Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 15.djvu/172



160 SAMUEL ROYAL THURSTON

time for the West. He will go for all we ask. He says Govt. never ought to sell any land in Oregon, but should donate it to settlers.

December 6, 1849 Today I attended the session of the House, but there was no choice for Speaker. The Whigs adhered closely to Winthrop, while many of the Democrats adhered but partly to Cobb. I also wrote a letter (see copy retained) to the Postmaster Genl. making inquiry as to what mail routes, postoffices and postmasters &c there were in Oregon.

I also answered a letter written to Col. Benton by a man from Ohio, asking certain information relative to Oregon. Col. B. requested me to do so. I accordingly replied by a letter of 8 pages, and forwarded same to the Ohio States- man for publication. In the evening I occupied my time in ascertaining what laws had ever been passed favorable to Oregon, more particularly to establish post routes, and for carrying the mail to our country, after which I retired to bed at 12 o'clock.

December 7, 1849 This day I called on the Secretary of the Navy to see if I could get him to order a Government vessel to Oregon. He informed me that he had already ordered the steamer Massachusetts to Astoria to await the use of the officers of Oregon. This being satisfactory, and in conformity to the promise of the President before made, I then brought to his notice the fact that a British vessel, in Oregon, under guarantee of Major Hathaway, U. S. A., vio- lated, about last July, the Vmerican laws regulating the coast- ing trade. He requested me to communicate the fact in writ- ing to his Dep., and he would attend to it. I then a Jed on the Treasury Department to see if the Collector at Astoria had ever communicated the fact to the Treasury Dept. The First Comptroller tho't not, but requested I would make the inquiry in writing, when he would attend to it promptly. Accordingly, I went to my room, and did so. After this, I attended the session of the House, but no choice of Speaker was made. This was the fifth day. During the session I