Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 7.pdf/430

424 of this war. The person! selected for this service, a former mountain trapper, resigned his seat in the Legislature on December 17, and proceeded with the army into the country of the hostile tribe, as that was on the line of the overland trail. On the night of the 4th of March following, with a half dozen companions, he left the army and struck out across plateaus and mountains, where winter storms still reigned and the snows had melted just enough to make the passage most difficult. With blanket and rifle to each man, but without horses to go round, they accomplished the journey, reaching the Missouri early in May. On the 29th

But as the wheat plan has been partially tried, and has been favorably received by the people, and as it is the immediate offspring of the commander in the field, and has the approval of the executive and the loan commissioners, I do not think it should be lightly abandoned. Because those who have given notes already have done so under the supposition that all would be called to do the same; that it was actually a tax without the odious feature of compulsion, and they are the more willing to contribute in this shape to the wants of the Government, as it is anticipated by the people generally that ultimately a tax will be levied upon them against which their voluntary contributions will be an offset. If the plan is now abandoned those who have given notes will have just cause to complain that they have been induced to do so under a misunderstanding, and will not be likely to incommode themselves much in the discharge of such obligations.

As it regards the increased responsibility to yourself by adhering to this plan of raising means, I can not for my life see that you can any more suffer in pocket or character than from any other which you have been forced to adopt in the successful discharge of your duties. You know that a rigid construction of your duties as commissary general limits you to the bare investment of the means placed in your hands; but our pecuniary embarrassments have been such that you have been forced to supply the army without means, and while your opponents cry out that by seizing provisions, borrowing money, and buying property as commissary general, your acts were extra official; yet by taking this responsibility alone, you have so far been able to furnish the army and keep them in the field; and by your great exertions and perseverance in these unlawful acts you have gained the good will of the people they so much envy.

The office-seekers, of course, wish your downfall and will compass it if they can; not because they have discovered faults in you, but on the contrary, they fear the people may duly appreciate the ability you have displayed, and the great personal sacrifices you have made in their service; and if they can by alarming your fears, drive you to abandon a policy which so far has been successful, and obtain for you the character of vascillation [sic] and uncertainty, they will succeed in their object, which is to deprive you of the confidence of the people, and which once lost is scarcely ever regained.

If you have the right to make purchases and receive property, your right to receive money or property of any kind that can be made available to the use of the army is certainly unquestionable; so I think the only question with you to decide is as to the policy of the measure. If you think it will be for the good of the community to adopt it, carry it out to the fullest extent; if you decide against its utility abandon it at once, and undo if you can what has been done in the matter. For my part, I would not touch a note obtained from my neighbor for my exclusive benefit, and at the expense of the disgrace of a friend.

Sincerely your well-wisher,

Jesse Applegate. Also quoted by Mrs. Frances Fuller Victor in her Early Indian Wars of Oregon, pp. 200-2.