our United States government had not by action of Congress or in any other way made an effort to settle the title of ownership of this northwestern country, between the United States and Great Britain, excepting the agreement of joint occupancy made in 1828. Neither had our government furnished any protection or passed any laws to organize a government for the people who had braved so many hardships in coming to this western country and reclaimed the uncultivated land. These brave pioneers had sent petitions to the President and to Congress asking for protection and organization of the territory, but for some unknown reason, they received no re- sponse. Surrounded as they were by British subjects, half-breeds and French Canadians, they were necessarily compelled to organize, for self-protection, an American Provisional Government.
On May 20th, 1843, the Americans met at a place near where Salem now stands, Shampoig, and organized their provisional gov- ernment. This government consisted of an executive board of three men, a judge, a sheriff and a legislature. Oregon City was desig- nated as the temporary capital. At the first session of the legisla- ture, held in Oregon City, in a rough board carpenter shop, some wholesome laws were enacted. In this legislature there chanced to be a man from Iowa who had brought a copy of the laws of Iowa with him. The legislature passed an act adopting all the laws in that statute that might be applicable or suitable to their provisional government.
This government gave general satisfaction and continued until 1846, when it was decided to abolish the executive committee of three and elect a Governor. Hon. George Abernathy was elected Gover- nor and a better selection could not have been made, for he was a brave, intelligent, far-seeing, honorable man. The officers and members of the legislature were honorable, intelligent, brave men, willing to give their best service free, for the good of their country and the protection of the lives and property of the citizens of the far west.
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OREGON'S PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT
Sitting in this crude carpenter shop, these noble pioneers inaugu- rated and put into operation the same kind of a government that our forefathers did in the time of the Revolutionary war. Though on a smaller scale, yet they laid the foundation well, and we now have from their noble work the grand and prosperous States of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and a part of Montana and Wyoming.
CHAPTER III.
CAPTAIN WYETH, REVEREND WHITMAN AND OTHER MISSIONARIES, AGENT WHITE AND INDIANS.
In the fall of 1832, Captain Nathaniel Wyeth with ten men ar- rived at Fort Vancouver, having come overland from Boston with the intention of establishing trading posts in the Northwest. A company in Boston was to send a ship loaded with necessary supplies to meet them at Vancouver. Long and anxiously Captain Wyeth and his men waited for the ship that never came. At last in the Spring of 1833, Captain Wyeth concluded the ship had been lost at sea and with some of his men, returned overland to the east.
During his stay at Vancouver, Dr. McLoughlin treated him very cordially but never encouraged him to remain or asked him to try and get people from the east to emigrate to the west. On the con- trary, the good Doctor always discouraged such emigration. Cap- tain Wyeth, however, realized the possibilities of the West and in 1834 returned overland and a ship was sent loaded with supplies and merchandise for trading, including a few live goats, sheep and chickens. A number of men were with Captain Wyeth on this trip. Among them were the Rev. Jason Lee, Cyrus Shepherd and T. L. Edwards. These three men came to do missionary work and were the first missionaries to come to Oregon.
Captain Wyeth selected a site for his headquarters on an island called Wapato near the junction of the Willamette River with the Columbia. Here he built his fort and headquarters and also located different points for trading and trapping. One of the places he se- lected for a trading post was the site of old Fort Hall on Snake River, now in Idaho. He built a trading post at this place in 1834. But wherever Captain Wyeth undertook to build up a trade with the Indians, the Hudson Bay Company would soon open an opposition trading post near by and reduce the selling price of goods and in- crease the price paid to the Indians for their furs and skins. The Hudson Bay Company's men consisted principally of English, French, Canadians and Indians ; men who were well acquainted with the country and with the various tribes of Indians. All of these things, combined with the loss of many men, some by deserting and others being killed, tended to work against Captain Wyeth and at the end of two years, he was forced to sell to the Hudson Bay Com- pany for what they would give him, and return to the East.
During this time, the Rev. Jason Lee and the other missionaries
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CAPTAIN WYETH'S EXPEDITIONS
had been busy establishing a missionary post in the Willamette Val- ley at a place called Shampoeg. They succeeded very well and did not have any serious trouble with the Indians.
In the year 1836, the Rev. Spalding and wife and Rev. Dr. Mar- cus Whitman and wife, with a few others, crossed the plains. They also came with the intention of establishing missionary posts. On reaching Wallula where the Hudson Bay Company had a station, they were met by Superintendent Panbrum who gave them a kindly greeting and treated them right royally. After a short rest from their long and dangerous trip, Superintendent Panbrum furnished transportation for them in a small boat down the Columbia River to Vancouver, to Dr. McLoughlin's headquarters. The Doctor having been advised of their coming, met them with outstretched hands and treated them in a very hospitable manner.
