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DIARY 183

January 28, 1850 Today the House was in session. Oc- cupied the forenoon in finishing the letter commenced on yes- terday. The House did not get through with the States in the call for petitions, so I got no chance to offer anything for Oregon. In the evening finished the above letter, went to see Bell about the Indian bill, and went to bed, after franking documents, about 11 o'clock.

January 29, 1850 This day went to see Bell again. He said he had the bill ready and would report it next day. Went to see the Secretary about the appointment of the surveyors of Portland and Nesqually. He said Porter would be appointed, but gave me to understand King would not. I had recom- mended these men, one from each party, so that King might be appointed. Meredith said if he appointed King, the Whigs of Oregon would find fault. I replied that half was fair, and that if all Whigs were appointed, it would arouse party feeling in Oregon. I insisted King was a good man, lived at Port- land, and ought to be appointed. I told him Mr. Hunt would recommend King. He then wanted I should wait till Hunt came.

I went home and in the evening wrote him a private letter to the same effect and stated to him that the effect would be, if he should refuse to appoint any Democrat in Oregon, to raise a party excitement which the Whigs themselves in Ore- gon professed not to want. I then wrote a confidential letter to King on the subject confidential because I did not wish to hurry party excitement in Oregon. This day I received a letter from S. Coffin, dated Oct. 31, stating he had written twice to Lownsdale, Portland, to pay up the Abernethy $700 note (seven hundred) &c. and that if I paid his draft as I have he would owe me one thousand besides the redemption of the note. Attended the session of the House and the Smith- sonian Lecture in the evening. Saw Atchison about the In- dian bill.

January 30, 1850 Attended session of the House. Went to see Douglas in the morning about the Oregon Indian bill. Went to see Corwin about the same after the House adjourned,