Page:The History of Oregon Bancroft 1888.djvu/322

304 travelling upon the road several hundred miles from the settlements, and cited the occurrences of 1851 in the Shoshone country. His resolution was laid on the table, but in the mean time he obtained an assurance from the secretary of war that troops should be placed along the overland route in time to protect the travel of 1852. On the 8th of April Lane presented a petition in his own name, as a citizen of Oregon, praying for arms and ammunition to be placed by the government in the hands of the people for their defence against the savages; hoping, if no other measure was adopted, Thurston's plan, which had gained the favorable attention of congress, might be carried into effect. At the same time Senator Douglas, who was ever ready to assist the representatives of the Pacific coast, reported a bill for the protection of the overland route, which was opposed because it would bring with it the discussion of the Pacific railroad question, for which congress was not prepared, and which it was at that time anxious to avoid. The bill was postponed, Lane's efforts for the protection of the territory being partly successful, as the chapter following will show.

The reconnoissance from the Willamette Valley to Fort Boisé which the legislature asked for was designed not only to hold the Indians in check, but to explore that portion of Oregon lying to the east of the head waters of the Willamette with a view to opening a road directly from Boisé to the head of the valley, complaint having been made that the legislature had not sufficiently interested itself hitherto in explorations for wagon routes. But no troops came overland this year, and it was left, as before, for the