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 LESTER BURRELL SHIPPEE

350

houses for the defense of the whites and the regiment of

men, released from service

in the

Mexican War, had

rifle-

to be

it could be sent to Oregon. however, had been on the President's mind, for just before receiving the second communication from Abernethy he had, after consultation with his Cabinet, decided to

recruited to full strength before

The

situation,

unite the military districts of Oregon and California and put them under the command of General Persifer F. Smith. General Smith, who was then in Washington (October) had already been ordered to Oregon with the mounted riflemen as

soon as they should be ready to leave. 11 Abernethy's plea, then, could receive no other direct response, although the Secretary of the Navy was directed to order the commander of the Pacific squadron to proceed at once with a part of his force to Oregon and to furnish the inhabitants with arms and am-

munition and such of his

more took occasion

men

as he could spare. 12

to confide to his diary

what

Polk once

he believed to

be the cause of the misery of the Oregonians; "the neglect and inattention of Congress" which had failed to act in accord

had been "more occupied President-making than in attending to

with his recommendations, because at the last session in

it

public business."

Oregon, therefore, was forced to defend herself. A volunwas raised and this, together with the efforts of the Hudson's Bay Company and of the Catholic priests from teer force

the missions, succeeded in

making the allied tribes seek peace. Incidentally the massacre which had opened the strife was made the excuse of declaring forfeit the lands of the Cayuses about Walla Walla, thus throwing them open to settlement.

The expenses incurred by the Provisional Government in war became the cause of a long-standing claim against

the

the

Federal Government.

Annual Message 13 Polk did not hesitate to speak plainly on the Oregon situation and emphasized his remarks by sending to Congress the latest letter he had received from In his

last

Polk, Diary, IV, 149. 2 Ibid., 155-6. 13 Globe, XIX, 7.

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