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About The Oregon Argus. (Oregon City [Or.]) 1855-1863 | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1856)
4 THE. OREGON AKGUS. fl'DI.KIHO IVIRV SATVSIMr MORNINO, BY WILLIAM L ADAMS. Office-Good's Building, Main st. Edito rial Room in first story. TERMS The Aroui will be furnUhei at t'tte Dollar! per Annum or Sis hlunlke or Tkrei Vulkrt. t3f JVo Suhecriftione received far Use than Six Slonthe. No paper diecontinutd until all arrtnragn art puiU, unlete at the option of the puulieher. ADVEUTISINO IlATIuS. On square line or lean) una Insertion, t,no " ". two liiwrlii.iui, !I,IM). a a tlireo insertion. Ci,IMI, Each mlwrqui'iit insertion, ft I, Oil. Reasonable detluctiuita to tliima whu advcrliM Iiy Ilia year. , Job Printing. Tn ForiTo or tiik AKOl'S 11 iurr ' lo Inform (lie public that lie liu just received a larira stock of J'lt TVl'K nud other new nrinl. In? material, and will be in the qieedy receipt or auditions mied to nil me refl,uironinUi of Hi k . cnlity. HAXDIIIM.S, I'OSTKItN, Itl.ANKH, CAKDH, CIUCTI.AIW, I'AMI'IILKT-WOKK nd oilier kiml, done to order, on short notice. Far tin Argue. the rrntret of Ike Pilgrim. : Lafayette, O.T, Feb. 18, 1830. Dear Adams A company of travelers et out on foot fur the kingdom of Natioual Prosperity. They bnd one horso joint property, which carried their baggogo They proceeded by easy stages, whiling the time witb pleasant conversations, exhibiting, the greatest degree of good nature and confidence in each other. They had not proceeded many miles when they full in With a straggler, who carried a heavy pack, nd seemed weary and enre-worn. lie begged their assistance, and as they vere kind-hearted men, they readily consented to let their horse carry his baggage, whilst they bade him cheer up, and gave him all the encouragement in their, power. In re turn he related to them tho persecutions Which he had undergone bow for many yeara he had been upon that road traveling towards the country of National Prosperity, that he hnd started as the guide, of sev eral lurge parties going that way, but hail never gut farther than where they picked dim up that his company always became dissatisfied with the road and gradually dropped off, some joining other parties, and some striking out for themselves, until he sons foft quite alone. The sympathies of the pilgrims were awakened they were even affected lo tear? by the past sufferings of their new found companion. 'After a few days, Growler (for such was Lis name) began to exhibit a spirit of arrogance and haughtiness which they did not think ac corded well with his situation as their pro U'iei he assumed to know tho only road which led to National Prosperity, and he soon began to speak contemptuously of any one of the company who suggested a turn either this way or that, and they soon came to see the true reasons why he had been abandoned by his former companions. But as they were anxious above all things to get forward ou their journey, they submit ted with the best grace possible to the dic tation of him they hud so lately found in such distress. About this period they one morning found a man lying in a gutter beside the road in a wnful plight. When they had pulled him from the gutter, and scraped the filth from his face and mouth sufficiently to permit him to speak, he related to them how he had just been thrown from his mule, wliich had gono on and left liim as they saw. Ho also earnestly begged to accompany them, which request was conceded, notwith standing the strong opposition of Growler, who said that he knew him of old, that his name was Soft Soup, and tliut he was too treacherous, filthy, and mean to be admitted into any company of gentlemen ; but the pilgrims had learned to rogard Growler as a mere bag of wind, and he had been so loud and boisterous in condemning every thing that it was even fatal to the truth for Lira to Co10"86 ow oaP was a L,m of much cunning, and though he was in fact traveling towO'ds the kingdom of "Self-Aggrandizement, he soon learned tno views of our travelers, and proposed to ac company them even as far as the kingdom of National Prosperity, the roads to which ho pretended to be well acquainted with. Now this was a great relief to the pilgrims, who snatched at anything that might possi bly relieve them from the assumptions and 'dictations of Growler, who had grown al most intolerable. Soft Soap determined lo t. n tn i;D nwn AflvnntnfTp. and KnddIsu mind th. the pilgrims should carry all of the lug2age. whilst he rode their horse to the kingdom Whentbeywere 0I BUiAoora. ua SnftSn.J tom.ng near tue.orns oi ' oio '"-' -JW ' i -I' M be opposed by Growler, who, tnow wou c -J ........ -Mi liia nwn WAV. " 'nosed by mother. Though if it was proposco v . Ltofthepilsrimswereinfavoogomg to the right, tbey decided in council upon . l AUAMH, V.aunr rrnarlrtnr.' VOL. 1. turning to tho left, In hopes of getting cleur of Growler, being led ly Soft Soap to bo Novo that though a little further around it would eventually lend to National Prosperi ty. Hut Growler readily found an excuso lo go with thorn, saying that ho could not con sent (to see his countrymen led off to de struction without an effort to savo them ; and following behind, he rated them all in unmeaured terms, not even sparing the poor old hor. who, frightened at the clut ter, kepi quickening his pnef. ' Now Soft Soap begun to think of pulling the balance of his plans into operation, which ho begun by awakening sympathy for the poor old homo, and ha persuaded them that as the roads were very muddy it would bo well for him to ride and pick ibe best way for the poor beast, the pilgrims never suxpecting in their honesty but thai Soft Soup was putting himself to great in convenience for their benefit, and thinking that the poor horse would really be better able to accomplish his long journey tlirouglij his skillful riding aud cuidunce. Growler was so wroth with this arrangement that he A ll to swearing so savagely that the horse snorted through fear, and seemed anxious io be off at his best pace, which at once convinced our travelers of tho superior management of Soft Soap,' when in reality the additional speed was owing to Growler. Now this could not lust always, for the poor brute was taxed tar beyond bis strength, and soon begun to fail, upon per ceiving which Soft Soap commenced shift ing the load by littles on lo his companions, who were naturally so good-natured that they were readily imposed upon by the plausible stories which he told them, whilst the hitler snarling and opposition of Growl er only set them stronger on doing whatev er Soft Soap proposed, who continually ex cited their hopes by drnwing high pictures of the ease and happiness which they wero to enjoy when they reached the kingdom of National Prosperity, where lie assured them that every man would receive a hand some farm, fenced and cultivated, with a set of negroes to work it, and, better still, fre qucnt donations of money from the king of that country, who was so rich and generous that he did not require or expect any of his subjects to work ; in fact, he assured them that all these were kings except the niggers (who wore much happier and better off than they could be In any other situation.) Our friends were so well pleased with all this, which accorded with their wishes, and they and Soft Soap wero abused so loudly by Growler, who they all agreed was influenc ed more by malicious spi to than by his judg ment or reason, that they hardly noticed the increase of their loads, or that they were verging fur to the left of National Prosperity, as it was laid down ou the chart of Conservatism by which they set out lo travel. Finally, when one day the poor old horso died from exhaustion and starvation, Credulous, who was one of the biggest men among them, made no objection to receiv ing the bridle iu his mouth, and tho saddle upon his back, into which Soft Soap lightly mounted, assuring them that it was quite neoessary that he should be upon the look out, as they were now approaching a coun try infested with divers great giants, who hud slain, devoured, and dispersed many companies ot travelers. Among omer names, he mentioned those of Antinebras kabill, whom he represented as a monster having seventeen black heads; Coldwater pledge, a giant sixty feel high, who, armed with a huge syringe twenty-three feet long, demanded of every man who passed through his domiuions"lo sign away his liberty'.' to him, and upon those who refused he squirt ed copious streams of a fluid called cold- water, which Soft Soap was asured was a deadly poison, although he frankly confess ed that he never had tasted it ; ana this was the only question that arose during the whole journey in whieh Growler complete ly agreed with him. Tbcy were both am ply provided with an antidote which was given to them by Roigutrednose, a powerful kin" and tho natural enemy of UoWwater pMge, and doubtless ifthey sWul.imeet this monster they would make common cause aga.nsl b.m. The pilgrims of course were great frightened at these dangers described by - wh iM became more oM to until Uit'Y were umicuuj wmu.i n. i j , upon one of them and in the lead, lest tliov should walk into the clutches of Ne- braskaUll or Coldwatcrpledge. AMt'.Mli'.A .Haw aoechlar aramUm aC klum kw n(kl ef t'.ornarl. aaa Hlar. aa MlrlaaVi GABOON CITY, OKSOON TBHXLXTO&7, SATURDAY, MA&OH, 1SSS. Now Soft Soap advised that they should proceed through tho land of Sophists, as Squuttersovoreigoiy, its king, was his inti mate friend, and would doubtless escort them through the country of Ncbrukabill, This plan was at once opposed by Growlo to tho litter end, who raved like a manioc, and swore that