William Henry Gray

“ We yield in silent awe at the mighty nest, so kindly mentioned for the information of the dumb-heads of Oregon, and we can but smile at the mild insinuation that there is in that great rat's nest at Washington all the wisdom she has so elaborately referred to, and advised her readers to do the same. ”

“ The power of the Hudson's Bay Company over hundreds of thousands of miles of the North American continent is unlimited. Into those remote regions few ever penetrate but the servants of the company. There is hardly a possibility of obtaining any evidence whatsoever which does not come in some way through their hands, and which is not more or less tainted by the transmission. ”

“ The iron rule which the company holds over its servants and agents, and the subtle policy which has ever characterized its government, have kept those regions almost beyond the knowledge of the civilized world or of any but the few who guide the affairs and transact the business of the company. ”

“ That our American and adopted citizens may understand the character of the British Hudson's Bay Company —what our American trappers, hunters and traders, missionaries and settlers, had to contend with—we will copy liberally from this best of British authority, giving our own personal knowledge, from the day we crossed the Rocky Mountains to the time they abandoned or were driven out of this country. ”

“ Beaver insisted on attempting to do something towards civilizing the Indians, like those on the eastern coast. He expected the approval and assistance of the company, which were refused, and was sent back to England. To meet, destroy and drive from the country the American missionaries who were active and successful in their work, and measurably independent of the Hudson's Bay Company, another element to "meet fire with fire" must be brought to the country and assist in its efforts to indoctrinate the servants of the company. ”

“ If any reasonable man or woman will place him or herself in Oregon in September, 1843, and listen to the statements, then the topic, of the boundary question and the future occupation of Oregon, and read the thirty-seventh chapter of Gray's history, they will unhesitatingly pronounce it literally true. ”

“ Can it be possible that any one in the least acquainted with the habits of the Hudson's Bay Company and mountain men can not appreciate a brigade of boats at old Fort Walla Walla in 1842, when on such occasions Hudson's Bay rum was always used freely; also when an express messenger arrived with the supposed news of the settlement of the Oregon question by the Ashburton treaty? Gray can, knowing all the circumstances ”

“ Evans has turned the key to unlock the causes, and it should be a lesson to every pioneer and citizen of the country. Since copying the noble encomium on Dr. Whitman and family by the Hon. Elwood Evans, I have received the Weekly Oregonian of December 26, and find the honorable gentleman has been converted to the principles of our Oregon historical rat's nest discoverer, which brings to our mind the following remark of a good old deacon in an Eastern church in reference to a slanderous statement about a member of the church—"Let the devil alone, it will kill itself." ”

“ I need not say more in this place of the opportunities enjoyed by Webster of forming an opinion and a policy concerning Oregon or of the policy formed. The proofs are voluminous and open to any reader of the congressional debates or documents, and the American state papers."
Under this (No. 4) we are referred to a big Oregon historical rat's nest, not surpassed in egotism by any other sacred or profane writer in history. ”

“ But so far from being in Washington or thinking anything about a wagon road to Oregon, Simpson was at that time safe in London, where he arrived from a voyage round the globe in November, 1842, the object of which journey was the study of the fur trade, and not politics."
Mrs. Victor claims, under the above numbers, that the Ashbur ton treaty was signed before Dr. Whitman reached Washington, as against Spalding and Gray for copying it. We can admit that is a mistake to be corrected. ”

“ Soon after the citizens of the United States had occupied the country, the French subjects of Britain came into the occupied country of the United States, and a war between the two countries occurred and a vessel of war sent to seize the property of the Americans, which was by treachery transferred to the French subjects of Britain, who eventually held possession under a joint-occupation treaty, and by what may be called doubtful legitimate trade, drove from the country all foreign and especially American traders and settlers from it, up to the year 1834—but one trader, Capt. ”

“ But after telling us of her "fault" she informs us what she proposes to lay before the public in the interest of truth. This is double action "fault," or falsehood, admitting one fault to commit a greater, and claiming the last as the "truth." ”

“ As a consequence of the statement, a citizen of Oregon hastened to Washington to learn the facts, and in case the statement was found not to be true, to inform the United States government that the time had arrived to assert its claim to Oregon, as was then being done by the opposing party, who claimed it on the ground that it had the largest number of subjects in the territory; and by opening a k practicable road, well known to him, for emigrants, so that, by outnumbering the opposing party, with American citizens, the country would be secured to us. The writer can affirm that Dr. ”

“ Elwood Evans should assume the position he has we are unable to comprehend. Knowing, as we do, is all the facts, statements and efforts covertly used to hold possession of the country hy the Hudson's Bay Company, and notwithstand ing the hest British authority charge the company, through Dr. ”