signatures, was placed in the mail of the bark Whiton, Captain Galston, to sail on the 19th of October for San Francisco and Panamá, in the expectation that it would be received and read in congress in time to influence the legislation for Oregon at the session of 1847–8.[1]
But the power in Oregon behind the throne had settled the matter of a delegate without consulting the people; and when the Whiton sailed, it carried J. Quinn Thornton, a resident of Oregon City, to represent in a general way the wants of the territory, but in a more particular manner the views of the Methodist missionaries with regard to those sections in the Oregon treaty which related to the possessory rights of British subjects.[2]
Thornton endeavors to explain away the odium attaching to his position as a delegate not chosen by the people, by implying that the general desire for office was likely to frustrate the wishes and wants of the community; therefore, he took it upon him to become the savior of the people by appropriating the best paying position for himself; but professes to have feared that letters would be written to Washington in revenge, which would damage his power with the government. This becomes the logical reason of his secret departure, his going on board the Whiton at night after the bark had already weighed her anchor, and the general mystery surrounding the transaction.
He succeeded in getting to sea without any interruption, and arrived in San Francisco on the 10th
- ↑ Thornton erroneously says the memorial was addressed to Thomas H. Benton. He also says that 'it was proposed to elect a delegate, but that it was decided to be impracticable.' Or. and Cal., ii. 37–8.
- ↑ That the discovery of Abernethy's action in this matter resulted in unfavorable comment may be gathered from Curry's remarks in the Spectator, which, though an Abernethy organ, was not taken into the secret of the private delegate. Some will have honors, said the editor, whether or no, and we understand that one of our distinguished functionaries has gone to the States, that another started in the height of desperation in a Chinook canoe to go around along the coast in order to head off the first one, and that one of the members of the late Yamhill convention intends crossing the mountains on snow-shoes to be in at the death, etc. Or. Spectator, Nov. 11, 1847; Deady's Hist. Or., MS., 3–4.
