First Delegate to Congress from Oregon Territory. He was elected June 6, 1849; took his seat in Thirty-first Congress,

INTRODUCTION BY GEORGE H. HIMES.

(This diary was found among Mr. Thurston's effects by his wife, who was living at Oregon City at the time of his death. She gave it and numerous letters which he had received, principally from his constituents in Oregon, to her daughter, Blandina, who became the wife of Alfred W. Stowell. After his wife's death Mr. Stowell agreed to give the diary and letters to the Oregon Historical Society, in due time. Meanwhile he loaned them to Judge J. C. Moreland, Clerk of the Supreme Court of Oregon, in whose possession they were when Mr. Stowell died on January 17, 1906, leaving no directions regarding their future disposition. A few years later, after consulting with the heirs of Mr. Stowell, Judge Moreland delivered the valuable historical material to the Oregon Historical Society.

Mr. Thurston was the first delegate to Congress from Oregon Territory, and was elected on June 6, 1849, receiving 470 votes out of 943-the total vote of the territory. The other candidates received the following votes: Columbia Lancaster, 321; James W. Nesmith, 104; Joseph L. Meek, 40; Rev. John S. Griffin, 8-473. At the date of this election the "Oregon Country" embraced all of the present states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and the parts of Montana and Wyoming west of the summit of the "Rocky or Oregon Mountains," as alluded to in Robert Greenhow's map of 1844, to accompany his "History of Oregon and California." Mr. Thurston was born in Monmouth, Kennebec County, Maine, in 1816; was graduated at Bowdoin College in 1843; admitted to the bar of Maine in 1844; removed to Burlington, Iowa, in 1845; practiced law and edited a newspaper there until the spring of 1847; crossed the plains that year with his wife and one child, reaching Oregon City in October; began the practice of law at once; in 1848 removed to Washington County, and was a member of the last legislature of the Provisional Government beginning on December 5, 1848, closing February 16, 1849; was delegate in Congress (elected as above noted) and served from December 1, 1849, to March 4, 1851; died at sea off Acapulco, Mexico, April 9, 1851, and was buried at that city. On January 16, 1852, a bill was passed by the legislature of Oregon Territory appointing Adam Van Dusen, of Astoria, William M. King, of Portland, and Dr. William H. Willson, of Salem, a committee to provide for the reinterment of Mr. Thurston's remains in Oregon soil, and appropriating $1,500 to provide for the expense. Early in February, 1853, this committee sent Mr. B. F. McLench, a brother-in-law of Mr. Thurston, to

Acapulco for the body. Returning, he arrived at Portland on March 3d, and on April 12th a formal funeral was held in the Methodist Church, Salem, Hon. Delazon Smith delivering a memorial address, after which the remains were placed in the Odd Fellows' Cemetery by the officers and members of Chemeketa Lodge No. 1, I. O. O. F.)

A BOOK CONTAINING A FAITHFUL RECORD OF MY SEVERAL EFFORTS IN BEHALF OF OREGON, FROM AND AFTER THE 21ST DAY OF NOVEMBER, A. D. 1849, MADE AT OR NEAR THE TIME THE SAME WERE MADE, THIS MEMORANDUM THEREOF BEING COMMENCED NOVEMBER 23d, 1849.

On the 21st day of November, 1849, having made a flying visit to my friends in Oxford and Kennebeck counties, I left my father's house on my way to Washington. I took the cars at Readfield, for Portland, and could have reached Boston same night, but determined to stop at Portland to see if I could enlist the press of Me. and the representative from Cumberland county in behalf of the interests of Oregon. I had an interview with the editor of the Eastern Argus, A. H. W. Clapp, and other leading politicians of Cumberland co., Me, all of whom appeared warm in our favor. I felt much gratified at my success, as the editor promised to aid to the extent of his ability, the measures which I informed him the people of Oregon wished to bring about. But by taking this course, my tavern bill, & hack hire, were four dollars more than they would have been had I come directly on. Having accomplished for Oregon what I desired, at Portland, I left that place Nov. 23d & went to Boston, and could have passed on direct to New York, on my way to Washington. But I determined to see the editors in Boston to enlist them also, if possible, in behalf of our measures. I arrived at Boston at 1-2 past 12. After dinner I visited Charles G. Green, editor of the Boston Post, and of the Massachusetts Statesman. I was successful with him, and he also, as did the editor of the Argus, entered warmly into my plan and promised the influence of his papers. On the morning of the 24th I went again to see Mr. Green whom I found anxious to be informed

