FEDERAL RELATIONS OF OREGON neither of these
is
that of J.
Governor Abernethy's lature,
the majority
letter. 8
of
349
Quinn Thornton, who brought The memorial from the Legis-
which represented
onie
Oregonian
had
practically requested the President to give the more important positions to persons who were not residents of the clique,
territory in order to prevent the appointment of Abernethy, who headed another faction, as governor.
While the new
officers
were on
their
way
to
Oregon
the
President received another appeal from Governor Abernethy for aid against the Indians. 9 The conflict which had broken out,
the
Up
known as the Cayuse War, was the immediate Whitman massacre which occurred in the fall to this outbreak there
had been comparatively
trouble with the Indians in the
Bay Company's
Oregon Territory
influence over the native tribes
tributed to prevent hostilities
and some
little
result of
of 1847.
little
serious
the Hudson's
had long congood seems to
have been accomplished by Elijah White, the sub-Indian agent appointed by President Tyler, although he had been inclined to make promises which he neither was able nor attempted to fulfil. White had resigned his position in 1846, when Conhis petition for the extra salary which he conrefused gress 10 and Charles E. Pickett had been appointed due sidered him, After in his place. White left Oregon, however, the relations between the settlers and the Indians had been taken over by the Provisional Government acting through the Governor.
When
the warlike activities of the Indians were reported to had applied to Governor Mason
Pickett, then in California, he
for forces with which to
go to the assistance of the Oregonians. his request and Pickett remained in California believing that his mere presence would count for No assistance was received from Washington either, little. for Congress had not' acted on the measures reported in both
The Governor refused
8 This factional situation is hinted at in Polk, Diary, IV, 81-3, in the account of Thornton's attempt, finally successful, to secure payment of his expenses in The inner features of the episode are not indicated by going to Washington. Thornton, History of Oregon and California, II, 249-50. For the whole affair see Bancroft, History of Oregon, I, 773, note, where the account is based on MSS. in the
Bancroft collection. 9 Polk, Diary, IV, 144, 10 Oct., 1848. to Washington with the 1845 memorial
to
10 White had gone Oregon until 1850.
and did not return