Squnttoniovereignty was the most unprincipled, blood-thirsty monster in' the world, and that if they should full into his hands he would be sure either lo cut them or make them slaves for life ; and weut on at such rate swearing ami xtri king at all who came near him thai I hey ware convinced he had gone crazy, and agreed among themselves that they would put straight-jacket upon the poor fellow, and leave him whenever he reached the castle of Moderation, which Soft Soap as sured them he would pass by. In the mean time, Growler kept close at their heels, in hopes, as be said, that he might yet save them from destruction, but, as they believed, for tho purpose of gratifying his spleen and morbid appetite for slang which nature and disappointment bad rendered as necessary to him as bread.. Ii will be seen now that Soft Soap has come to have things pretty much his own way. Since tho death of I he old horso the pilgrims, far from being distressed about carrying him, quarreled almost every morn ing for the honor, and had upon several .oc casions even come to blows. Otia day when Soft Soap was mounted upon Credulous, the latter generously proposed that Growl, er mijilit be allowed tho privilege of car rying one leg in the ropes that such a mark of confidence might do the poor fid low good. Growler, overhearing the re quest, pricked up his ears, and looking more good-natured and pleasant than he had appeared for ninny days, and spoke in such terms of kindness and praise of Credulous, that they all thought bis reason was returning. Kut bolt soap was too cunning to permit such an indulgence ; he saw that his power was mainly sustained by the opposition of Growler: so, halting the cavalcade, he solemnly dismounted from the back of Credulous, and sternly 'bidding him to bend down, he administered several hearty kicks lo his posteriors in the sight of the whole cavalcade, telling him that he had taken the first step in irea. son, but that as he never threw away a good rifle because it missed inee, he would suffer him to return to his honorable ser vice upon promise of future good behavior, whereupon, with tears in his eyes, Credu lous acknowledged that he' had erred, but pledged himself to do so no more. The pilgrims trembled lest they should meet the same fate ', Growler howled and froth- ed at the mouth ; and thus his ascendency restored, booted and spurred, Soft Soap re. mounted, and the cavnlcado moved slowly on its way. HUM f LAI. for the Argue. Lebanon, Feb. 7ih, 1830. Friend Adams Our legislature, just ad journed, has appointed tho first Mondny in April next on which "to take tho sense of the people" as to the present policy of a State Government, and as we have but two months left for preparation and decision, it is time we were casting about to see what will be our condition nnder the new state of things. Your Lafayette correspondent II. F. thinks the question of "economy" worth not a moment's consideration. If not then we are abundantly able to bear all the expenses of a State government, and the question rests upon our preference fori-full and indepen dent franchise. Although, in Orison (where none but Democrats in office is the rule) we have a Governor, Secretary, Mar shal, Judges. etc., Federal officers, appoint ed by the President of the U. S., and pro bably as good men as we shall elect, yet all men prefer to choose their own officers. So you sec that the question "not worth a moments consideration" is the one which is to claim the attention of the people of Ore gon for two months. Let us see the fig ures and then we will see that the tpte dtxa of II. F. is not worth a moments consider ation. Hitherto we have had fonr main sources of wealth, viz : Gold mining, trade to Cali fornia, immigrant capital, and thp appro priations of Congress for the support of the Territorial Government. Now gold dig ging is followed desultorily by few of the Oregon people, the trade to California is almost confined to a very slim traffic in wheat, butter, and egg, and immigrant capital is reduced to a moiety. The a mount received from Congress ulno remains about tho sumo. Wo expect no increase of "dust" nor ouy grand discovery of gold California is independent of our beef, pork, flour, butter, and eggs, and Kansas or No. wHa ii nn pninil career of the em. yiigrant Miull we then coiiciuuo w nave no nerd of. "Federal Money." Until the present we have iiniorted hats, caps, boots, and shoes, clothes of all kinds, besides tea, collee, sugar, nud molasses, to bacco and whisky, etc., etc, and exported hul little, except' gnld und our good name. Now that the bulk of our dust and credit is gone wo are about to produce something, we shall export what we can, import w hut wo must. Wo are on the point of reformation truly; our eyes are open to the fact thai unless wo make our own clothes we shall go na ked. But il requires money to build