as to matters in Oregon, and ready to do what he could, to enable him to do so; he requested I would forward him to Boston a brief statement of the facts. I then called on Col. Schooler, editor of the Boston Atlas. He appeared to fall into my plans, and promised to do what he could to forward the matter. Said he was in favor of donations of land, of paying off the Cayuse war debt and of reducing the postage to five cents to Oregon. I also promised to send him a similar statement to that of Green. He gave me a letter of introduction to Winthrop. So much being accomplished I left in the 4 o'clock train for N. Y. which stopped at Springfield over Sunday-so that the delay at Boston, cost me three dollars more than I should have been put to, had I not stopped at Boston for the purpose above named. At halfpast ten, Monday Nov. 26 I left Springfield for N. Y. where I arrived November 27 about the hour of 4 o'clock a. m. November 27th & 28, I spent in close communication with the Editors of New York. Greeley was gone & so was Webb, so that I had to talk with the subalterns, promising to write to the editors after I should arrive at Washington. The editors of the N. Y. Evening Post, the N. Y. Sun, and James Gordon Bennett of the Herald, were free to express their inclinations to favor our interests, and at once acknowledged the justness of our claims as soon as I named them. I have no doubt they will make their promises good. Now by making the above named efforts, I was put to an expense after I left Boston, five dollars more than I should have been, had I come direct to Washington.

Nov. 29. I left for Washington, but by reason that the cars got belated, I had to stop at Philadelphia whence I set out for Washington where I arrived November 30th, about 8 o'clock P. M. and stopped at Gadsby's Hotel. This was my first entry into Washington. I felt that much responsibility was upon me and when I recollected that the interests of all that country west of the Rocky mountains, and between the Latitudes of 42 and 49 north were intrusted to my care, I resolved stronger than ever, that no effort of mine should re

main unmade which might be beneficial to our our noble and beloved Oregon. So having concluded this much of this memorandum I retired to rest to dream of the land of my choice where was my all-my property and my beloved wife and little ones.

December 1, 1849.

Today I visited several of the departments and at 8 P. M. called on President Taylor in company with Gov. John P. Gaines. I learned two thousand dollars of the $5000 appropriation for books had been expended. The remaining $3000 we had paid over by way of draft on the Independent Treasury, to Gov. Gaines who will expend the whole or nearly so in the purchase of books at N. Y. and take them to Oregon with him round the Horn.

We also had paid over to Gov. Gaines the $5000 appropriated for public buildings. This he will take to Oregon and expend in commencing the buildings, relying upon Congress to make further appropriations.

The Government was just upon the point of paying over also to him the $20,600 appropriated by the last Congress to meet the expenses of the first session of the Oregon legislature. I objected to this, on the ground that it would not reach Oregon until next July, and urged that draft or drafts be drawn by Gov. on the custom houses at Astoria and San Francisco for the amount, so that the members of the last legislature might receive their pay as soon as possible. I received assurances that this should be done according to my desire.

In my interview with the President he assured me he would do all in his power to favor Oregon. Gov. Gaines and myself then requested that a war vessel should be ordered to Astoria. He promised it should be done. Then as the "Supply" on board which Gov. and other officers were going, was to stop at San Francisco, we urged him to order the same to Oregon, after discharging what freight she had for S. F. He said he would either do this, or order a smaller vessel to take the government officers and the Oregon stores to Oregon.