Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/165

 ans say that

no American or Protestant shall live among them. They know they murdered both Americans and Protestants. I should like to see you before you start, but this would be wasting time. This package contains letters and papers for Commodore Shubrick and Governor Mason. I have not time to write any more, but hope to learn in a few days that you have left, and I hope you will succeed in inducing a man-of-war to visit us. Should you need a small sum in advance, you can draw on me, and 1 will draw on Mr. Spalding for the amount. Remember you will be going south and getting into a warmer climate.

I remain yours truly, GEO. ABEBNETHY,

Governor of Oregon. To Jesse Applegate.

No man in the colony was more capable in every way of undertaking such a mission than Mr. Applegate. United to physical strength were the scientific attainments of a practical surveyor, the culture of a man of letters, and the bearing to make him respected by men of affairs. Although belonging to the settlers party in politics, his patriotism overtopped all partisan feeling, and he bent every energy to accomplish the common good. Abernethy could not have selected more wisely a bearer of dispatches of such importance. Having accepted the trust, he set about his preparations 6 without loss of time. We find him writing to General Palmer, February second, " The party from the institute (Salem) with our blankets have not arrived, but we start in the morning, blankets or not." How much he had the country s interest at heart is revealed in the clos ing paragraph of the same letter: "I intended before my departure to have written at length to you on the subject of the treaty with the Indians, but time presses, and the hurry of departure, and the anxiety I feel in regard of my private business and the safety of my wife and family, unfits my mind for calm investigation. Of one thing rest assured, that I have the strongest faith in your devotion to the cause of our country, your sound sense, and cool judg ment; and whether you are successful or not, I, for one at

6 James M. Fulkerson was the assistant commissary in Polk county, who made the purchases for the California expedition. He received his appointment through Ap