most dignified communication yet emanating from any Oregon public body.[1] The memorial to congress was given to White to be carried to Washington, immediately upon its being signed by all the officials in the colony, together with a copy of the amended organic law. The turn which affairs had taken in Oregon, as well as in Washington where there was a new administration, had seriously damaged White's hopes of office; and no funds had been placed at his disposal with which to reimburse himself, or his creditors at Vancouver, for expenditures in the Indian service; and he determined to proceed to the national capital for an adjustment of his accounts, if not to ask to be returned to Oregon as governor, when congress should be ready to erect a territory in that quarter.[2] White's path was by no means smooth. "Influence here is most important," he sighed. And in order to
- ↑ Thomas H. Benton remarked upon it that it was drawn up in a manner creditable to the body by which it was presented, to the talents by which it was dictated, and the patriotic sentiments which pervaded it; and the application was worthy of a favorable consideration for its moderation, reasonableness, and justice. As the best means of spreading the contents of this petition before the country, and doing honor to the ability and enterprise of those who presented it, he moved that it be read at the bar of the senate. Cong. Globe, 1845-6, 24. It was read, and ordered printed. Evans' Hist. Or., MS., 283-4.
- ↑ Clyman says in his Diary, MS., 101: 'Spent the day in writing an answer to some queries propounded by Dr White, who leaves for the States in the hope of obtaining the gubernatorial chair.'
routes be established as are essential to the Willamette country and other settlements.
'For the granting of which your memorialists will ever pray.'Osborne Russell,
'Peter G. Stewart,
'Executive Committee.'J. W. Nesmith, Judge of Circuit Court. 'M. M. McCarver, Speaker.
'Jesse Applegate,
'Medard G. Foisy,
'W. H. Gray,
'J. M. Garrison,
'Abijah Hendricks,
'David Hill,H. A. G. Lee,
Barton Lee,
John McClure,
Robert Newell,
Hiram Straight,
'Members of Legislative Committee. 'Done at Oregon City, 28th June, 1845.
Or. Archives, MS., 70-83.'Attest: J. E. Long, Clerk.' This memorial, as it appears on page 24 of the Congressional Globe, 1845-6, differs from the above in having the paragraph concerning mails inserted between those on the navy and commerce; and in having the name of J. W. Smith, which is lacking in the above copy, inserted between those of Newell and Straight; and also in the spelling of the speaker's name, which is incorrect in the Globe.
