Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/107

 own to the natives, and had the effect to intimidate the dissatisfied and ignorant, at the same time it caused the more intelli gent to ask themselves what part they were to be allowed to play in the distribution of the continent among nations. The Indians and colonists alike stood still to see what was to be done with them.

News of the settlement of the northern boundary arrived by way of the Sandwich Islands, before the meeting of the legislature, but with it no intimation that Linn s bill had been passed organizing the territory of Oregon ; but it was taken for granted that such news must very soon follow, and with it the protection of United States arms and laws.

In the meantime, as a means of peace, the majority of the people, with the governor, actively promoted temper ance. Temperance societies were organized in the colony at its very commencement. With the first provisional form of government, temperance laws were enacted. Dr. White, as Indian agent, enforced the United States laws against selling liquor to Indians; and the legislature of 1845 passed a prohibitory law against the introduction or manufacture of ardent spirits.

Notwithstanding all this care a certain amount of what was called "blue ruin," was manufactured out of molasses, and sold to the Indians about Oregon City, who noisily chanted the praises of "blue lu " in the ears of the inhabit-* ants when they would have preferred to have been asleep. In his message to the legislature of 1840, Governor Aber- * nethy said: "During the last year, persons taking advan tage of the defect in our law, have manufactured and sold ardent spirits. We have seen the effects (although the manufacture was on a small scale) in the midnight carous als among the Indians during their fishing season, and while they had property to dispose of; and, let me ask, what would be the consequences if the use of it should be general in the territory? History may hereafter write the page in letters of blood." History, however, has no such charge against the Oregon colonists, as that the} r caused