Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/193

 RECOLLECTIONS OF AN OLD PIONEER. vious. Mr. Burnett was unquestionably the most intelligent lawyer then in the country, lie was a very ambitious man smooth, deceitful, and insinuating in his manners. As regards the imputation of improper motives to me in the above extract, if intended as the assertion of fact, such rtiens are untrue; and. if intended as expressions of opin- ions, such opinions are mistaken. These charges are made not only without proof, but against both the evidence and the fact. I went to Oregon for three purposes: 1. To assist in building up a great American community on the Pacific Coast. -. To restore the health of Mrs. Burnett.
 * {. To l)ce< >me able to pay my debts.

Before I became a believer in the truth of the Christiati religion. I had sought fortune with avidity, but, after that fundamental change in my views, I ceased to pursue riches, and my only business object was make a decent living for my family, and pay what I owed. Considering the large amount of my indebtedness. I could not have been so vis- ionary ,-is to suppose I could accomplish in distant and isolated Oreiron more than the three objects mentioned. .x rv_ p ;mls my change of religion, and the motives which led to it, I have already stated the simple truth. At the time 1 joined the Old Church I was independent in my pecuniary circumstances, so far as a decent living was concerned. I had a claim of 640 acres of most excellent land, well im- / proved and well stocked with domestic animals and fowls. With the industrious and sober habits of myself and family, we were secure of a good living. AN to my influence in the committee, it could not possibly have arisen from any change of religion, for these simple and conclusive reasons: That I was then a ProteaUuit without any idea of becoming a Catholic, and every member was op. posed to the Catholic religion. My influence arose from the fact of my qualifications and my -_ p ood character. Waldo. Al--< 'arver, (Jilmore. and Kei/er had traveled with me across