USA > Oregon > Multnomah County > Portland > History of Portland, Oregon : with illustrations and biographical sketches of prominent citizens and pioneers > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
40
HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
helped very much to turn the public attention to Oregon. More- over, the publication of a book by Dr. Parker, a missionary who visited Oregon in 1835, a historical and descriptive work by John Dunn, of the charming narratives of Bonneville and Astoria by Washington Irving, and of a letter written by Robert Shortess, who had come out in 1839, were well calculated to fill the minds of the romantic and adventurous with an interest in the country and a desire to make the marvelous journey across the plains.
Moved by the impulses just recited, the first regular emigration began the long journey to Oregon in the Spring of 1841. It con- sisted of one hundred and eleven persons. In the Fall of the same year, twenty-three families from the Red River settlement of the Hudson's Bay Company came out and settled on Cowlitz Prairie, some of them locating later in the Willamette Valley. These were brought out as an offset to the American settlers, but they were too few in numbers to stem the tide setting Americanward, and were overwhelmed by the American emigration of the next few years.
In 1842, the first regular emigrant wagon train started for Oregon, consisting of sixteen wagons and one hundred and nine people. No wagon wheel had ever cut the sod of the country over which they proposed to go, and the region through which they must pass was practically unknown as a route for wagons. With infinite difficulty the party advanced as far as the old trapping ren- dezvous on Green River, where half of the wagons were dismantled. The other half were taken as far as Fort Hall on Snake River, where they were abandoned, owing to the deep-rooted belief that wagons could not be taken through the Snake River Canyon and Bhie Mountains. In the train was Dr. Elijah White, who had spent three years in Oregon in connection with the Methodist Mission, and had now secured the appointment of Indian Agent for the region West of the Rocky Mountains. Among others were the well remen- bered names of A. L. Lovejoy, L. W. Hastings, Medorum Crawford, J. R. Robb, F. X. Matthien, Nathan Coombs, T. J. Shadden, S. W. Moss and J. L. Morrison, all of whom deserve to be placed in the front rank of Oregon's pioneers. Lovejoy was a lawyer from Boston -the first lawyer in the colony-and was prominent in its affairs
41
EARLY HISTORY OF OREGON.
for the next twenty years, while Crawford afterwards held various positions of honor and trust under the National and State govern- ments.
The year 1842 also witnessed the first successful attempt at independent trade in Oregon. In July of that year, Captain John H. Couch brought the ship Chenamus into the Willamette River with a cargo of goods from Boston, which he placed on sale at Willamette Falls. Prior to this event the Hudson's Bay Company and the Mission had a monopoly of the mercantile business in Oregon. Couch was so well pleased with the country that he gave up the sea and settled in it. Couch's addition to the city of Port- land is built upon the land claim taken up by him in 1845.
Wherever the American citizen goes he carries with him the great fundamental principle of representative democratic govern- ment, and no better example of this great fact can be cited than the conduct of the early settlers of Oregon. Hardly had the first pioneers erected a shelter from the inclemency of the season, when, true to their American instincts, they missed and at once desired to supply the protection afforded by civil institutions. Too weak for self-government, naturally they turned to the United States Congress to supply their first necessity. Their petition of 1838, is an admirable argument for the principle that good order can only be assured by a "well judged civil code." In 1840, they eloquently lamented that they were without protection which law secured. Their appeals ignored by their government, they turned to themselves, to each other, and at once agitated the question of establishing a temporary government.
The first effort looking toward the organization of a civil govern- ment was made in 1841, at Champoeg, which at the time was the seat of the principal settlement in the Willamette Valley. It origi- nated among the members of the Methodist Mission, and for that reason did not have the cordial support of the independent settlers. The movement failed, and although several causes contributed to this result, the main reason was the unpopularity of its chief pro- moters among those Americans disconnected with the missions. At this time, says an early pioneer, the people of Oregon were divided
42
HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
into two great divisions with reference to their allegiance-citizens of the United States and subjects of the British sovereign. Among the people there were three classes-the officers of the Hudson's Bay Company, who were considered the aristocratic English class; the missionaries, who were regarded as the American aristocrats, while the third class was composed of the "common people " of both nationalities, who refused to accept the social position assigned to the11. Thus jealousies and prejudices were engendered, which required time, association and a feeling of mutual dependence to obliterate.
