The quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society, Vol. 1, No. 1, March, 1900Oregon Historical Society
History
The quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society, Vol. 1, No. 1, March, 1900
Oregon Historical Society
Oregon -- History -- Periodicals
[In this department of the _Quarterly_ there will appear material of the
nature of primary sources for the history of the Pacific Northwest. The
more extended documents, however, and collections having a unity will be
reserved for the series, “Sources of the History of Oregon.”]
_Correspondence of John McLoughlin, Nathaniel J. Wyeth, S. R. Thurston,
and R. C. Winthrop, pertaining to claim of Doctor McLoughlin at the
Falls of the Willamette—the site of Oregon City._
The following correspondence was published in the Milwaukee Star, April
10, 1850. The files of this paper are exceedingly scarce. The original
copies of the letters were probably destroyed. A knowledge of their
contents is essential to an understanding of very important, though not
creditable, transactions in Oregon’s history. These letters also are an
addition to the Wyeth material that the society has been making
accessible to students of American history.
CHICOPEE, Mass., Nov. 16, 1850.
_Capt. Nath. J. Wyeth_:
MY DEAR SIR—You will excuse me, I am sure, when I assure you I am from
Oregon, and her delegate to the Congress of the United States, for
addressing you for a purpose of interest to the country which I belong.
I desire you to give me as correct a description as you can at this late
period, of the manner in which you and your party, and your enterprise
in Oregon, were treated by the Hudson’s Bay Company, and particularly by
Doc. John McLoughlin, then its Chief Factor. This Dr. McLoughlin has,
since you left the country, rendered his name odious among the people of
Oregon, by his endeavors to prevent the settlement of the country, and
to cripple its growth.
Now that he wants a few favors of our Government, he pretends that he
has been the long-tried friend of Americans and American enterprise west
of the mountains. Your early reply will be highly appreciated, both for
its information, and your relation to my country.
I am, sir, yours very truly,
S. R. THURSTON.
CAMBRIDGE, Nov. 21, 1850.
_Hon. Sam’l R. Thurston_:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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