wool en manufactories and start tanneries and shoe shops. Shall wo or aro wo aide to dispense with federal support and tux our selves double. Now, friend Adams, you understand the question of coil better than many of of us do. Will you my dear sir, please to give us, in your next issue, the nuiount appropriated by Congress to defray the yearly expenses of the State of Oregon from the first year. Please allow, (in order to approach the truth) a full complement of Stute ofiicials, with each fair salary, for 1 am informed that the expenses of the Stale of Wisconsin increased in four years from 830,000 to $'200,000. Take into your account the probable expenses ofjudl cial cases that will stand recorded State of Oregon M A, B, C. D, and E, instead of U, States t'j. the the same, also, the expenses of county courts. Wo are informed by advocates of State Convention that the change from a Terri lory to a Slate will increase the demuud for an' price of our produco and make times better in all kinds of ways. Now tho ino dus of reaching such a result is wholly un known to me. If you understand it, let us hear from you. Let us imagine the State of Oregon and that I had Lelpt to elect Mr. Curry lo the Gubernatorial chair, and all of the officers down to the shrievalty, and also that our Legislature bad sent Jo Lano and Delaznn Smith to the Senate and that Mr. was representative j now al though wo should congratulate ourselves upon having been instrumental in placing such honorable men in high and lucrative offices, would the fact essentially alter the prices of produce nnd make better times 1 If so, answer quickly, and we can make the trial to prote that fat offices give good ap petites. I can readily understand the advantago of a full representation in Congress ; how our members there might "log roll" a light house to the mouth of the Columbia River, and expedite the collection of our wnr claims, but that it is in their power lo increase the the consumption of our produce in California and Australia, or regulate a direct trade with China or tho Sandwich Islunds, or other tropical climates.sothutwheatshould bo eaten by their inhabitants instead of rice, I must bo permitted to doubt. Sumo time siuco I adopted Mr. Uurlbut's theory that tho true office of government is to "conserve human rights," so that I don't expect to be enriched by any just legislation though wo may establish laws, build light houses, or pay just debts. Yours truly, T. W. DAVENPORT. Musical Test of the Female Voice. The iulUietice of lomper upon tone deterves much consideration. Habit of queruloiis ness, or illnaturc, will communicate a cat like quality to the sinking as infallibly as they give a peculiar quality to the speaking voice. I bat there reuiiy exists amiaoiu tones, is not an unfounded opinion. In the voice there is no deception ; it is, to many, the index of iho mind, denoting moral qualities; and it may be remarked that the low soft tones of gentle and amiable bcitigs, whatever their musical endow mi nts may be, seldom fail to please ; besides which, the singing of ladies indicates thecultivatinn of their tastes generally, and the embellish ment of (he mind. For an instant compare the vulgarity of a ballad-singer, her repul sive tone of voice and hideous graces, to the manner of an equally cultivated singer in good society ; or watch the treatment of a pretty melody from the concert room at the west end of London, until it reaches the ears from nnder the parlor window, and ob serve how it gains something new of vul garity with every fresh degradation. Er. Ml MMi.RirTIMX, 'Viva Hotter Year. WO. 40. For the Argue. Hlata Cev-rawa.Xe. 1. Lafayette, Feb. 1 1th. 1830. 3tr. Editor In a fbrmpr letter I gave three of the prominent pecuniary reasons why I should vole for a Convention on the first Monday of April nezi ; any one of the throe being sufficient in my judgment to justify every tax payer in the Territory in voting for it, s a matter of personal pecu niary in tercet. There are many considera tions aside from those of a direct pecuniu ry character which should induce us to fa vor a State o'gunization, some of ihn most Important of which I now propose lo notice very briefly. And first, its influence upon population, and improvements both local and general. If any one will lake the trouMo to ex amine the progress of population in the Slates of Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Missouri, for I he first five years before and after (hey becamo Slates, he will find a very large per cent, of increase in favor of the first five years of their ex istence as States. Now while it is possible that this difference may have been tho re sult of other causes in one or more of these instances, it is not within the bounds of probability that a uniform result could have been produced by anything short of some general cause; hence it