 Frontier Fighters Thrilling chapters in the lives of those fearless men and women who fought that civilization might conquer the Old West. Early in the 19th century, there was born a man whose fate it was to bring Oregon into the Union as a territory. But Joseph L. Meek, strangely enough, did not look upon himself as a man of destiny. Nor did he give anything more than ordinary importance to the fast-accumulating events which began in the year 1843. Those who assembled at Shampoag on May 2nd were not trappers who cried more furs, but homemakers who demanded of Oregon an American form of government. Why are you bringing it up so badly? There's a resolution before the House. We knock to establish a provisional government. Those in favor of the resolution step to the right. I don't want to be the first to come forward, Mr. Chairman. The chair recognizes Joseph L. Meek. Now who's for divine? All in favor of the report and of an organization, follow me. I lined up on the left for England, 50 on the right for the United States. One more man! And we're ahead of the first in the United States. I think now I'd rather be a citizen than a subject. 50 against the American form of government and 52 for it. The American principle of government by self-determination is established. Thus was established the first American government on the Pacific Coast at Shampoag, Oregon. In 1844, 1,400 immigrants settled in Oregon. This was the year that the cry 54-40 or fight was heard from one end of the United States to the other. And so thrilling was the issue and so excited the nation that it became the campaign slogan for the National Democratic Party. In 1845, 3,000 immigrants came to Oregon. The entire horizon looked rosy for decades to come until the winter of 1847. The legislature was in session when a messenger brought the horrible news... Well, then I tell you, every one of them wiped out by those murderous causes. I don't care what you mean. Dr. and Mrs. Whitman, Mary Ann Bridger and my own little girl Helen Marmeek too. Yes, sir, Mr. Meek. There was an uprising of causes and they just wiped out the whole lot of them. 14 all told. I reckon I should do something and do it now. But my strength has just slipped away from me. It's all stunned, Joe, every man of us, but something must be done and done now. Jesse Applegate, I appoint you to take a party and seek military aid in California. I accept that, sir. Joseph Meek. I've got murder in my heart. Careful what you ask me to do. Joe, I want you and Abbott and a party to set out once for the nation's capital. The time has come for action. We must go one step further in protecting the citizens of Oregon. We demand of President Polk that he admit Oregon into the Union. On January 4th, 1848, Joseph Meek and John Eberg set out for Washington, D.C. On their persons were credentials from the government of Oregon, but without a cent for expenses because there was no money in the treasury. They reached Wailat Poo in time to attend the last sad rites for the victims of the Indian attack. They were also torn by a desire for vengeance. The two men hurried forward over the heavy snows of the Blue Mountains, across the wind-blown deserts of eastern Oregon and western Idaho. 15 miles from Fort Hall, Hudson's Bay Post, their horses floundered in the soft snow. If they waited for the weather to clear, the delay might cost Oregon her statehood. If they pushed on without their horses, they were almost certain to be victims of an Indian attack. Well, Joe, what's the word? The horses are plum-tuckered out fighting these drifts. I guess we are too, for that matter. I'm just thinking we could make our way on snowshoes. If we had snowshoes... I hate to leave the critters. They've got more sense in this wilderness than we have. All right, on we go. Where are you going to get those snowshoes, Joe? Make them! First, I want to get the horses started in the direction. God will lead them. Get going, you poor dumb critters. Get it! Joe, you can't just snap your fingers and pick snowshoes out of the thin air. There's plenty of willow sticks around. Come on, Everett, get busy. Joe, I ain't never heard of making snowshoes out of willow sticks. Necessity, my friend, is the mother of invention. You'll get willow sticks from willow tree. I ain't never before been licked by any situation that takes to mighty reasoning. And this ain't going to be the first time. These willow-stick snowshoes ain't half bad. John, look. The engine's a whole file of them. Praise be, we're making the track light. Just a blanket and rifle of peace. They get wind of us? We're goners. We don't find something to eat, too, we're goners. There's a third day without food. Excited us. It's too late to run now, John. We'll have to fight it out. They're trying to get as close as they can on horses. I got a squad to settle with them kites. And I don't intend to waste any bullets. Don't you get, Joe? I'm not the chief. Maybe the others will turn tail and run. Cut him! And here's another for what looks like the chief's son. You got him. Dog gone, Joe. Two shots in a whole band of coyuses turned tail and run. It was more than bullets, they felt, Herbert. It was my hate. Every moment now, Meek was getting closer to Washington, D.C. Finally at St. Louis, he met Robert Campbell, an old mountain friend. And when the story was told to the newspapers, Meek found he had become famous in a single night. But fame did not provide him with passage money on the steamboat declaration, nor her rival also tied to the wharf. Oh, I sure wish I had the money to get you and Herbert passage on the declaration. Don't have to look out none for me, Mr. Campbell. I got kin folks here in St. Louis. I'm on the last leg of my trip, and I'm not going to give up now. This boat goes from St. Louis to Wheeling, West Virginia. The stage takes me from Wheeling to Washington. Goodbye, Campbell. Joe, you ain't got no money for a gig. No, but I've got an idea. Excuse me, Joe. Pardon me, madam, I'm in a great hurry. I wonder who that strange creature is, the Wolfskin cat. Well, it looks like he's from the far west. Maybe some cat. Are you the captain of the declaration? Yeah, I am, sir. A little more by the pleasure of addressing. Joseph L. Meek from St. Paul, Oregon. Howdy. Captain, I noticed you have a rival in that steamboat also tied in this wharf. That tub, a rival in the declaration? I noticed that this tub, as you call it, is getting passengers aboard, and you're not. Want a full passenger list to Wheeling? By what miracle do you expect to get it for me? If I do, promise me a ticket and the meals. Granted. But don't you think you'd better go below decks and get a little of that stain and travel over here? Not yet, Captain. The stain of travel, dirt, we call it in Oregon, is part of my plan. All right, Captain, here goes. This way, gentlemen, if you please. This way. Come right aboard the declaration. I just come across the plane. People, book passage. May I see your credentials, Meek? Here they are, Captain. And we're extraordinary and menace of plenipotentiary from the Republic of Oregon to the court of the United States. You're a smart one, Mr. Meek. That's one trick I never thought of. That's yanky and genuity. It was just a little over two months from the day that Joe Meek started out from Oregon that he was ushered into the White House with considerable pomp and ceremony. First person to receive him was not the president, but Mrs. Polk. Madam President, I ain't no fit condition to be seen by a fine lady like you. Everything here in the White House is so handsome in your dress, ma'am. Well, don't let the rustle of my silk dress, to meet, my, my, a hero frightened by the trappings of civilization. Out in Oregon, we've just got things plain. Then, too, ma'am, I ain't shaved in over two months, nor have I had a minute to get a change of clothes. Nor the money to get any if you wished for them. Bless you for your courage and sacrifices. From the moment I knew of your arrival, I told the president, if all the good people in Oregon are like you, their territory is indeed deserving of everything. The president will see Mr. Joseph L. Meek of Oregon. Are you just about the same, Madam President? Oh, well, I'm sure the president will wish to say that himself, Mr. Meek. God bless you and yours. Thank you, Madam. The message from Oregon, Mr. President. Mr. President, God grants you good health. I've been more than two months out from Oregon to say, sir, that you should as quickly as possible urge a bill before the Congress to organize Oregon as a territory. Joseph Meek, the president of the United States will not alone urge such a bill before the Congress of the United States, but fight for its passage. But, sir, I haven't told you anything about myself or Oregon. You have been in Washington for 24 hours, and the entire Capitol is alive with your zeal, your enthusiasm, your love for that land which you now call home. My hands, sir. Mr. President. Alone we may lose this fight for Oregon, but all together we cannot fail. On August 13th, 1848, after one of the most bitter fights ever experienced in the Congress, the bill asking Oregon's admittance into the Union became a law. Joseph Lane of Indiana was appointed Oregon's first governor, and Joseph L. Meek, United States Marshal of the new territory. And so ends another glorious epic in our history, thrilling moments from the life of Joseph L. Meek, the happy warrior of the Old West, another frontier fighter.