Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/311

RECOLLECTIONS OF AN OLD PIONKER. 301 their passage is becoming more and more a subject of interest to thr Indians is abundantly manifest. They collect about the road from every part of the country, and have looked on with ama/eiMPiit : but the novelty of the scene is fast losing its power to hold in check their baser passions. The next immigration will, in all probability, call forth developments of Indian character which have been almost denied an exist- encc among these pet pie. Indeed, sir, had you not taken the precaution to conciliate their good feelings and friendship toward the whites just at the time they were meeting each other, it is to be doubted whether there had not been some serious difficulties. Individuals on both sides have been mutu- ally provoked and exasperated during the passage of each immigration, and these eases are constantly multiplying. Much prudence is required on the part of the whites and unfortunately they have very little by the time they reach the Columbia Valley. Some of the late immigrants, losing their horses and very naturally supposing them stolen by the Indian*, went to the bands of horses owned by the Indians and took as many as they wished. You are too well acquainted with Indians to suppose that such a course can be persisted in without producing serious results. (Gray's "Oregon," pages 414-416.) (iovernor Abernethy, in his message to the Legislative Assembly of Oregon, under date of December 7, 1847. says: Our relation with the Indians becomes every year more embarrassing. They see the white man occupy their lands, rapidly filling up the country, and they put in a claim for pay. They have been told that a chief would come out from the United States and treat with them for their lands; but they ha ve been told this so often that they begin to doubt the truth of it. At all events, they say: "He will not come till we are all dead. ;md then what good will blankets do us? We vant something now." This leads to trouble between the Driller and the Indians about him. Some plan should be devised by which a fund can be raised, and presents made to the Indians of sufficient, value to keep them quiet, until an a ire nt arrives from the United States. A number of rob- beries have been committed by the Indians in the upper coun- try upon the emigrants as they were passing through their territory. This should nut be allowed to pass. An appropria- tion should be made by you sufficient to enable the Superin- tendent of Indian Affairs to take a small party in the spring.