Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 15.djvu/169



DIARY 157

Having learned that one St. John had been appointed to the custom house at Astoria vice John Adair, and that the time allowed him by law to file his bond had expired, I requested the President that he would take no further action in the matter till I had an interview with him. He promised that he would not. Before we went in, I had requested Gov. Gaines to intercede also. He promised he would ; accordingly he requested the President not to do anything further in the matter till he could reach Oregon and report back to the President, remarking that he knew Genl. Adair, etc. The President also promised him that he would not, so that Genl. Adair will not now be removed for 6 or 8 months, any- how. I think he will not be removed at all. In the evening, after we left the President's, I conversed with Gov. G. till 12 at night upon Oregon matters, and promised to see him today which I shall yet do. Yesterday I received various letters from persons in different parts of the States, inquiring for their friends in Oregon. I replied promptly, considering that that was also a part of my duty, because my constituents in Oregon were interested in the matter. After the interview with Gov. G. I wrote two letters to Oregon communicating a part of the information obtained by my calls and researches. Also on this day I procured a boarding place at the St. Charles, paying nine dollars per week and finding my own lights, the landlord finding everything else. I also attended the Democratic caucus this evening from 7 to 8, in which all the states were represented save S. C. and

The President is to recommend the reduction of postage to Oregon to five cents per letter. This he promises and I hope he will perform.

December 2, 1849 This day I went to meeting at the Wesleyan Chapel, Methodist, and heard the minister discourse upon the following text, "I was glad when they said unto me, Come let us go up into the House of the Lord." In the evening, as Gov. Gaines was soon to start for Oregon, and had previously requested me to do so, I called on him to converse relative to Oregon affairs. And we agreed to go