Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/74

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larly accusing Dr. McLoughlin of intending to injure them.

Now, as in all their necessities past, or likely to come for some time, the Hudson's Bay Company, governed by Dr. McLoughlin, had been and still was an ever-present help in time of trouble, this memorial was but a poor return for kindnesses; but at this particular juncture of affairs it seemed likely to prove a serious blunder, as Dr. McLough lin was much incensed that such a document should be laid before the congress of the United States, and in his just wrath had declared he would extend no more favors to its authors.

Dr. White did not consider that he came under the ban, being neither an author or signer of the memorial he was rather under the ban of his countrymen for not being one or the other. He determined to try his persuasive powers at Vancouver, 3 and accompanied by Rev. Gustavus Hines, and G. W. Le Breton, an enthusiastic young Amer ican, proceeded to that place on the twenty-filth, attended only by one Indian boy, and one Kanaka, neither Cana dians nor American colonists being found to undertake the dangerous service. The former, it was alleged, and with reason, were ordered by the Hudson's Bay Company to remain quiet at home; while the latter found this advice good as concerned themselves.

There being no roads in Oregon at this period, travel was usually performed, in a leisurely manner, by canoe. On the way the agent s party was met at two different points by a courier with letters from Dr. McLoughlin, dis couraging the undertaking. One enclosed a communica tion from Rev. Demers, Catholic priest, just returned from

i White's salary was seven hundred and fifty dollars, with the guaranty that when

Linn's bill passed it should be doubled ; and with verbal permission to draw upon government funds to meet his necessary expenses. He had difficulty afterwards in collecting for himself; and the board of management of the Hudson's Bay Company found nobody in Washington to honor White's order. The London managers sar castically informed the company in Oregon that they " did not understand govern ment securities," arid advised them to "stick to their beaver skins." After several years congress made an appropriation to discharge both obligations on account of the Indian service in Oregon, and White was given another appointment on the Pacific coast.