USA > Oregon > A history of Oregon, 1792-1849, drawn from personal observation and authentic information > Part 22
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"From a statement found in the Chronicle, of the 27th of June, we learn that Captain Mowatt, of the Hudson's Bay Company, is in charge of Fort Rupert. We also learn that Captain Mowatt's prejudices and feelings are peculiarly hostile to all American fur traders, and not any too friendly to those claiming to be English. The facts indicate a strong Hudson's Bay Company Indian war influence against American or other traders in behalf of that company. It is evident from the state- ment of the two gentlemen above named that her Majesty's naval officers are inclined, and more than probably instructed, to protect the Hud- 14
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HISTORY OF OREGON.
son's Bay Company's people in encouraging the Indian hostility and murder of all outside venturers upon their trading localities, as they are prompt to insinuate and affirm that the whites are the aggressors, and to arrest them for punishment."
It is difficult to understand why our American government is so tolerant and generous to a foregn monopoly that has invariably sought and accomplished the destruction of its fur trade on its western bor- ders, and used its entire influence against American institutions and citizens; not hesitating to incite the Indians to the most inhuman and brutal murders.
CHAPTER XXIX.
Missionaries leaving .- Hudson's Bay Company's Gold Exchange .- Population in 1842 .- Whitmau and Lovejoy start for the States .- The Red River emigra- tion .- American merchants .- Settlers not dependent on the Hudson's Bay Com- pany .- Milling Company .- The Oregon Institute .- Dr. Elijah White .- Proceed- ings and resolutions of a public meeting at Wallamet .- Correspondence with the War Department.
REV. A. B. SMITH and wife, Cornelius Rogers, and W. H. Gray and wife had left the mission of the American Board, on account of difficul- ties they had become fully satisfied would ultimately destroy the mission or drive it from the country. Mr. Spalding, it will be remembered, was a man of peculiar temperament, ambitious and selfish. He could not endure an associate of superior talent, or admit himself to be infe- rior in understanding the native language. From the time the Jesuits arrived (in 1838), some of his own pet Indians had turned Catholics and commenced a quarrel with him. These facts seemed to annoy and lead him to adopt a course opposed by Smith, Gray, and Rogers. Still he found it pleased the Indians as a whole, and was assented to by the balance of the mission. Smith and wife left for the Sandwich Islands ; Rogers for the Wallamet in 1841; Gray and wife in 1842.
During the exploration of the country by Commodore Wilkes' explor- ing squadron, Mr. Cornelius Rogers was found a very useful man. His knowledge of Indian languages (which he was remarkably quick to acquire) and of Indian character generally enabled him to become a reliable and useful interpreter. The officers soon became aware of the fact, and employed him at once to assist and interpret for them. He was paid for his services in gold coin, which amounted to something over five hundred dollars. Not wishing to carry his coin about, he offered to deposit it with the Hudson's Bay Company. "Certainly, Mr. Rogers, we will receive your coin, and credit you upon our books twenty per cent. less, as the coin is not so valuable to us as our goods, at beaver prices." Mr. R. allowed them to take his coin and credit him with four hundred dollars in beaver currency. In a short time a party of the squadron were to go by land to California. Mr. R. con- cluded he would go with them, and that his coin would be more con- venient than beaver orders on the company. He therefore requested them to return to him the coin. " Certainly, Mr. Rogers," and handed
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HISTORY OF OREGON.
him back four hundred dollars less twenty per cent.,-three hundred and twenty dollars. "How is this?" says Mr. R .; " I supposed from the state- ment you made on depositing this money with you, that that money was a drug to you, and now you wish me to pay you twenty per cent. for money I have left in your care, after deducting twenty per cent. for · leaving it with you. You may consider this a fair and an honorable transaction ; I do not." He was told, “ Such is our manner of doing business," and that was all the satisfaction he could get. He finally left his money and drew his goods, at what was called beaver prices, of the company.
Nothing further of note occurred in 1841, except the loss of the Pea- cock, in which no lives were lost, and the extra efforts of the company to show to the officers of the expedition their good deeds and kind treat- ment to all' Americans, and to prove to them that the whole country was of little value to any one. "It would scarcely support the few Indians, much less a large population of settlers."
