Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 19.djvu/239

 FEDERAL RELATIONS OF OREGON 227 of Congress would produce some definite action the bill did, indeed, pass the Senate, the reports of those who had been in the country, all resulted in the largest single migration that had taken place up to that time, for more than one hundred persons went over the Oregon Trail under the leadership of Dr. Elijah White. This Dr. White had been in the Methodist colony on the Willamette, but as he had not gotten on well with Jason Lee had returned to the United States about a year before. When Lee was in Washington he had urged the appointment of some sort of a civil magistrate for Oregon, but the suggestion had not been favorably received, but when Captain Spaulding of the Lausanne reported the situation in the Columbia Valley on his return from taking the Methodist party, there was a change of sentiment. Lee's suggestion was recalled and White, since he had been in Oregon, was called to Washington in January, 1842. He was presented to Presi- dent Tyler and Secretary Webster by Senator Linn and with them talked over the situation. After some discussion, for it was rather difficult to appoint an official for Oregon and not at the same time infringe the stipulations of the treaty, White was commissioned a sub-Indian agent with half salary to be doubled if the Oregon bill passed. 18 The migration of 1842 then not only doubled the white population of Oregon but brought the first United States official charged with duties for that specific region. With the large increase of Americans in 1842 plans which had been under consideration in the Willamette valley could be carried out. The question of civil organization had long troubled the United States citizens in Oregon; British subjects had Her Majesty's Government represented by the servants of the Hudson's Bay Company, for each factor was a justice of the peace, but there was nothing to typify the dignity of the United States, Moreover, like most Americans, they had a feeling that things were not proceeding properly unless there 1 8 Ten Years in Oregon; travels and adventures of Dr. E. White and Lady, west of the Rocky Mountains, compiled by Miss A. J. Allen, 138 seq. ; also T. C. Spencer (Sec. War under Tyler) to White, Ibid., 322-5. Report on White's petition, S. Doc. No. 50, 29th Cong., ist Ses. Bancroft, History of Oregon, I, 254, 5.