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About Oregon spectator. (Oregon City, O.T. [i.e. Or.]) 1846-1855 | View Entire Issue (March 19, 1846)
1 i a i K THE SPECTATOR, ? W. O. T VAULT, BDITOK. usrtrs Oregon City; March 1? 146. THE ORGANIC LAWS. Tho public have had time to examine the Organic Law, as published in the first num. ber of the Spectator. The law is the Con. stitution cf tho provisional government of Oregon. The first article of said compact 19 simply a declaration of rights, dividing the govern, ment into three distinct departments the legislative, executive and judicial; also, pro. htbiting slavery or involuntary servitude. The second article defines the powers of the legislative, executive and judicial dc payments defining the franchises giving the form of an oath all officers under the compact are required to tnke. In substance, the oath is as follows : which they now enjoy in peace and tran. quility ; ho maintained, for tho use of the whole western country, the free navigation of the Mississippi, at the hazard of his life, health and fortune; he gave glory and re nown to tho arms of his country throughout the civilized world, and taught the tyrants of the earth the salutary lesson that, in defenco of their soil and independence, freemen aro invincible. Ho was elected president of the United States in 1628, and inaugurated 4th March, 1829 ; waged war against the bank of the United States and all monopolies also, against a system of internal improve, ment by the general government was sus tained by tho people, and upon these issues, re-elected president of the United States in 1832, and re-inaugurated 4th March, 1838; and on the 4th of March, 1837, retired to the sweets of private life, and has now paid the last debt of nature. Whatever may be the opinion of others, wc shall not hesitate to say, in the language of the sage of Mon. ticello, " honor and gratitudo to him who has filled the measure of his country's honor." THE LIQUOR LAW. Much interest nnDcars to be manifested in . I'J da mnlyweartbiit-LjvilLsuppoxt ewnOTmtvTFp the Organic Laws of the provisional govern. , , '. . , . , , . r ment of Oregon, so far as said Organic Laws that Par,scd th legislature at the last Decern aro consistent with my duties as a citizen of ber session, as published m the first number the United States, or a subject of Great Dri-' of tho Spectator, to " prevent the introduc tain, and faithfully demean myself in office." I tiorif sa(0) an(( distillation of ardent spirits in Here we have to admit that the oath is not Oregon." We are well satisfied that if ar only peculiar, but indefinite. It is not an dent spirits could be prohibited from being oath of allegiance to the provisional govern-1 cither introduced or manufactured in Oregon, L' ment of Oregon, and it leaves the person who, it would add much to the peace and happi takes the oath, to exercise his oun judgment with regard to his duties, as a citizen of the United States or a subject of Great Britain. Kj consequently it is indefinite. "Hence it is that we arc mtormed that tnc officers, in administering the oath, havo been in the habit of only administering that part of tho oath that applied to tho citizen or sub-' ject, as the case might be. The thfrd article is the Land Law, defin ing the manner of making and recording land claims ; it also points out the manner that amendments shall be made to the Organic Law. Amendments to that law arc propo sed, and will bo submitted to the people at the June election ; wc will therefore leave the merits or demerits of said proposed amendments for tho candidates for the legis laturc to discuss. ness of the people, as well as the prosperity of the country. The first grand object of all governments should be to establish for rotary of the territory in support of his asscr. lions. But notwithstanding this, I deny bin allegations, both in reference to his matter of fuct statements as well as tho Inferences to Ik; drawn from them; and charge him with knowingly belying the names ho assumes", Tho writer was evidently a component part of that honorablo body whoso course of con duct ho KCcniH so eager to vjndicato ; as his over-anxiety to place their acts in as favora ble a light as powiblo before the pubic, by (wasting of tho many wholesome laws and patriotic acts made and performed by this tri.sossioned assembly, will clearly indicate. Of course, the writer's intentions are entire ly unselfish, in thus warmly repelling the charges of injustice proforcd iignitirit that TEXAH. (Kr Wo are informed by a respectable .gen tleman who has just received a lettor from tho United States, dated Independence, Mis souri, August 12, 1845, jhat Texas had ac cepted tho terms of annexation proposed by the congress of the United States. If the information bo correct, and we havo no rea son to doubt it, Texas is now one of the mem bers of the great confederacy, adding her lone star to the constellation of the Union. The time when American citizens will revel in tho hall of the Montezumns, is not far distant. Wc have no faith in tho report that Mexico had declared war against tho , nous(.. Hut if otherwise, 1 fear for the sako United States on account of .the annexation of the gentlemun's future hopes and long rT i..