1842 .- Our population, all told, in the beginning of this year, is twen- ty-one Protestant ministers, three Roman or Jesuit priests, fifteen lay members of churches, thirty-four white women, thirty-two white chil- dren, and thirty-five American settlers-twenty-five of them with native wives. Total, one hundred and thirty-seven Americans. At the close of the year we had an emigration from the States of one hundred and eleven persons,-some forty-two families,-with two lawyers, A. L. Lovejoy and A. M. Hastings. The latter became the lawyer of Dr. Mclaughlin, and relieved the settlement in the spring of 1843 of a num- ber of not very valuable settlers, by assisting them to get credit of the Hudson's Bay Company in procuring their outfits, giving their notes, payable in California; while settlers who remained could get no credit or supplies of the company, especially such as had asked protection of the American government. A. L. Lovejoy started from Whitman's station to return to the States with Dr. Whitman. He reached Bent's Fort with him, but stopped for the winter, while Whitman proceeded on to Washington in time to save the country from being given up to British rule. For an account of that trip, which we give in another chapter, we are indebted to the Honorable A. L. Lovejoy.
The Red River emigration, consisting of some forty families of Eng- lish, Scotch, and Canadian-French half-breeds, had been ordered from the Red River, or Selkirk settlement, to locate in the Puget Sound dis- trict, by the Hudson's Bay Company's governor, Simpson. This com- pany started across the plains with most of their property and families in carts, in the spring of 1842, directed, protected, and guided by the company, and expected to become settlers, subject to it, in Puget
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RED RIVER SETTLERS.
Sound. This was in fact a part of the original plan of the Puget Sound Agricultural Company, and these families were brought on to aid in securing and holding the country for the British government and the use of the company,-a plan and arrangement exactly similar to that adopted by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1811-12, to cut off the trade of the French Northwest Fur Company, by establishing the Selkirk settlement directly in the line of their trade.
This Red River colony was a part of the company's scheme to con- trol and outnumber the American settlement of Oregon; it being con- nected with the Puget Sound concern, and under the control of the Hudson's Bay Company,-which, by the decision of the commissioners, has won the company $200,000 from our national treasury. A more infamous claim could not well be trumped up, and the men who awarded it should be held responsible, and handed down to posterity as unjust rewarders of unscrupulous monopolies. Not for this alone, but for paying to the parent monopoly the sum of $450,000, for their malicious misrepresentations of the country, their murders, and their perjury respecting their claims to it.
As soon as the Red River colony reached the country, they found that the Hudson's Bay Company on the west side of the Rocky Moun- tains was a different institution from that of the Selkirk settlement; consequently a large number of the more intelligent among them re- fused to remain in the Puget Sound district, and found their way into the Wallamet and Tualatin districts, and were received and treated as Oregonians, or citizens of the provisional government. This had the effect to embitter the feelings of the ruling spirits of the company, and caused them to change their policy. They commenced fortifying Fort Vancouver, and had a war-ship, the Modeste, stationed in the Columbia River, while the fort was being prepared for defensive or offensive measures. This only increased the anxiety and hastened the effort to organize for self-defense on the part of the American settlers.
In the mean time, Hon. Caleb Cushing, of Newburyport, Massachu- setts, had sent to the country a ship with supplies. A. E. Wilson had established himself, or was about to, at Wallamet Falls as a trader, and some families were on their way by water from the States,-F. W. Pettygrove, Peter Foster, and Peter H. Hatch. Pettygrove arrived with a small stock of goods. The same ship brought a supply for the Methodist Mission.
The settlers were not dependent upon the Hudson's Bay Company for supplies as much as has been asserted. I am certain that many of them never received a dollar's worth of the company's goods, except it might have been through the stores of Pettygrove, Wilson, or Aberne-
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HISTORY OF OREGON.
thy. I know many of them were willing and did pay higher prices to their American merchants than they could get the same article for from the company's store, which was about this time established at Oregon City. Soon after, a trading-post and warehouse were established at Champoeg, and Mr. Roberts sent up with orders to kick, change, and beat the half-bushel with a club in order to get more wheat at sixty cents per imperial bushel in payment for all debts due the company for the goods furnished to them at one hundred per cent. or more on London prices.
During this year the Wallamet Milling Company was formed, and commenced to build a saw-mill on the island above the falls. Dr. Mc- Laughlin also commenced active opposition to American enterprise.