During the year 1842 the subject of establishing a civil govern- ment continued to be agitated by the members of the Methodist Mission. They invited their fellow residents of foreign birth to join them in the work as they had done in 1841, but were met with per- sistent refusal. Although these efforts of the missionaries proved utter failures, yet the independent settlers were by no means discour- aged or despondent ; they merely waited for a convenient opportunity to take the matter into their own hands. This occurred in February, 1843, when a meeting was called ostensibly for the purpose of taking measures to protect the herds of the settlers from the depredations of wild animals, but actually the object of the meeting was more for the purpose of concerting measures for the formation of some kind of civil goverment. At this meeting a committee was appointed to give notice to the people that another meeting would be held in March; and fearing that a full attendance would not be secured unless the object was one in which all had a common interest, it was not dis- closed that any action was intended except to devise means to rid the country of destructive animals. At the March meeting the real pur- pose was revealed by the adoption of a resolution providing "that a committee be appointed to take into consideration the propriety of taking measures for the civil and military protection of the colony." This committee composed of Dr. J. L. Babcock, Dr. Elijah White, James A. O'Neil, Robert Shortess, Robert Newell, Etienne Lucier, Joseph Gervais, Thomas J. Hubbard, John McKay, W. H. Gray, Solomon Smith and George Gay, agreed upon a plan of government, and called a general meeting of the citizens at Champoeg, May 2,
43
EARLY HISTORY OF OREGON.
to consider their report. At this meeting the report of the committee, after inuch canvassing, was adopted by a vote of 52 yeas to 50 nays. Before adjourning, the meeting set the new government in inotion by electing a Supreme Judge, sundry subordinate officers, and a Legislative Committee of nine persons, namely : Robert Moore, Robert Shortess, Alanson Beers, Thomas J. Hubbard, Win. H. Gray, James A. O'Neil, Robert Newell, David Hill, and William P. Dougherty, to prepare and report the necessary laws for the new gov- erninent, to be submitted to a vote of the people on the 5th of July. This first Legislative Committee duly performed the work assigned, and articles of compact and a code of laws, were ratified by the peo- ple in convention assembled on the day named. The following preamble to the organic law states fully and clearly the object which animated the settlers, viz. :
"We, the people of Oregon Territory, for the purpose of mutual protection, and to secure peace and prosperity among ourselves, agree to adopt the following laws and regulations, until such time as the United States of America extend their juris- diction over us."
The bill of rights adopted guaranteed all the great safeguards of individual liberty, freedom of conscience, the habeas corpus and trial by jury. The duty of encouraging morality, religion and knowledge by the support of schools was recognized. Good faith to the Indians was to be observed, and the territory was forever dedicated to freedom by the adoption of the ordinance of 1789. The executive power was reposed in an Executive Committee of three, two of whom were a quorum. The law-making power was continued in the Legislative Committee of nine, and a judiciary constituted, consisting of a Supreme Court, Probate Court and justices of the peace. A whole system of laws was adopted in the most original manner. Certain laws and parts of laws of Iowa were declared to be the statute laws of Oregon by the mere recital of the act by title, or the section of the act, giving the page quoted. A land system, militia law and other necessary measures were duly adopted. The finances of the govern- inent were provided for by the unique and very original plan of private subscription. Not only did the pioneers deem the consent of
44
HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
the governed an essential thing, but each citizen enjoyed the privi- lege of saying how much he would contribute, how much restraint he would tolerate by becoming a part of the government.
