Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 23.djvu/297



OREGON MISSION RECORD BOOK 249

that can be thrown in our way and as we do feel a lively and intense interest in the success of the temper- ance cause believing as we do that the prosperity and interests of this infant & rising settlement will be ma- terially affected by it both as it respects their temporal and spiritual welfare, and that the poor Indians whose case is even now indescribably wretched will be made far more so by the use of ardent spirits and whereas Gentlemen you are not ignorant that the laws of the United States prohibit American Citizens from selling ardent spirits to Indians under the penalty of a heavy fine and as you do not pretend to justify yourselves but urge pecuniary necessity as the reason of your proceedure and as we do not cannot think it will be of pecuniary in- terest to you to prosecute this business, if as you have determined to do, you discontinue it the present season and as we are not enemies but friends, and do not wish under existing circumstances that you should sacrifice one penny of the money you have already expended, We therefore for the above and various other reasons which we could urge

Resolve 1st that we the undersigned do most earnestly and feelingly request you Gentlemen to forever abandon your enterprise. Res 2d. That we will and do hereby agree to pay you the sum you have expended, if you will give us the avails of your expenditures or deduct them from the bill of expenses.

Res. 3d. That a committee of one be appointed to make known the views of this society and present our request to Messrs. Young & Carmichael.

Res. 4th. That the undersigned will pay the sums severally affixed to our names to Messrs. Y. & C. on or before the thirty first day of March next the better to enable them to give up their project.

Resolved 5th

That the inhabitants who do not belong to this society shall be invited to affix their names to this re-