Page:Centennial History of Oregon 1811-1912, Volume 1.djvu/85



TtlE CENTKNNTAL HISTORY OF OREGON 31

To ooiifhide the narrative oi Mackenzie's expedition across the Reeky iiKiuntains to the Pacific ocean, it is sufficient to add here that the Pacific ocean water which Mackenzie did reach is now known as "Bentinck Nortli Arm," an inlet from the ocean into which the Belhi Coola river discharges, aliout two hundred miles north of the international boundary. After exploring the coun- try sufficient to show that he had in fact reached the waters of the Pacific ocean, Mackenzie mixed some vermilion in melted grease and painted in large letters on the south side of a great roek under which his party had camped, the follow- ing claim to the country: "Alexander Mackenzie, from Canada, by land, the twenty-second day of July, one thousand seven hundred and ninety -three. "

LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION, 1804

At the next session of congress after the purchase of Louisiana from France, President Jefferson sent a confidential message to congress containing a recom- mendation for an exploring expedition to the west, and congress promptly passed an act providing the necessary funds to make the exploration. The Pres- ident lost no time in organizing the expedition known in all the histories as the Lewis and Clark expedition, appointing his private secretary. Captain Meri- wether Lewis, to the chief command and Captain Wm. Clark, a brother of Gen- eral George Rogers Clark, as second in command. As a matter of historical fact, the President had already, before he knew of the signing of the treaty of session at Paris, perfected arrangements with Captain Lewis to go west and organize a strong party to cross the continent to the mouth of the Columbia river. This is proved by the fact that Lewis left Washington City within four days after the news was received by the President that the treaty had finally been executed. A large part of the year was spent in making preparations for the journey, and the President was so anxious for the safety and success of the men, that he prepai'ed with his own hands the written instructions to show the nature of them, and the great care the President was taking to have success assured, and the natives treated with justice and consideration. "In all your intercourse with the natives," says Jefferson, "treat them in the most friendly and coneiliatorj' manner which their own conduct will admit ; allay all jealousies as to the object of your journey ; satisfy them of its innocence ; make them ac- quainted with the extent, position, character, peaceable and commercial dispo- sitions of the United States ; of our wish to be neighborly, friendly, and useful to them, and of our disposition to hold commercial intercourse with them, and to confer with them on the point most convenient for trade and the articles of the most desirable interchange for them and for us."

The purchase of Louisiana and the great exploring expedition which fol- lowed the purchase is unique and unexampled in the history of mankind. After more than a century of enlightenment, consideration and development of this vast region, the momentous influences and consequences of that great transac- tion are not fully comprehended to this day. Vast regions and great nations, even those with more or less of what we call civilization, have in the history of the world, passed under the dominion of overwhelming military power, and lingered in decay or gone down to oblivion. But here is an empire of natural wealth in a vast region claimed and owned by the then foremost military power