Thus, while Oregon was claimed and partially occupied by the British, a government was begun that, in form and spirit, was purely American. It was this act on the part of the American residents in Oregon which settled the question of our right to the country, and won back for the United States the title to the disputed territory, which national diplomacy had well nigh lost. The attention of the whole country was soon directed to the little republic, which the American pioneer had established on the Pacific, and none of the public men now thought of surrendering the country to the control of Great Britain, while a great political party at its national convention, in 1844, declared our title to Oregon to be "clear and unquestioned."
Every step leading up to the establishment of provisional gov- ermment was opposed by the influence of the Hudson's Bay Com- pany and the British subjects generally, although chief factor, Mc- Loughlin, was ready to enter into a compact or domestic treaty for the regulation and adjustment of all points of dispute or difference which might spring up among the residents; indeed they admitted that it was time to establish some rules based upon public opinion, decidedly expressed, for the maintenance of good order and individual rights, but they felt apprehensive for themselves and their interests in placing extensive law-making power in the hands of a legislative body composed of men actuated by a desire to secure the territory as a possession of the United States. This feeling, the organ- izers of the provincial goverment finally overcame, by wise and prudent conservatism and consistent democratic recognition of man- hood, regardless of nativity, and all the settlers in Oregon, whether American citizens or British subjects, were soon united in hearty support of the new goverment.
Before the close of 1843 some eight hundred emigrants poured into Oregon. The causes which had prompted the immigrations of 1841 and 1842 had become more potent and widespread than ever in 1843. Senator Linn was pressing his " Oregon Bills" upon the at- tention of Congress, one of which provided for the donation of public
45
EARLY HISTORY OF OREGON.
lands to all who might settle in Oregon,-his idea being that a liberal immigration alone could be relied upon to win the Co- lumbia for the United States, and that special inducements should be offered to those brave and hardy pioneers, who must constitute the nation's line of battle on the frontier. The emigrant train of this year was the first to come the entire distance in wagons and demon- strated the long disputed fact that the mountains, deserts and can- yons could be passed by the wagon of the emigrant.
The pioneers of 1843 stood pre-eminent among the early settlers, The greater number of them were pioneers by nature and occupation, as their fathers had been before them. In childhood, the story of their ancestors' migrations from the east to the west, and then to the newer west, was their handbook of history. 'They were "home builders" in the texture of their mental constitution and most of them cared little for the amenity of polite society. Among them were Jesse, Charles and Lindsey Applegate, Peter H. Burnett, Daniel Waldo, John and Daniel Holman, J. W. Nesmith and many others who, in later years, left the impress of their personality upon the formative period of Oregon's history.
The immigration of 1844 amounted to some eight hundred per- sons, and its general character did not differ materially from that of the preceding and subsequent years. From the account of one who came with the immigration of this year, we are told that it was com- posed for the most part of " frontiersmen who kept in advance of the settlements, emanating from the southern rather than the eastern States. There were men in it from all the States east and north, perhaps, and individuals from nearly all the countries of western Europe, but the largest number traced their origin to the Scotch cov- enanters who had settled in Virginia, Georgia and North Carolina." The immigration of 1845 was still larger than that of either the two preceding years, containing about 3,000 persons. It was largely front Iowa. Fully two thousand persons constituted the immigration of 1846, only one half of whom remained in Oregon, the remainder go- ing to California. In 1847 above three thousand were added to the population and an equal number during the following year, so that at the time of the establishment of the territorial government in 1848 there was a population of about 15,000 in the country.
46
HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
After the influx of the immigration of 1843 and 1844, the com- mittee government of the former year was found insufficient for the population. A stronger government was needed. At the session of the legislative committee, June, 1844, several modifications were made, a special election on three amendments was ordered, and they were ratified by a majority of 203 votes, to take effect after the first Tuesday in June, 1845. By this change was created the office of Governor, in lieu of the Executive Committee, conferring upon the office veto power instead of submitting laws to popular vote, while the legislative committee of nine was superceded by a House of Rep- resentatives, consisting of not less than thirteen and not more than sixty-one members. This form of government, as amended in 1845, existed until the jurisdiction of the United States was extended over the territory.
