APPEAL TO CCNGRECS. 677

from his knowledge of the mountains and plains to be traversed, and the expedients of travel through a wilderness country, as well as by his undoubted^ pa- triotism and personal courage, was peculiarly fitted for an expedition of so much peril and responsibility. 10

The memorial of the legislature thus despatched was a pathetic iteration of the many prayers for pro- tection which had hitherto passed unanswered except in empty promises. " Having called upon the gov- ernment of the United States so often in vain," it said, "we have almost despaired of receiving its pro- tection." "We have the right to expect your aid, and you are in duty bound to extend it. For though we are separated from our native land by a range of mountains whose lofty altitudes are mantled in eternal snows; although three thousand miles, nearly two thirds of which is a howling wild, lie between us and the federal capital — yet our hearts are unalienated from the land of our birth. Our love for the free and noble institutions under which it was our fortune to be born and nurtured remains unabated. In short, we are Americans still, residing in a country over which the government of the United States has the sole and acknowledged right of sovereignty, and under such circumstances we have the right to claim the benefit of its laws and protection."

But the prayer of the legislature was not for pro- tection alone. The authors of the memorial took occasion to say that in the matter of the offices to be created when the territory should be established, they would be gratified to have the government patronage

tion, ' for the purpose of facilitating the departure ' of the messenger. Or, Laws, 1843-9, 9, 11; Polynesian, iv. 206.

lu There was, besides these necessary qualifications in the man selected, the western sentiment to be gratified, wiiich, it will be remembered, was opposed to Governor Abernethy's action in secretly despatching his own selected agent to Washington a few months previous. When the act had been signed constituting Meek the messenger of the Oregon legislative assem- bly, Nesmith produced his resolutions, before mentioned, against the appoint- ment of J. Quinn Thornton to any office in the territory, whbh being printed in the Spectator were conveyed to Washington with other matter in charge of the messenger.