Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 6.djvu/22

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16
F. G. Young.

Pacific Northwest in their Centennial celebration. But now turn to the design on the official medal of the expedition, adopted as the design for the seal of the Oregon Historical Society. Its cordial handclasp, its legend "peace friendship," and the axe and pipe of peace, give a very and different idea of the import and spirit of the enterprise. There are no rifles, no powder flasks and long knives in evidence on this—none of the paraphernalia of war. Yet this official medallion was probably designed by Jefferson. At any rate it expresses faithfully and strongly his fixed policy in all his dealings with the Indians.

For further light on the purposes of Jefferson let us turn to the occasions he seized for urging a transcontinental exploration and the grounds he gave for undertaking it. In 1783 he proposes to George Rogers Clark that he head an expedition to explore "the country from the