Page:Centennial History of Oregon 1811-1912, Volume 1.djvu/569

 butchery you have robbed the Americans jiassing through your country, and have insulted their women. If you allow your young men to govern you, I say you are not men, or chiefs, but women who do not deserve the name. Your hot-headed young men plume themselves on their bravery; but let them not deceive themselves. If the Americans begin war, they will have cause to repent their rashness ; for the war will not end until every man of you is cut from the face of the earth ; I am aware that many of your people have died ; but so have others. It was not Dr. Whitman who poisoned them; but God who commanded that they should die. You have the opportunity to make some reparation. I give you only ad- vice and promise you nothing should war be declared against you. The Fur Company has nothing to do with your quarrel. If you wish it, on my return I will see what can be done for you ; but I do not promise to prevent war. Deliver to me the prisoners you hold to deliver them to their friends, and I will pay you a ransom, and that is all I -^dll do."

The white man had brushed aside all their excuses, and all their scheming was for nothing. The determined vnll of one man towered above them as an im- movable mountain. They yielded at once; accepted the ransom offered, of blankets, clothing and a few guns and delivered all the prisoners to Ogden who safely delivered them to Governor Abernethy at Oregon City in ten days there- after. The murderers were not given up by their tribesmen and were not arrested until Governor Lane came into office under the Territorial Government and then five Indians participating in the bloody deed were tried, and con- victed, and hung by United States Marshal Sleek at Oregon City on June 3, 1850, four of them confessing to the murders before the execution, and the fifth admitting that he was present at the murdering, but claimed he took no part in it.

THE SEQUEL

Saving and excepting the organization of the Provisional Government, no single act in the history of the state was ever followed by so many exciting in- fluences as the murder of Marcus Whitman. First, it practically broke up and an- nihilated all missionary efforts to teach and convert the Indians to Christianity for a space of twenty years thereafter. Second, it precipitated an Indian war, and planted- the leaven of hatred and enmity that resulted in wars and bloody reprisal from both sides that sacrificed hundreds of lives and wasted millions of dollars in property loss and military expense. Third, it planted sectarian animosities between professedly Christian peoples that are active and unrelent- ing to this day. Fourth, it proved the substantial value and vital force of the Provisional Government which could and did organize an army and defend the people. Fifth, it hastened the action of the United States Congress to organize Oregon into a Territorial Government under the care and protection of the United States. Sixth, it showed most effectively that the elevation of the native race was not and could not be the work of an evanescent religious en- thusiasm carried on by unreliable contributions of kind hearted church mem- bers; but must be a work of evolution developed and carried out under the certain and reliable support of the National Government which would guaranty