George Abernethy, whose arrival in the territory has been already mentioned, was elected Governor under the remodeled government, in 1846, and was annually elected by popular vote until the provisional government ceased to exist. Medorum Crawford, a pioneer of 1842, says of him: " As a missionary he was consistent and conscientious; as a business man, he was honorable, enterprising and liberal; as a a governor, he was patriotic, efficient and unselfish. And for this he deserves the respect of the pioneers and honorable mention in the history of Oregon." Another distinguished pioneer has left the fol- lowing tribute to his worth and character: "George Abernethy, an intelligent christian gentleman, unassuming, indisposed to court pop- ular favor, with strong common sense, and a desire to do his duty conscientiously and quietly, was the right man for the occasion, and whatever prejudice may assert to the contrary, it was fortunate for the colony that just such a person could be had to fill the highest and most responsible position in the pioneer government." A mass of concurrent testimony could be given to prove that the foregoing was the general verdict of the pioneers who lived under his admin- istration. He was not a great man, but that he was good, pure and patriotic, truthful history must record. He died in the city of Port- land, May 3, 1877, where he had long resided.
AS. Park,
47
EARLY HISTORY OF OREGON.
The provisional government was admirably adapted to meet the ex- igencies of the times and the condition of the people. It commanded the support of all citizens without distinction, and so thorough was the confidence of the people "in the integrity of those who admin- istered it," says Judge Thornton, "that it was strong without either an army or navy, and rich without a treasury. Property was safe; schools were established and supported; contracts were enforced; debts were collected, and the majesty of the law vindicated in a mall- ner that proved that the government was able and efficient, because the people confided in the patriotisin, wisdom and ability of those who administered it, and of course the people were prosperous and happy."
Perhaps the most severe test of energy and power the provisional government endured was the prosecution of the war against the Indians which commenced in the depth of the winter of 1847 -- 8. On the 29th of November, 1847, the Cayuse Indians murdered Dr. Whitman and associates at Wailatpu and the country east of the Cascade Mountains was abandoned by all the American missionaries and settlers. Here was a most appalling situation. The danger of an uprising of all the Indians of the Columbia was imminent, and there were enough of them to overwhelin the settlement in the Wil- lamnette Valley. To avert this it was necessary to punish the Indians promptly. In thirteen days from the receipt at Oregon City of information of the massacre, a force of fifty armed mnen under Col. J. W. Nesmith was in possession of the mission station at the Dalles of the Columbia River, having marched a distance of one hundred and fifty mniles in the inclement month of December. At the same time a regiment of fourteen companies was recruited and equipped, upon the faith of the provisional government, and moved to the front. After a campaign of several months, in which two battles were fought, the Cayuses were driven entirely out of their country, nor were they permitted to occupy it again in peace until they delivered up five of the guilty ring-leaders who were tried, convicted and executed at Oregon City. Thus the government of the pioneers, without aid from the United States, quickly and efficiently avenged the murder of American citizens, and in doing this "there was," [4]
18
HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
says ex-Gov. Curry, in an address before the Pioneer Association, "a display of energy and power which would be regarded as remarkable in the operations of any government, but in one so new and inexperienced as that of the pioneers of Oregon, it must be proof eminently satisfactory as to the ability and efficiency of it, that it was not only one in name, but a government formed in the esteem and sustained by the will and majesty of the people."
In the work of the pioneers, whose efforts we have been tracing up to this period, we have seen that already the country was practi- cally the territory of the United States by the highest and best title in existence, the actual occupation and control of it by her citizens. This question was, therefore, virtually settled by the inauguration of the provisional government in 1843, but from that time until the treaty of 1846 was signed it was a prominent issue in American political life. Mr. Polk, the democratic candidate for President, made his campaign on a party platform, which declared that our title to the whole of Oregon up to fifty-four degrees and forty minutes north latitude was "clear and indisputable." Negotiations were promptly resumed after the inauguration of President Polk, but the government elected upon a pledge to support and maintain the claim of the United States up to the latitude of fifty-four degrees and forty minutes, abandoned its position and made the offer of a line on parallel forty-nine, which Great Britain at once accepted, with a modification that all of Vancouver Island should be left in British territory. A treaty on this basis was concluded and ratified June 15, 1846, whereby the long disputed question of title and joint occupancy was settled. This acknowledgment of the American claim to Oregon was only a formal recognition of the fact that the long contest for the occupation of the country had terminated in favor of the Oregon pioneers.
