Page:History of Oregon volume 1.djvu/432

Rh years, he had the satisfaction of getting his measure through that branch of the national legislature of which he was a member, though it did not become a law. It was Floyd's last effort in congress; it was Linn's last effort in the senate, for he died October 3d of that year, and before the reassembling of congress.

The disappointment of the people of the western states was great when the results of the Ashburton-Webster treaty were made known, and it became certain that the Oregon boundary had not been touched upon, the interest in the title increasing rather than diminishing. President Tyler, in his message to congress December 1842, felt called upon to apologize for the failure. "It became manifest," he said, "at an early hour of the late negotiations, that any attempt for the time being satisfactorily to determine those rights would lead to a protracted discussion which might embrace in its failure other more pressing matters." He promised, however, not to delay urging a settlement.

The secretary of war in his annual report expressed himself favorable to a line of military posts, with the avowed object of making an exhibition of strength to influence the natives, and to show an intention to maintain the rights of the United States on the Pacific coast; and advised the extension of their jurisdiction over the Oregon Territory; and also giving armed protection to the citizens of the United States already there, as well as making an appropriation to send out a colony who were anxious to undertake the enterprise. Resolutions of the general assemblies {{smallrefs}