Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/315

 RKCOLLK- TIONS 01 AN Ou> I'IONKKR. 305 the time for which his men had enlisted expired. He, how- ever, before leaving, sent a party to bring in the last com- pany of emigrants. The appearance of so many armed men among the Indians in their own country had a very salutary effect on them; this is seen by their refusing to unite with the Cayuse Indians, by their profession of friendship to the Americans, and by the safety with which the immigration passed through the Indian country the past season. Heretofore robberies have been committed and insults offered to Americans as they pass along, burdened with their families and -roods, and worn down with the fatigues of a lonir .journey, and this was on the increase; each successive yea i- no molestation was offered in any way. On the con- immiirration suffered more than the preceding one. But. this trary. every assistance was rendered by the Indians in cross- ing rivers, for a reasonable compensation. Having learned the power and ability of the Americans, I trust the mvessity of calling on our citizens to punish them hen-after will be obviated. ("Oregon Laws and Archives," pa.ire. 272.) This attack of the Indians was attributed by some persons, ami especially by Mr. Spaulding, to the instigation of the Catholic missionaries in that country. I thought the charge most unjust, and think so still. The charge was too horrible in its very nature to be believed unless the evidence was conclusive beyond a reasonable doubt. There were most ample grounds upon which to account for the massacre, with- out accusing these missionaries of that horrible crime. Mr. Spaulding and myself agreed to discuss the matter thron-rli the columns of a small semi-monthly newspaper, published by Mr. (Iriflin. and several numbers were written and pub- lished by each of us; but the discovery of the gold mines in California put a stop to the discussion.