Copyright 2000 - 2003 - Janine M. Bork
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Union County, OR AGHP
CHAPTER XXIX.
(1842.)
Appointment of Dr. White as Sub Indian Agent - Frémont's First Expedition to the South Pass - Immigration of 1842 - Efforts Renewed to Form a Provisional Government - White's Importance as a Public Functionary - Citizens of Tualitan Plains Combine to Protect Themselves Against Evil-doers - White's Administration of Indian Affairs in the Interior - His Reports to the War Department.
IN THE latter part of January, 1842, the War Department, which at that period embraced the Indian Bureau, appointed Dr. Elijah White, discharged physician of the Oregon Methodist Mission, sub-agent for the Indian tribes west of the Rocky Mountains, with a compensation of seven hundred and fifty dollars per annum. He was to report information: as to territory, - its resources, general features, soil, climate and adaptability for settlement; the number and condition of the population; statistics as to Indian tribes west of the Rocky Mountains; their attitude towards the American settlers, and the influence exerted by the presence of the Hudson's Bay Company.
This appointment was without political significance, yet, in connection with the first Frémont expedition which immediately followed, may be considered as indicating that the Executive Department of the nation was awakening to an interest in the internal affairs of the territory.
In the spring, the War Department instructed Lieutenant John C. Frémont, United States Topographical Engineers, "to explore and report upon the country between the frontiers of Missouri and the South Pass in the Rocky Mountains, and on the line of the Kansas and Great Platt rivers."
Wilson P. Hunt, in command of Astor's overland expedition, had (in November, 1812), discovered the South Pass. That region had been annually traversed by hunters and trappers; that pass had been crossed by pack animals, by carts, by wagons; nay, more, the missionary women on horseback had successfully crossed the continent. If it were essential to the recognition that a practicable wagon road could cross those plains and mountains, that the shores of the Pacific could be reached overland by emigrants form the frontier States, that an United States army officer should be guided by a trapper over the beaten track, which year after year had been pursued by uncultured Rocky Mountain men, and so recently by women, such had now been supplied by the first Frémont reconnaissance. Frémont had gone over the route. He had seen it and had returned to Washington and made a scientific report. He left St. Louis May 22d, ascended the Missouri river 400 miles, traveled westward, reaching the South Pass August 8th, and by the 29th of October had returned to Washington. The government had become possessed of an official report, which could not more than verify the oft-repeated accounts of experienced hunters and trappers, and the published statements of Wilson P. Hunt, the Sublette brothers, and Ashley, Pilcher, Bonneville and Rev. Samuel Parker.
(231)
About the 17th of March, Dr. White, accompanied by Medorem Crawford and Nathaniel Crocker of New York, and the two McKay brothers, alexander and John, natives of Oregon, started from their respective homes in New York for Independence, Missouri, which they reached on the first of May. Several families and single men en route for Oregon were encamped twenty miles to the southwest at Elm Grove. The number of emigrants increased until the 16th, upon which day a meeting was held to organize a company. It was resolved "That every male over the age of eighteen years shall be provided with one mule or horse or wagon conveyance; he shall have one gun, three pounds of powder, twelve pounds of lead, one thousand caps or suitable flints, fifty pounds of flour or meal, and thirty pounds of bacon, and a suitable proportion of provisions for women and children; and if any present be not so provided, he shall be rejected."
Dr. White read his appointment as sub-agent and was elected captain for one month. Columbia Lancaster, L.W. Hastings and A.L. Lovejoy were constituted a "scientific corps to keep a faithful and true record of everything for the benefit of all those who may hereafter move to Oregon, and that the government may be well informed of the road, its obstructions, means of subsistence, eminences, depressions, distances, bearing, etc."
A blacksmith, wagon-maker, road and bridge builder were selected, each of whom was authorized to employ two assistants, and, when necessary, to call upon the force of the company. The code of laws was to be enforced by reprimand, fines and final exclusion. Profane swearing, obscene conversation and immoral conduct rendered the offender liable to expulsion; a register of the names of every man, woman and child was to be kept by Nathaniel Crocker, Secretary.
James Coats was chosen pilot. These preliminaries all settled, the first emigrant train for Oregon moved westward from Elm Grove. It consisted of one hundred and fifty persons, fifty of whom were males over the age of eighteen years, eighteen wagons and a large band of horses, mules and cattle.
When five days out, death had stricken down a child of Judge Columbia Lancaster. The bereaved parents continued with the party for several days; after traveling westward 170 miles, the failing health of Mrs. Lancaster compelled the return of the Judge and his family. Dr. White and three of the train escorted them back to the kansas river, the train being delayed three days for the return of the escort.
Medorem Crawford (1) has graphically described the march across the plains, its methods, its difficulties, its trying scenes, its vicissitudes, its annoyances, its triumphs over obstacles, and its termination at the Willamette valley. That narrative pictures how Oregon acquired its population. Here, too, is a vivid picture of Oregon pioneer life: "On the 5th of October, our little party, tired, ragged and hungry, arrived at the Falls, now Oregon City, where we found the first habitations west of the Cascade Mountains. Here several members of the Methodist Mission were located, and a saw-mill was being erected on the island.
