504 AMENDMENT OF THE ORGANIC LAWS.

pany, from the governor down, would have been cov- ered with obloquy, the company's business in this department would have been ruined, and the trouble which would have arisen in consequence would have probably involved the British and American nations in war. If I have been the means," he added, "by my measures, of arresting any of these evils, I shall be amply repaid by the approbation of my conscience, and of all good men. It is true," he said, in conclu- sion, "that I have heard some say they would have done differently ; and if my memory does not deceive me, I think I have heard Mr Vavasour say this; but as explanation might give publicity to my apprehen- sions and object, and destroy my measures, I was silent, in the full reliance that some day justice would be done me ; and as these gentlemen were not respon- sible, and I was, I took the liberty of judging for myself, communicating them only to Mr Douglas under the injunction of secrecy." 6 '

The conduct of McLoughlin was discussed in the house of commons, where it was said that by some people he was called the ' father of the country,' and said to have settled it greatly at his own expense, while by others it was declared that he had discour- aged settlement. 68 In his own statement of his acts and motives the remarkable passages are those in which he confesses himself guilty of the main charge, that of sympathizing with the Americans, or with equal rights, which is the same thing. Aristocrat as he was considered by the colonists, 69 and autocrat as he really was, for twenty years throughout the coun- try west of the Rocky" Mountains, he still bravely returned the assaults of his enemies in the language of a republican. He defended the American charac-

67 1 have taken this abstract of McLoughlin's defence from his remarks on the report of Warre and Vavasour, which was sent by Sir George Simpson to Mr Douglas, and by him handed to McLoughlin after he had resigned and settled at Oregon City in 1840. It constitutes series 3, Private Papers.

(ih House of Commons Rept. , 294. ?

m Grays Hist. Or., 153; Parrish's Or. Anecdotes, MS., 98; Simpsons Or. Ter. Claims, 32-5.