- .t.i .....b ri.il.m-n umr inirw.liQt it is now Kk late to recall the business fiuhtinir the Yankees, when she entirely failed-in subjugating Texas. OtrTho following note and letter was re. ceived on tho 10th inst., and the favor asked for, inserted in this day's puper. Oregon Citv, March 10, 1840. To the Editor of the Spectator : Sin Will you do me the favor to publish, in your columns, the enclosed letter ? from which your readers will, at once, see mv I fiut of condemnation winch has long since been sent forth by the jieople aguinst the most of its proceedings ; a majority of its movu bers, including himself, having been weigh ed in their bulunce, and found wanting. But to the refutation of tho writer's docu meiitury evidence against my former char. ges, as well as his eironrous assertions of other matters, of which no records exist but of the truth of which I happn to be bet. ter informed than this friend to truth and justice. 1 he writer commences mv ol.'icial career r - --- - , . -. , r vino-frtf.Tfin:hTrnn-.,iin nntlm InimlTTTnrninhosrart. by remarking that my flection lU,WI. llll M'TII ' tW !' .. . .'- bv commodore Wilkes. "t Ghampocg was n at Fort George 1 tun, sir, vour ob't serv't, John Mclaughlin U. S. Brno PoRroisr, i Columbia River, Oct. ',', loll. J HEAR SIR Ueing obliged, rom the late. extended to each department in short, ccm manding that to bo done which ought to be done, and prohibiting that which ought not to be done, by either of tho departments of the government. Notwithstanding we view the government of Oregon as only tempor ary, brought about for the protection and re- not followed by mv taking the oath ami olhciatmg till some time alter. ' Why did he not at the same time give the ! rciimi for this jHstponeiuent of my being qualified? u reason, perhaps, which is hotter known to himself than many others, in this ; countrv. Ho saw that at the June session ness of tho season, to abandon the intention I f !"-- legislature, in 1844, I was appointed had of using the lanch of the Into U. S. ship j sergoaiit-at-armK lor tho jioum-, but as this Peacock, for the exploration of the const to , lly never had any Mich officer about them, tho southward of this river, I havo thought ! bo wr'"'r "',ls certainly acknowledge his that I could not possibly place ber to a letter J "or in this respect ; for they, unlike their use than by leaving her for a pilot Iwat for successors, attind.il to their own called-for communication with vessels off the danger. ; ""l legitimate business in this ns well as I in con- money in petty squabbles, political manwuvreing, and in worse than useless delates on points of order, the legitimacy of the speakership, pre. paring memorials to the people of the United States, locitting'the "cut of government, and themselves tho fundamental principles of 0u bar of the river, tind to nlFonl relief by ther nilairs, and were not nvw government, defining the grant of (towers giving pilots to those that are coming in, and i sinning their time and the peoples' i guiauon oi us cmzens, umu sucn nine as ncti for lh(j compunVt the United fatatcs shall extend her jurisdic I wj( now state, in a 'uv words, tflr charge tion and protection; yet there is as much nc ! I wish the Hon. Hudson's Bay Company ccssitv, and the laws should be just as bind-' fo assume, viz : That the lanch be kept at assistance in cuscs of accident. It was my intention to have spoken to you on tho subject Imfore I left Vancouver, but among tho many duties that occupied my at tcntion. it was forgotten. I have spoken to Mr. Birnie in relation to i passing laws so imperfect that they can taking her in charge for that purpose ; but n' '"' enlorced. "Hence" the necessity of he has referred me to you, as be did not feel , calling public meetings "for the purple of authorized to assume the responsibility ol , """"mug upon wio grout propriety oi sits ANDREW JACKSON. Mr. Waldo informs us that he received a letter from his brother, dated August 12, 1845, which contained the intelligence, that our beloved and venerable ex-prcsitlent of tho United States, Andrew Jackson, died at his residence, the Hermitage, in June last. Andrew Jackson was born at Waxsaw, S. Carolina, March 15, A. D. 1707. His father, mother, and two brothers, came from Ireland in 1765. His brothers were killed in the battles of the revolution for the independence of tho United States. At 15 years of age he had no relative living in America; in 1788, he went to Nashville with Judge McNair and commenced the practice of law. Jf jhj not our object to attempt a panegyric of general Jackson. " History will trans, mit to generations yet unborn truths, and speak of Jhis merit.'' He dofefidcd and pre. itrved the great emporiuarof the whole wes. tern country against tho veteran troops of the enemy, by'whom it would have been sacked, and their dwellings involopcd in flames over the heads of their beloved fami lies. He gave peace to tho. defenceless por tion of thesouth and west, and chastised the ferocious savage foe, and tho perfidious' in cendiaricB and felons by whom they were excited and counselled to the perpetration of their cruel deeds. He