"Our gratification on arriving safely after so long and perilous a journey was shared by these hospitable people, each of whom gave us a hearty welcome and rendered every assistance in their power.
"From the Falls to Vancouver was a trackless wilderness, communication being only by the river in small boats and canoes. Towards Salem no sign of civilization existed
(1) Occasional Address Oregon
Pioneers, 1881.
until we reached French Prairie, where a few farms near the river were cultivated by former employés of the Hudson's Bay Company.
"Within the present limits of Yamhill county, the only settlers I can remember were Sidney Smith, Amos Cook, Francis Fletcher, James O'Neil, Joseph McLaughlin, - Williams, Louis La Bonte and George Gay. There may have been one or two more, but I think not. South of George Gay's on the west and of Salem on the east side of the Willamette river, there were no settlements within the territory.
"There were in the valley some twelve or fifteen Methodist missionaries, most of them having families, under the general superintendence of Rev. Jason Lee. Some were at the Falls, some at Salem, and some at the mission farm ten miles below Salem, opposite the place now known as Wheatland. At these places, especially the Falls and Salem, many improvements were being made, and employment was given at fair wages to all who desired work. Payment was made in lumber and flour from their mills at Salem, cattle and horses from their herds, and orders on the mission stores at the Falls kept by Hon. George Abernethy. There was no money in the country; in fact, I do not remember seeing a piece of money of any description for more than a year after my arrival. A man's financial condition was based upon his cattle, horses, and credit with the Hudson's Bay Company, or on Abernethy's books. With these he could procure everything that was purchasable in the country.
"All kinds of tools and implements were scarce, and generally of the most primitive character. There were no wagons in the country. Carts of the rudest manufacture were in general use, which among the French were generally ironed with rawhide. Ground was plowed with wooden mold-boards. grain was threshed in rail-pens by the tramping of the horses, cleaned by winnowing in the wind, and transported i canoes and bateaux to Fort Vancouver to market. Most of our clothing came from the Hudson's Bay Company, was all of one size, and was said to have been made to fit Dr. McLoughlin, who was a very large man.
"Boots and shoes were more difficult to obtain than any other article of clothing. As for myself, I had no covering for my feet for wo years, either summer or winter, but buckskin moccasins; still I never enjoyed better health in my life."
Sub-Agent White reached Fort Vancouver about the 20th of September. Dr. John McLoughlin thus chronicles the arrival: Dr. White, who had formerly been a member of the Methodist Mission, but disagreed with them and left them in 1840, came with these immigrants. He himself gave out, at a meeting which he called for the purpose, as having been appointed sub Indian agent by the American government for Oregon Territory; but of course the officers of the Hudson's Bay Company did not acknowledge his authority."
Rev. Gustavus Hines (1) says: "The subject of organizing a government was revived in September, 1842; but Dr. White, who was no in the country as sub-agent of Indian affairs, contended that his office was equivalent to that of governor of the colony. Some of the citizens contended that the Doctor's business was to regulate the intercourse between the Indians and the Whites, and not to control the Whites in their intercourse among themselves. Without arriving at anything definite on this point, after hearing the documents brought to the country from Washington, the people scattered away to their homes upon the plains, pleased with what they considered a preliminary step of the United States towards extending jurisdiction over the territory of Oregon. The meeting alluded
(1) Hines'
History of Oregon.
to be held at Champoeg September 23, 1842, of which Dr. I.L. Babcock was chairman and George W. Le Breton secretary. Dr. White read his credentials as sub Indian agent, made a speech, and resolutions were adopted to be officially communicated by Dr. White to the government of the United States."
The Doctor remarks: "With the advent of so many new settlers, the people of the colony began seriously to entertain the project of establishing a provisional form of government. Meeting after meeting was held for this purpose, which, from there being so many aspirants to the most important offices, proved abortive."
In his first official report to the Indian Bureau, he states how cordially he was received by Chief Factors McLoughlin and Douglas. To them "his appointment gave pleasure rather than pain, a satisfactory assurance that these worthy gentlemen intend eventually to settle in this country, and prefer American to English jurisdiction." That hospitality had been manifested to every government official visiting their posts; and there is but a single report by an authorized agent of the United States visiting this territory which does not commend the presence of the company as promotive of the well-being of Oregon at that period.
The appointment of a Federal officer, and favorable legislation by Congress for the territory, anticipated from the report of Sub-Agent White in his speech to the Champoeg meeting, engendered a confidence in the American settlers that the government would not much longer defer assertion of territorial rights, and the extension of Federal jurisdiction over the territory.
