Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 9.djvu/437

Rh Missouri. Our men were all healthy during the whole time ; we suffered nothing by the weather, and had no accident but the death of one man, who was killed by the falling in of a bank of earth. Of the mules, we lost but one ; and two horses stolen by the Kanzas Indians. The grass being along the whole route, going and coming, sufficient for the support of the horses and mules. The usual weight in the wagons was about one thousand eight hundred pounds.

"The usual progress of the wagons was about fifty to twenty miles per day ; the countrs^ being almost all open, level, and prairie. The chief obstructions were ravines and creeks, the banks of which required cutting down, and for this purpose a few pioneers were sent ahead of the caravan.

"This is the first time that wagons ever went into the Rocky Mountains ; and the ease and safety with which it was done, prove the facility of com- munications overland to the Pacific ocean. The route from the Southern pass, where the wagons stopped, to the great falls of the Columbia, being easier and better than on this side of the mountains, with grass enough for horses and mules, but a scarcity of game for the support of men."

I have now detained the meeting longer than I first intended, and will conclude my remarks, in hopes that I may have the pleasure of hearing the views of others on this subject, as well for as against the occupation of the Oregon, if any shall be fovind who are opposed to it.

from forty-two to fifty-four degrees forty minutes north latitude, is unquestioned, and that it is the imperative duty of the General Government forthwith to extend the laws of the United States over said Territory.

Resolved further. That to encourage emigration to, and the permanent and secure settlement of said Territory, the Congress of the United States ought to establish a line of forts from the Missouri river to the Pacific ocean ; and provide also a sufficient naval force for the protection of the Territory and its citizens.

Resolved, That for the purpose of making known the causes and princi- ples of our action, the following declaration is unanimously adopted, and now signed by the mem.bers of this Convention, with instructions to the officers thereof to transmit a copy to the President of the United States, and to each member of Congress, and also to the Executive of the several States, with a request to present them to their respective Legislatures.

We, the undersigned citizens of the Mississippi "Valley, do hereby declare to our fellow-citizens of the whole Republic, that in larging forward meas- ures for the immediate occupation of the Oregon Territory, and the north-