Mrs. Whitman and Mrs. Spalding were the first white women who ever came from the Eastern States overland to Oregon.
Dr. McLoughlin, knowing that these missionaries had come to educate and civilize the Indians and that they would not inter- fere with the interests of the Hudson Bay Company, was delighted to see them. He treated them very kindly. After a few days' rest and advising with the Doctor, they began to look for the best loca- tion for missionary posts. They had been advised to go into the Walla Walla country, as there were more Indians there and they were also a more intelligent class and could be civilized more readily than those farther west. Dr. McLoughlin assisted them in outfitting for the trip and insisted upon their wives staying with his family during their absence.
After examining the country up the Columbia and the Snake, they concluded to locate and build missionary posts, one to be built about twenty-five miles east of old Fort Wallula and about six miles west of where Walla Walla now stands. This was to be the head station of the Presbyterian mission in Oregon. This is now usually called the old Whitman mission. Another site was selected about twelve miles above where Lewiston now stands. This mission was on the Clearwater and was called Lapwai. Mr. Spalding and his wife were to be stationed at this point. These two missions were about one hundred and twenty miles apart.
After having located these missions, the missionaries returned to Vancouver to procure tools and supplies to build the stations. The Doctor and his family had been very kind to their wives dur- ing their absence and assisted them in every way in securing sup- plies and a suitable outfit for their new homes.
The missionaries with their families reached their new homes without serious mishap and began the work of building. For the
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THE HISTORY OF IDAHO
first year everything seemed prosperous. The Indians were pleased to have the opportunity to learn something of the white man's re- ligion and were especially pleased to have their children educated.
The Reverend Doctors Whitman and Spalding brought their wagons through to Walla Walla Valley. These were the first emi- grant wagons that were ever brought west of Green River. Now in Wyoming they opened up a road for wagons from Green River to Walla Walla Valley, a distance of seven hundred and fifty miles, which included the cutting of the timber out across the Blue Mountains for at least twenty miles in order to get their wagons across the mountain. For this and for many other things these good men did, their memory should be reverenced by us all.
We must not overlook the fact that during this time the Meth- odist missionaries, the Rev. Jason Lee and his associates, had not been idle. They had established their main mission at Shampoeg, and branch missions at The Dalles and other points. Dr. Whit- man's post was near the lands claimed and owned by the Cayuse Indians, a large tribe numbering several thousand. In addition to these, there were several small bands of the Umatilla and Yakima Indians who roamed over that part of the country. The Rev. Spalding's station was located in the most central part of the Nez Perce Indian settlement. The Nez Perce Indians were the most intelligent Indians on the Pacific coast and numbered several thou- sand. They had possession of all the country that is now Latah, Nez Perce and Idaho Counties in Idaho, and in Oregon, the Grand Ronde and Wallowa Valleys. In 1838, Dr. Whitman established another branch station on a branch of the Spokane River in what is now Washington State, about forty miles from Old Fort Colville, a Hudson Bay fort. The Reverends Elkland, Walker and Cush- ing Eells were placed in charge. This part of the country was occupied by the Spokane Indians.
Still another branch station was established in 1839 about fifty miles northeast of Lapwai, called Kamia. This branch was for the benefit of the Nez Perces and was placed in charge of A. B. Smith. The wives of these missionaries were with them and assisted in teaching the Indians. There were also a few other Americans at each of these stations.
All of these missions received assistance from the missionary board in the east. Necessary supplies were shipped to them to Vancouver and from there taken to the respective stations by canoes and pack animals.
In the year 1838, the Reverend Fathers F. M. Blanchet and Mo- diste Demers came into the Walla Walla country from Canada and stopped a few days with some French Canadians who were lo-
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CAPTAIN WYETH'S EXPEDITIONS
cated a few miles from the Whitman mission. The Reverend Fathers met many of the Indians during their brief visit and a great number accepted the Catholic faith. The Fathers also se- lected a site for a mission to be built in the near future.
Soon after this the Indians who frequented the Whitman mis- sion began to show signs of discontent and complaints were made that Dr. Whitman had not paid them anything for their land. They began obstructing his irrigating ditches, turning their horses in his fields and annoying him in many ways. I am inclined to think that most of the trouble with the Indians at this time was caused by the inability of Dr. Whitman and Rev. Samuel Parker to keep a promise made to the Nez Perce and Flathead Indians in 1835. At that time the missionaries talked over the matter of establishing missions in Oregon with the Indians and promised they would pay for all the land taken by Americans. The Indians had communi- cated this promise to all the other Indian tribes. No blame, how- ever, could be attached to the course the missionaries pursued, for this reason: Our American Congress had failed to make any pro- vision for extinguishing the title of the Indians to any part of the land or to furnish any assistance or protection to missionaries or to any other person in this northwestern country. Hence a great deal of friction was caused.
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