The Oregon Institute was commenced this year, under the direction of the Methodist missionaries. They carefully guarded against all out- side patronage or influence getting control of their institution, by re- quiring a certain number of trustees to be members of their church in good standing. It was during the discussions in the organizing of that institution that the disposition on the part of that mission to con- trol not only the religious, but literary and political interests of the settlement, was manifested. The leading members took strong ground, yet hesitated when it was found they would be compelled to ask for outside patronage. However, they were able to commence operations with the Institute, and succeeded in getting up a building deemed suitable by the building committee.
Dr. Elijah White returned to the country, as he supposed and fre- quently asserted, with unlimited discretionary powers from the Presi- dent of the United States to arrange all matters between the Hudson's Bay Company, Indians, and settlers, and "although his commission did not specify in so many words, yet, in short, he was the governing power of the United States west of the Rocky Mountains." He entered at once upon the duties of his office, and such a muss as he kicked up all over the country it would require the pens of a Squibob and a Junius combined to describe. Rev. Mr. Hines has given to the world many useful notices of this notorious blockhead, and from his descriptions of his proceedings one would infer that he was a most important character in promoting the peace and harmony of the settlement and keeping the Indians quiet. I have always been at a loss to understand Mr. Hines, whether he is speaking of Dr. White's proceedings in sober earnest or serious burlesque. Either he was woefully ignorant of the character of Dr. White, or he was cajoled and flattered and made to believe the doctor possessed power and influence at Washington that no document he could show gave any evidence of. Be that as it may, Dr. White
215
MEETING TO RECEIVE DR. WHITE.
arrived in the fall of 1842, in advance of the emigration. He pretended to have all power necessary for all cases, civil and criminal. He appointed temporary magistrates to try all cases as they might occur ; and such as related to Indians and whites, or half-breeds and whites, he tried himself, and gave decisions to suit his own ideas of justice. Usually, in the case of two settlers, where he had appointed a justice to try the case, he would argue the case for one of the parties, and generally win it for his client or favorite. We attended two of the doctor's trials, one in Tualatin Plains, the other at the saw-mill near Salem. In both of these cases the conclusion of those not interested was, that if such was the justice to which we as settlers were reduced, our own energy and arms must protect us.
At the meeting called to receive him, a committee, being appointed, retired, and, after a short absence, reported the following resolutions :-
Resolved, That we, the citizens of the Wallamet Valley, are exceed- ingly happy in the consideration that the government of the United States have manifested their intentions through their agent, Dr. E. White, of extending their jurisdiction and protection over this country.
Resolved, That, in view of the claims which the aborigines of this country have upon the sympathies of the white man, we are gratified at the appointment of an agent by the United States government to regulate and guard their interests.
Resolved, That we highly approve of the appointment of Dr. E. White to the above office, and that we will cordially co-operate with him in carrying out the measures of government in reference to this country.
Resolved, That we feel grateful to the United States government for their intended liberality toward the settlers of this country, and for their intention to support education and literature among us.
Resolved, That it will give us the highest pleasure to be brought, so soon as it may be practicable, under the jurisdiction of our mother country.
On motion, it was
Resolved, That the report of the committee be adopted.
Resolved unanimously, That the doings of this meeting be trans- mitted to the government of the United States by Dr. E. White, in order that our views and wishes in relation to this country may be known.
The following communication shows the shrewdness of Dr. White, . and the influence he was enabled to hold over Mr. Hines, who seems to have ignored all the doctor's conduct while a missionary, and considers him a suitable person to deal with the complicated relations then cul- minating on our western coast. It is given entire, to place Mr. Hines
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HISTORY OF OREGON.
in his true character in the history of the country, though Dr. White does not deign to mention his name in his report to the department. We also give an extract from the report of the Commissioners of Indian Affairs, November 28, 1843, as found on fifth and sixth pages of Dr. White's report. Mr. Hines' letter is as follows :-
WALLAMET, April 3, 1843.
To the Honorable Secretary of War:
SIR,-I have the honor of addressing you a brief communication expressive of my views of the course pursued by Dr. E. White, sub- agent of Indian Affairs west of the Rocky Mountains.
I am not extensively acquainted with what properly belongs to the business of an Indian agent, but so far as I understand the subject, this agency requires the performance of duties which are of an onerous and complicated character.