The news of the signing of the treaty was received in Oregon with feelings which plainly indicated the importance of the measure. Joint occupancy, that uncertain tenure by which power was held, was at an end. Threatened troubles with the Indians in Eastern Oregon, before mentioned, now made the people anxious that Con- gress should pass an act extending territorial government over the
49
EARLY HISTORY OF OREGON.
country. To this end they put forth every endeavor. That the provisional government might be represented at Washington by a prominent and influential citizen, who would make known to the President and to Congress the exposed condition of the people, and to ask the necessary legislation to protect them from threatened danger, Gov. Abernethy sent Hon. J. Quinn Thornton, the Supreme Judge of the provisional government. Judge Thornton arrived in Boston in May, 1848, and at once proceeded to Washington, not as a delegate, but rather as an embassador from the little provisional government, to the national government at Washington. In the meantime the Whit- inan massacre had occurred and the citizens were thrown into a state of mingled grief and aların. Joseph L. Meek was, thereupon, sent as a messenger to Washington under the sanction of the provisional legislature, to impart the intelligence, impress the authorities with the precarious condition of the colony and appeal for protection. The intelligence brought by Meek, as well as his individual efforts, did much to aid Mr. Thornton and the friends of Oregon in Congress in securing the desired legislation.
The most enthusiastic and helpful friend Oregon had at Wash- ington at this time was Senator Benton, who for twenty years had supported every measure that promised to advance American interest on this part of the Pacific Coast. With all his wonderful energy and ability this eminent man now labored to secure territorial govern- ment in Oregon. The bill creating the territory, drafted by Judge Thornton, contained a clause prohibiting slavery, and for this reason was objectional to the slave-holding power in Congress. Under the lead of Jefferson Davis and John C. Calhoun, a vigorous fight against the bill was made in the Senate. The contest during the last two days of the session was exciting in the extreme and the feeling intense throughout the Union. The friends of the measure, however, under the lead of Senator Benton, finally triumphed and on August 13, 1848, the bill passed the Senate and a few hours later became a law by the signature of President Polk. The region specified in this act as Oregon Territory embraced all of the present States of Oregon and Washington, and those portions of Idaho and Montana lying west of the Rocky Mountains.
50
HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
One of the provisions of the territorial act was that it recognized the validity of the provisional government and the laws passed by it, and declared that they should remain in force until altered or repealed; and the officers of the government were authorized to exercise and perform the duties of their respective offices until their successors should be elected and qualified. No higher tribute could have been paid to the fitness of Americans for self government than this rati- fication of all the essential laws and acts of the provisional govern- ment of Oregon, which had been made and executed by the pioneer settlers for more than four years. It was the judgment of the whole nation, expressed by her representatives, that Americans could be trusted to plant the standard of freedom, and to welcome under its flag all friends of human rights.
President Polk appointed General Joseph Lane, of Indiana, Gov- ernor of the new territory. He was a man of great executive ability. His brilliant services in Mexico had made him a popular hero, and earned for him the title of the " Marion of the Mexican War." He immediately started for his new field of duty, and on the 3d day of March, 1849, the last day of Polk's administration, he issued his proclamation assuming the government. On the same day Governor Abernethy turned over to the new governor the records of the pro- visional government, "and so," says Bancroft, "without any noise or revolution the old government went out and the new came in. The provisional government was voluntarily laid down as it had voluntarily been taken up. It was an experiment on the part of the American people, who represented in this small and isolated commu- nity, the principles of self government in a manner worthy of the republican sentiment supposed to underlie the Federal Union by which a local population could constitute an independent State, and yet be loyal to the general government."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.