Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/157

 you for

pecuniary assistance. It is a fact well known to every person acquainted with Indian character, that, by passing silently over their repeated thefts, robberies, and murders of our fellow-citizens, they have been emboldened to the commission of the appalling massacre at Waiilatpu. They call us "women," destitute of the hearts and courage of men, and if we allow this wholesale murder to pass by, as former aggressions, who can tell how long either life or property will be secure in any part of this country, or at what? moment the Willamette will be the scene of blood and carnage ?

The officers of our provisional government have nobly performed their duty. None can doubt the readiness of the patriotic sons of the wesi to offer their personal services in defense of a cause so righteous. So it rests with you, gentlemen, to say whether our rights and our firesides shall be defended or not. Hoping that none will be found to falter in so high and so sacred a duty, we beg leave, gentlemen, to subscribe ourselves your servants and fellow-citizens.

Then follow the names.

A letter similar to the foregoing appeals was addressed to Rev. William Roberts, superintendent of the Oregon mission (Methodist). On the fourteenth of December tin* commissioners reported as follows to the legislature:

To the Honorable Legislative Assembly of Oregon Territory :

The undersigned commissioners appointed by your honorable body for the purpose of negotiating a loan to carry into effect the provisions of an act to authorize the governor to raise a regiment of volunteers, etc., have the honor to inform you that, fully realizing the heavy responsibilities attached to this situation, and the pecu liarly difficult nature of their duties, they at once determined to act with promptness and energy, and to leave no honorable effort untried that might have a tendency to a successful termination of this undertaking. They accordingly proceeded to Fort Vancouver on the tenth instant, and there addressed a communication to James Douglas, chief factor of the Hudson's Bay Company, a copy of which (marked A) will be found among the accompanying docu ments. The commissioners had anticipated the unfavorable reply of Mr. Douglas, as agent of the Hudson's Bay Company, and its only effect was to heighten their zeal and to occasion them stronger hopes of a more satisfactory reliance upon the citizens generally of our common country. However, two of the commissioners, with the governor, became responsible for the amount of the outfit for the first regiment of Oregon riflemen, being nine hundred and ninety-nine dollars. Not at all disheartened by the unsuccessful