opened additional ter. ing, and enforced w'th as much .energy ,as if Oregon had assumed a stand among tho na. tions of the earth as an independent nation. It is contended by many, and it may be so, that the law on ardent spirits is unconstitu. tional ; but the only legal way to ascertain that fact is, to refer the matter to the su. authority ? Great excitement on any sub jeet is injurious. tuining the laws of the country. I acknowledge the receipt of two, drafts on the treasury for the amount specified in the appropriations ; but the honoring and pay ment of those draHs by the treasurer is what I havo to complain of. The unequal value of our currency is w' known to nil, and fort George, under tho special care-of the agentof the Hon. Hudson's Bay Company, for the sole purpose of being used in afibrding relief and aid to ail vessels requiring assifc , when I presented mv orders on the treasury. tance of any kind, or pilots, for entering the tlrfli- were liquidated in the most depreciated river, until called for by somo person au-1 funds, when at the same time those bonorn. thorized by me or the government of tho U. j ble gentlemen were pocketing their per diem States to receive her. pay out of the par cash of the country. But In making this request, I am well aware of whether tho treasurer or they areto'bc bla. prcmo judge. Would it not be more expe. .the desire that the Hon. Hudson'sB. Company mod for this unjust proceeding, I take it not dient to make an cfibrt to enforce tho law,' and its officers have always shown to dp every on myself to say, but yet would remark that and let the issue be decided by the proper j!hin.in thcir H".10 aflJni.rc,ic.f j',os, 'the country generally is strongly disposed to J r ! m mstrpeq. nnrl (no rlnnn tfirrr tnnr nil nt. 1 :it ottunmnn n tlw.it ImiMiw. tw.tn.l in ,.ni tached to this squadron have evinced for the i cert, and that the legislative proceedings relief extended to ourselves, individually, were much swayed through this and other during tho late disaster, und that it will he . mediums, by an intermeddling, selfish and only placing a suitable boat, lor the use of the company, by which relief may be afforded more promptly. 1 therefore have little doubt hut that you 03" The "act to establish courts and pre. scribe their powers and .duties," as revised by the reviser of laws, is in part published in this number of the Spectator. Wo have not examined the law throughout, but are satis, ficd, from reading tho first section, that the revision is incorrect. If "tho supreme, orim. inal, and county courts, shall bo courts of record" only, then the estates of deceased persons are to bo settled by courts not of re. cord. We aro well satisfied that probate courts should bo courts of record. They were in Iowa, and should bo in every gov. ornment where peoptdtc. (ttr Many citizens of Clackamas county are desirous that A. L. Lovejoy, Esq., should be a candidato for the next legislature. If he will consent to run, it is our opinion that somo of the would.be members of the next legislature, if not located at the head of Salt River, will be located at Clatsop, the head ritory to the. rich fad growing .popuUtionJof.wA voter. all. portentous power in our midst. If this bo true, however, I blush for tho names of freemen and American citizens, which thoy assume to themselves, ami think it will re. will not object to assume -4ho charge, and I ouiro other patriotic and praiseworthy ucts. assure you, it will afford me great satisfaction j besides repealing the improper and imperfect hereafluf to-hear that shoxbas been of any .legislation of another as well asjhcir own use in having lives or nronert The lanch will be left with $rBirnie, with all her fixtures complete. C' I am, with much retpect, your ob't terW, CHARLES WIIEg, Com. Exploring Exp. John McLacoiiun, Eq., Chief Factor II. 0. C, Fort Vancouver. COMMUNICATION. Mr. Editor An answer in tho last num. ber of the Spectator, over the signature of "A friend to truth and justice," to my state ment of reasons for resigning the offico of marshal of Oregon, would appear to a casual observer a most plausible array of facts In re. futation of any charges or allusions, contain, ed in my Btricturcs on the official conduct of some othor officers of this government. I say, would appear so, becauso he cites us to the documents on file in the office of tho no. uotiy, m order to get themselves poised in the peoples' scales, and again re-instated in .the confidence and good graces of thcir con stitucnts. In reference to the appropriation in Au. gust last, of $100 to pay tho marshal, I um in entire ignorance, not having received ahy such remuneration, and I fancy it will striko tho reader of our history, as rather strange that such an appropriation should havo been made, when he is informed that tho office was created for tho first timo in Orogon at this identical dato. As to tho whole amount received by my self and deputy, during the two years and a half I havo been in offico, I would state it to have been but little Over 9400, and this in the uticurrent money before mentioned. The per oentage and perquisites of my varipui offi. cos, which " a friend to truth and justice" JS il A 'i 3