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 FEDERAL RELATIONS OF OREGON neither of these

is

that of J.

Governor Abernethy's lature,

the majority

letter. 8

of

349

Quinn Thornton, who brought The memorial from the Legis-

which represented

onie

Oregonian

had

practically requested the President to give the more important positions to persons who were not residents of the clique,

territory in order to prevent the appointment of Abernethy, who headed another faction, as governor.

While the new

officers

were on

their

way

to

Oregon

the

President received another appeal from Governor Abernethy for aid against the Indians. 9 The conflict which had broken out,

the

Up

known as the Cayuse War, was the immediate Whitman massacre which occurred in the fall to this outbreak there

had been comparatively

trouble with the Indians in the

Bay Company's

Oregon Territory

influence over the native tribes

tributed to prevent hostilities

and some

little



result of

of 1847.

little

serious

the Hudson's

had long congood seems to

have been accomplished by Elijah White, the sub-Indian agent appointed by President Tyler, although he had been inclined to make promises which he neither was able nor attempted to fulfil. White had resigned his position in 1846, when Conhis petition for the extra salary which he conrefused gress 10 and Charles E. Pickett had been appointed due sidered him, After in his place. White left Oregon, however, the relations between the settlers and the Indians had been taken over by the Provisional Government acting through the Governor.

When

the warlike activities of the Indians were reported to had applied to Governor Mason

Pickett, then in California, he

for forces with which to

go to the assistance of the Oregonians. his request and Pickett remained in California believing that his mere presence would count for No assistance was received from Washington either, little. for Congress had not' acted on the measures reported in both

The Governor refused

8 This factional situation is hinted at in Polk, Diary, IV, 81-3, in the account of Thornton's attempt, finally successful, to secure payment of his expenses in The inner features of the episode are not indicated by going to Washington. Thornton, History of Oregon and California, II, 249-50. For the whole affair see Bancroft, History of Oregon, I, 773, note, where the account is based on MSS. in the

Bancroft collection. 9 Polk, Diary, IV, 144, 10 Oct., 1848. to Washington with the 1845 memorial

to

10 White had gone Oregon until 1850.

and did not return