Page:History of Oregon volume 1.djvu/314

Rh fested its intention, through its agent, Doctor White, of extending jurisdiction and protection over the country; gratified that an Indian agent had been appointed to regulate and guard the interests of the natives; and pleased with the appointment of White, with whom they promised to cordially coöperate. They were also grateful for the liberal design of the government to lend its support to education and literature among the colonists. It would give them the highest satisfaction to be brought as soon as possible into this happy estate, and they desired that their views expressed in their resolutions might be transmitted to the government. There was nothing unfriendly in these guarded expressions, but it was soon remarked, with different degrees of acrimonious criticism, that White assumed powers not belonging to him, claiming to be virtual governor of the colony, whereas he had no commission except a letter of instructions as sub-agent of Indian affairs. The embarrassments of his anomalous position constantly increased. The missionary colonists, as has already been shown, were divided amongst themselves. Those who differed from Jason Lee as to the proper business of men in the employ of missionary societies had already begun to leave the country. Those who remained, especially those in the Willamette Valley, belonged to the Lee faction, and were opposed to the pretensions of White because Lee was opposed to them. The settlers belonging to the Mission were governed, as the uneducated classes usually are, by the opinions of the man with the best facilities for making himself popular, and although Jason Lee's popularity with this class was not what it once had