Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 21.djvu/24



14 F. G. YOUNG

who had been developing their respective rights for more than half a century through discovery, exploration, occupa- tion and settlement. The incidents recorded in the Log of the Princesa by one who had the master role introduces us directly to the first of the central series of dramatic situations in the early history of Oregon.

One additional special feature of progressive change in the developing drama on this Northwest Coast should be noted. In the first crisis of affairs affecting this region and staged at Nootka Sound, the participants had all arrived on the scene in ships. In the second crisis at Fort Astoria, contin- gents of both contestants had come overland. In the assem- bling for the final scene out of which came the terms of the treaty of 1846 it was those who had trailed across the con- tinent rather than those coming by the sea route who con- trolled the outcome.

To return to the situation in which our Pacific Northwest first came into the limelight of political history as a bone of contention between Spain and Great Britain. The van of the forces of Spanish adventure and missionary zeal pressing westward in the wake of the discoveries of Columbus had passed through the West Indies and along the southern border of what was to become the United States, had crossed Mexico and turned northward on the Pacific Coast. By 1769, it reached San Francisco Bay with a missionary establishment. Though there was a vast stretch of coast beyond to the north and northwest open to conquest and exploitation it had not the lure of rich kingdoms or legendary treasure cities and Spanish energy for less dazzling prizes seemed spent.

Spanish authorities were, however, concerned that the sub- jects of no other nation should get a foothold in menacing proximity, say within a sweep of 1000 or 1500 miles of their farthest outpost on San Francisco Bay. Furthermore, geog- raphers had for centuries mapped the Strait of Anian as affording a northwest passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific