Even had the Mission Party,
at the next election, been strong enough to have elected Thurston, had he
lived, his political career would probably not have continued long. April 9,
1851, at the age of thirty-five years he died at sea off Acapulco, Mexico,
while returning to Oregon. Thurston's letter, speeches, and actions against
Dr. McLoughlin are the one great blot on his career. Thurston was a man of
ability, a fluent speaker, a profuse writer of letters, of untiring energy,
but inclined to be vindictive, and was not careful about the truth of his
statements concerning a person he opposed or disliked. He made quite a
reputation during the short time he was in Congress. He was quite popular in
Oregon until his actions against Dr. McLoughlin became known. But for his
actions against Dr. McLoughlin his memory would even now be highly regarded
in Oregon. The passage of the Donation Land Law was largely due to his
efforts. In spite of said section eleven that law gave great satisfaction to
many people in Oregon. Up to that time no settler had more than a squatter's
right. Man is naturally selfish. Notwithstanding the treatment of Dr.
McLoughlin by this law, many settlers were pleased that they could now
secure titles to their lands, and to that extent were grateful to Thurston.
Thurston secured appropriations for Oregon aggregating
one hundred and ninety thousand dollars. Of this one hundred thousand
dollars were for expenses of the Cayuse Indian War. He introduced and worked
for many bills favorable to Oregon and busied himself in looking after the
interests of Oregon and his constituents. He wrote a great number of
letters, which were published in the Oregon Spectator, calling
attention to what he was doing in Congress and thus kept his name
continuously before the people, for he was a skillful politician. But his
alliance with leaders of the Mission Party was a political error.
This address is about Dr. McLoughlin. I have not
attempted to give the life of Thurston, nor a history of the
Methodist Mission. To speak only of Thurston's actions against Dr.
McLoughlin might be taken to mean that Thurston did nothing else while in
Congress. In estimating Thurston's actions in Congress, those that are to
his credit must be taken into account as well as those which are not. His
actions in regard to Dr. McLough-lin's land claim were an unfortunate bid
for popularity, which reacted on him and his reputation. Thurston's untrue
and unjust statements, his despicable actions, and his false and malicious
charges against Dr. McLoughlin are indefensible. Thurston's untimely death
probably prevented justice being done to Dr. McLoughlin and his devisees
sooner than it was. Thurston was not a strong man physically and it was
thought that he had shortened his life in working for Oregon and his
constituents. To act justly to the living Dr. McLoughlin, in a certain
sense, might be construed as reflecting on the dead Thurston.
