bestowed upon those who were then citizens of Oregon. But since there were many of equal merit among them, and a selection would be invidious, under the peculiar difficulties of their situation, they judged it would be better to fill the offices of governor and judges with men of the best talent and most approved integrity without regard to their present place of residence; which was the legislative way of saying that they would submit to have all the chief places given to men who were strangers to them, rather than that Thornton should be returned as a United States district judge, or Abernethy appointed governor. "The accompanying documents," said the memorial, "will afford additional information concerning some of the subjects of which we have spoken." And in conclusion, Meek was commended to congress for compensation for his services in conveying this petition to the government.[1]
The act constituting Meek a messenger contemplated a route by the way of California, in order to carry despatches to Governor Mason and the commander of the United States squadron in the Pacific, Governor Abernethy having written letters which were waiting to be conveyed, asking for a man-of-war to be sent immediately to the Columbia River, and making a requisition on the California executive for arms.[2] But Meek decided that he could not then cross the mountains into California, and pass over the sierra out of California later in the winter, and proposed to accompany the army to Walla Walla, and proceed thence eastward through the South Pass, a determination annoying to the governor.[3] But Meek knew too much about mountains to undertake the route marked out for him, and persisted in his inten-
- ↑ Or. Spectator, Dec. 25, 1847; Cong. Globe, 1847–8, App., 684–5.
- ↑ Or. Archives, MS., 113.
- ↑ In a private letter to Major Lee, which found its way into the Oregon Archives, MS., 10, Abernethy says: 'Meek has altogether disappointed the expectations of this community, for it was fully expected of him he would have been in California by this time.'