Late in the fall, the dwelling-house of Rev. A.B. Littlejohn, on the Tualitan plains, had been broken open and stripped of clothing, bedding, provisions and movables. His neighbors, Rev. J.S. Griffin and those old Rocky Mountain men, Robert Newell, George W. Ebberts, Caleb Wilkins, William Doughty and Joseph L. Meek, constituted themselves detectives, with an agreement to assemble at the call of any of their number. Within a few days, an Indian came to William Doughty's house. His inquiries as to who was suspected by the Whites, and his too familiar acquaintance, for an innocent party, with details of the crime, led Doughty to suspect that his visitor was either the burglar or that he knew all about it. Doughty at once assembled his colleagues. The Indian was put upon trial, and confessed his guilt. That primitive vigilance committee adjudged that he should receive five lashes at the hands of each of his judges, to be well laid on. The prisoner was tied up to an oak-tree, and the sentence duly carried into execution.
The incident was a matter of considerable comment. The maintenance of a permanent organization similar to the modern vigilance committee found many advocates. The subject gradually assumed the shape of a discussion at lyceums and elsewhere of a plan of political organization. All shades of opinion existed. The Canadian-French settlers were averse to organization. The majority of independent American settlers were reconciled to wait, and continue to hope that the United States government was about to extend to the country and its citizens the protection of its institutions and laws.
Shortly after the arrival of Sub-Agent White, reports were current that the Walla Wallas, Cayuses and Nez Perces, closely allied by intermarriage, were about to form a hostile combination against the missionary stations in the interior, and the American settlements in the Willamette.
On the 1st of November, the sub-agent
left Willamette, accompanied by Cornelius rodgers as interpreter, and Thomas
McKay, an old Hudson's Bay company chief trader. At Walla Walla, Chief
Trader Archibald McKinlay, then in charge of that post, joined
the party. With McKay and McKinlay, White was as safe from damage among the Oregon Indians as in the White House at Washington. He could not have selected a better escort to secure himself, or to have accomplished any result with the Indians.
Having dispatched messengers from Fort Walla Walla to notify the Cayuses and Walla Wallas to meet his party upon the day named for their return, the party went to Lapwai, which place they reached December 3d. At the council of Nez Perces, a chief and twelve sub-chiefs were elected. Doctor White immortalized himself by introducing a code of laws, which, after the usual talk, was, of course, unanimously ratified by the children of the "Great Father" at Washington. Such had been and ever will be the custom of treating with Indians. That "White" code, consisting of eleven articles intended for the Indians, is worthy to be placed among the most exalted pieces of diplomacy with the Indian tribes, in the official documents of the Indian Bureau. It reads thus:
"ARTICLE I. Whoever willfully takes life shall be hung.
"ART. 2. Whoever burns a dwelling-house shall be hung.
"ART. 3. Whoever burns an outbuilding shall be imprisoned six months, receive fifty lashes and pay all damages.
"ART. 4. Whoever carelessly burns a house or any property shall pay damages.
"ART. 5. If any one enter a dwelling without permission of the occupant, the chiefs shall punish him as they think proper. Public rooms are excepted.
"ART. 6. If any one steal, he shall pay back two fold; and, if it be the value of a beaver skin or less, he shall receive twenty-five lashes; and, if the value is over a beaver, skin, he shall pay back twofold and receive fifty lashes.
"ART. 7. If any one take a horse and ride it without permission, or take any article and use it without liberty, he shall pay for the use of it and receive from twenty to fifty lashes, as the chief shall direct.
"ART. 8. If any one enter a field and injure the crops, or throw down the fence so that cattle or horses go in and do damage, he shall pay all damages and receive twenty-five lashes for every offense.
"ART. 9. Those only may keep dogs who travel, or live among the game; if a dog kill a lamb, calf or any domestic animal, the owner shall pay the damage and kill the dog.
"ART. 10. If any Indian raise a gun or other weapon against a white man, it shall be reported to the chiefs, and they shall punish him. If a white man do the same to an Indian, it shall be reported to Dr. White, and he shall punish or redress it.
"ART. II. If an Indian break these laws, he shall be punished by his chiefs; if a white man break them, he shall be reported to the agent, and punished at his instances."
In that famous report of the sub Indian agent of the Indian Bureau, chronicling the establishment of law and order among the indians of the interior, occurs a description of a most remarkable phenomenon:
"Mount St. Helens, one of the snowcapped volcanic mountains some 16,000 feet above the level of the sea, and eighty miles northwest of Vancouver, broke out upon the 20th of November, presenting a scene the most awful and sublime imaginable, scattering smoke and ashes several hundred miles distant; and, in the meantime, immense quantities of melted lava were rolling down its sides, and inundating the plains below."
In just such grandiloquence and
Gulliverian hyperbole does Dr. Elijah White, Sub Indian Agent of the tribes
west of the Rocky Mountains, amplify the distance traveled, and the dangers
he incurred in that winter negotiation to give the benighted Nez Perces
a code of laws. With like draft upon the imagination does he multiply the
number of savages his presence and opportune arrival rendered submissive
to law and his authority.