board the brig Henry, by which means they finally reached California.[1] By the same conveyance letters were despatched to the American consul of the Sandwich Islands, imploring any assistance he might be able to render.
The act of the legislature requiring the governor to issue his proclamation for raising a regiment of five hundred men was not at first regarded by the executive as a wise one, both on account of the difficulty of raising the means to put them in the field, and of the effect upon the savages, who might be led, by hearing of extensive preparations for war, to a combination against the settlers. Instead, therefore, of calling for five hundred men, he called for one hundred. This difference of opinion led the legislature to remove the responsibility from the executive and to assume it themselves, by a resolution passed the 25th of December, at which time no further news had been received from the upper country, or from Major Lee's company at the Dalles.[2] The governor having at last issued the proclamation required, trusting to the patriotism of the citizens of the country for the support of the army[3] in the field, the office of adjutant-general was created, A. L. Lovejoy being elected to that position. An act was also passed establishing the pay of privates and non-commissioned officers who furnished their own horses and equipments at one dollar and a half a day. A penalty of not more than two hundred dollars nor less than twenty-five dollars
- ↑ Abernethy's letters are to be found in a manuscript volume of the Oregon Archives, not contained in Grover's collection, which I have had copied from the originals in the state-house at Salem. See Or. Arch., MS., 112–13, 134.
- ↑ Or. Spectator, Dec. 25, 1847. I find a letter in the Or. Archives, MS., 100, written by Nesmith Dec. 27th, to Major Lee, in which he says: 'But little has as yet been accomplished owing to the imbecility of the executive. The proclamation which was authorized for raising 500 men immediately after your departure has been delayed until the 25th… I know it has been difficult to obtain means, yet the governor has had sufficient at his disposal to have procured you reinforcements and provisions, both of which would probably have been acceptable to you before this.'
- ↑ Grover's Or. Archives, 247, 249.