The country is quite extensive, and an intercourse is carried on between the whites and Indians in almost every part of it. The prin- cipal settlements are on the Wallamet River and Tualatine Plains, but there are whites at the mouth of the Columbia River, the Falls, and among the Wallawalla, Cayuse, Nez Perce, and Snake Indians. Im- mediately after the arrival of your agent in this country, he received the most urgent calls from several of these places, if possible to come immediately and enter into such measures as would secure both the safety of the whites and welfare of the Indians.
He entered upon his business with diffidence, though with great energy and decision, and his indefatigable efforts to promote the inter- ests of this country, with his untiring industry in the performance of his duties, entitle him to the warmest respect of the members of this infant and helpless colony, and to the confidence of the honorable department which has committed to him so important a trust. Although he has been with us but a short time in his official capacity, yet it is generally believed that the measures he has adopted to regulate the intercourse between the whites and Indians, particularly in the Cayuse, Nez Percé, and Wallawalla tribes, are wisely calculated to secure the protection of the former against the aggressions of the savages, and to secure to the latter the blessings of harmony, peace, and civilization.
Some time in November last news reached us from these formidable tribes that they were laying a plot for the destruction of this colony, upon which your agent, with characteristic decision, determined to pro- ceed at once to the scene of this conspiracy, and, if possible, not only to frustrate the present designs of the Indians, but to prevent any future attempts of the same character.
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REV. MR. HINES' LETTER.
This laborious journey was undertaken, and, accordingly, he set out on this perilous enterprise in the dead of winter, being accompanied by six men, and though the distance to be traveled by land and water was little less than one thousand miles, and the whole journey was one of excessive labor and much suffering, yet perseverance surmounted every difficulty, and the undertaking was brought to a most happy issue. In the fitting out and execution of such an expedition much expense must necessarily be incurred, but I am fully of the opinion the funds appro- priated by your agent, for the purpose of accomplishing the object of his appointment, have been judiciously applied.
Not knowing the views I entertained in reference to the propriety of his course, Dr. White requested me to write to the honorable Secretary of War, definitely expressing my opinion. Considering this a sufficient apology for intruding myself upon your patience in this communication, allow me, dear sir, to subscribe myself most respect- fully,
Your humble servant, GUSTAVUS HINES, Missionary to the Wallamet Settlement.
DEPARTMENT OF WAR,
OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, Nov. 28, 1843. 5
I submit a report from the sub-agent west of the Rocky Mountains, received on the 9th of August last. It furnishes some deeply-interest- ing and curious details respecting certain of the Indian tribes in that remote part of our Territories. The Nez Percés are represented to be " more noble, industrious, sensible, and better disposed toward the whites," than the others. Their conduct on the occasion of an import- ant meeting between Dr. White and their leading men impresses one most agreeably. The school established for their benefit is very numerously attended, while it is gratifying to learn that this is not the only establishment for Indian instruction which has been made and conducted with success.
There will also be found in this paper some particulars as to the soil, water-courses, etc., of the Territory of Oregon, which may be interest- ing at this time, when public attention is so much directed to the region beyond the Rocky Mountains.
Respectfully submitted,
T. HARTLEY CRAWFORD.
Hon. J. M. PORTER, Secretary of War.
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CHAPTER XXX.
Dispatch of Dr. White to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs .- He praises the Hudson's Bay Company .- His account of the Indians .- Indian outrages .- Dr. White's expe- dition to the Nez Percés .- Indian council .- Speeches .- Electing a chief .- Laws of the Nez Percés .- Visit to the Cayuses .- Doings of the missionaries .- Drowning of Mr. Rogers and family .- George Geere .- Volcanoes .- Petition against Governor Mclaughlin.
OREGON, April 1, 1843.
SIR,-On my arrival, I had the honor and happiness of addressing you a brief communication, giving information of my safe arrival, and that of our numerous party, to these distant shores.
At that time it was confidently expected that a more direct, certain, and expeditious method would be presented to address you in a few weeks ; but that failing, none has offered till now.
I think I mentioned the kind and hospitable manner we were received and entertained on the way by the gentlemen of the Hudson's Bay Company, and the cordial and most handsome reception I met with at Fort Vancouver from Governor Mclaughlin and his worthy associate chief factor, James Douglas, Esq .; my appointment giving pleasure rather than pain,-a satisfactory assurance that these worthy gentle- men intend eventually to settle in this country, and prefer American to English jurisdiction.
