Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 6.djvu/371

365 THE WINNING OF THE OREGON COUNTRY. 366 selves over the territory. The most of them are farmers and mechanics : They will add much to the future welfare aud prosperity of Oregon." He complains of the long delay upon the part of the United States in assuming Fed- eral control, and excuses this by attributing the same to the war with Mexico, then not concluded, as he states. In the house, which convened at Oregon City, Decem- ber 7, 1847, there were eighteen members, A. J. Hembree and L. Rogers representing Yamhill County. On Wednes- day, December 8, 1847, the journal recites that "The ser- geant-at-arms announced a special communication from the Governor, which was read by the clerk, consisting of a number of letters from messengers of the forts on the Columbia, announcing the horrid murder of Doctor Whit- man, family, and others, accompanied by a letter from the Governor, praying the immediate action of the house in the matter/' Mr. Nesmith offered and there was adopted a resolution requiring the Governor to provide arms for, and equip and dispatch not to exceed fifty men, armed with rifles, to occupy the mission at The Dalles and wait for reinforcements there. This legislature commissioned Joseph L. Meek a special messenger to go to Washington to implore Federal aid in the suppression of the Indian uprising, and a resolution was passed on the day before Christmas, 1847, respectfully inviting and requesting the commander-in-chief of the United States land and naval forces in California and the American Consul at the Sand- wich Islands to render all the assistance in their power. Medorum Crawford was a member of the body represent- ing the county of Clackamas. Mr. Hembree, represent- ing Yamhill County, introduced and had passed a bill to locate a territorial road from Linn City, Tuality County, to Zed Martin's in Yamhill County. But few of us know where this would now be, although it is believed that Linn City was just opposite Oregon City, and Zed Martin's was