On my arrival in the colony, sixty miles south of Vancouver, being in advance of the party, and coming unexpectedly to the citizens, bearing the intelligence of the arrival of so large a re-enforcement, and giving assurance of the good intentions of our government, the excite- ment was general, and two days after we had the largest and happiest public meeting ever convened in this infant colony.
I found the colony in peace and health, and rapidly increasing in numbers, having more than doubled in population during the last two years. English, French, and half-breeds seem, equally with our own people, attached to the American cause; hence the bill of Mr. Linn, proffering a section of land to every white man of the Territory, has the double advantage of being popular and useful, increasing such attach- ment, and manifestly acting as a strong incentive to all, of whatever nation or party, to settle in this country.
My arrival was in good time, and probably saved much evil. I had
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THREE INDIAN TRIBES.
but a short season of rest after so long, tedious, and toilsome a journey, before information reached me of the very improper conduct of the upper country Indians toward the missionaries sent by the American Board of Commissioners, accompanied with a passport, and a desire for my interposition in their behalf at once.
I allude to the only three tribes from which much is to be hoped, or any thing to be feared, in this part of Oregon. These are the Wal- lawallas, Cayuses, and Nez Percés, inhabiting a district of country on the Columbia and its tributaries, commencing two hundred and forty miles from its mouth, and stretching four hundred and eighty miles into the interior. The Wallawallas, most contiguous to the colony, number some three thousand, including the entire population. They are in general poor, indolent, and sordid, but avaricious ; and what few have property, in horses and herds, are proud, haughty, and insolent. The Cayuses, next easterly, are less numerous, but more formidable, being brave, active, tempestuous, and warlike. Their country is well watered, gently undulating, extremely healthy, and admirably adapted to grazing, as Dr. Marcus Whitman, who resides in their midst, may have informed you. They are comparatively rich in herds, independ- ent in manner, and not unfrequently boisterous, saucy, and troublesome in language and behavior. The Nez Percés, still further in the inte- rior, number something less than three thousand; they inhabit a beau- tiful grazing district not surpassed by any I have seen for verdure, water privileges, climate, or health. The tribe forms, to some extent, an honorable exception to the general Indian character, being more noble, industrious, sensible, and better disposed toward the whites and their improvements in the arts and sciences ; and, though as brave as Cæsar, the whites have nothing to dread at their hands, in case of their dealing out to them what they conceive to be right and equitable. Of late, these three tribes have become strongly united by reason of much intermarriage. For the last twenty years they have been generally well disposed toward the whites; but at the time Captain Bonneville visited this district of country, he dealt more profusely in presents and paid a higher price for furs than Mr. Pambrun, one of the traders of the Hudson's Bay Company, established at Wallawalla, who had long dealt with them, and was previously a general favorite. On Mr. Bonneville's leaving, the chiefs assembled at the fort, and insisted on a change of the tariff in their favor. Pambrun refusing, they seized him, stamped violently upon his breast, beat him severely, and retained him prisoner, in rather unenviable circumstances, till they gained, to a considerable extent, their object. Since that time, they have been more consequen- tial in feeling, and shown less deference and respect to the whites. On
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HISTORY OF OREGON.
the arrival of missionaries among them they have never failed to make, at first. a most favorable impression, which has, in most instances, un- fortunately, led to too near an approach to familiarity, operating alike prejudicial to both parties. The Rev. Messrs. Lee and Parker, who made each but a short stay among them, left with like favorable im- pressions. Their successors, Spalding, Whitman, Gray, and ladies, with others who remained among them, were at last driven to the con- clusion that Indians as much resembled each other in character as com- plexion. These worthy people, not well versed in Indian character, and anxious to accomplish a great deal in a short time, resorted to various expedients to induce them to leave off their wandering migratory hab- its, and settle down contiguous to them in herding and agricultural pursuits, so as to be able to send their numerous and healthy children to school. In these efforts they were zealous and persevering, holding out various inducements as so many stimulants to action, most of which would have operated well in civilized life, but generally failed with these Indians ; and whatever was promised conditionally, whether the condition was met or otherwise, there was no reprieve-the promised articles must come ; and sometimes, under circumstances sufficiently trying, had these missionaries been less devoted, they would have driven them from their post forever.
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