follows thai the increase of population must have re sulted from tho Stale organizations; and there are very many reasons why this should be so, that will on reflection pre sent themselves to every reflecting mind. There has been but very little, if any, addition to our population for the last year, and I verily believe that if we remain a Territory for the next five years, our pop ulation will very sensibly diminish in num bers, and in every element essential lo our prosperily as a people. . The longer we hang on to the skirts of "Uncle Sam," the less inclined will we become to rely upon our own resources. The moro we lean upon others fur support, the less Inclination will be felt to dispense with their aid, and in the very naluro of things our ability to take care of ourselves will be actually di minished instead of being increased, by do laying a State organization. There is such an entire absence of stability, perma nency, and independence, implied by the very terms "Territorial Government," that no man who properly estimates the value of self-government will submit to the vassal. age one moment longer than his pecuniary necessities require. The inquiry is now a Very common ono, Why is it that we have in Oregon Tcrrito. ry a bitterness of party strife and proscrip tion not found in any of the States of the Union, where the people are called upon to support tli is or that party supremacy by their voles and influence 1 To my mind the reason Is very apparent, and the ovil only to be remedied by the organization of a State government. I need not say that every reflecting and patriotic man of nil parties admits It to be a great and growing ovil, and which now threatens to destroy that union of interest and good feoling bo necessary to the welfare and prosperily of a republican people. It is not because our people are not as kind, charitable, and patriotic, as any to be found in the States, neither is it because the leading politicians aro moro selfish and corrupt ; for the same evil is to be found in all of our Territories, and il results from precisely the same causa. As a Territory wo are entirely depend ent upon tho government at Washington, and consequently our parties are fornwsd with exclusive reference lo questions of na tional policy. We know no such thing ns local or State policy, the effect of which in the States is, to rally men belonging to the two great national parties around the same standards at the local elections, sus taining the same local interests, and strug gling together for what ihcy conceive to 'oe the Stale's welfare and prosperity. The natural tendency of this is to soften down the asperities of parly feeling, and lo demonstrate practical 'y that we are all brethren of the same great republican fam ily; with the same aims and ends; the same mission to perform, and the same po litical destiny lo fulfill. In the absence of influences of this kind in our Territories, the people find themselves year after year arrayed against each other in a struggle for the ascendency, until they begin to feel that they have separate and distinct inter ests, and finally imbibe the opinion as hon estly as they form any other ; that the party opposed to them are really less honest and patriotic than themselves; and belioviug this, patriotism requires that they should fill all the oilier of the government, local mid generul, with men uieu of their own party ; hence arises the parly proscription aud vindictivcucKsso prominent at (his timu here In Oregon. Tho remedy I proposo Is, for us to unilo by acclamation on Iho fust Monday of April next in Ihe cull for n Convention. Let the conservative portion of all parlies unite In (he election "f Delegates, so that no ono party shall have n controlling influ ence in the Convention ; thus removing all leinpiallon to tho furmutiou of a partisan Coiislitution, by giving to all a fair nnd equal representation. This run be accom plished if the great mass of the people tako tho matter in bund, us I uoufidenlly beliovo they will do in tho present instance. It i urged by somo that il will be very difficult, if not impossible, to frame a Constitution that shall meet tho approbation of the great mass of the people in iho present sluto of party feeling ; but 1 would ask those who urgo this objection, Will any thing bo guinud by delay I Ou iho coutraiy, is it not fair to presume, judging from the past, that this objection will gather strength by lapse of time t I believe tho present is tins most propitious time for iho formation of u State Constitution that has existed since the question has been ngitulod, or that will oc cur for years to como. Who does not know that tho two great purlieu of the na tion are now broken up into factions; an Administration w ithout a party, and tlio character nud principles of the parties yet lo be formed out of tho chaotic elements beyond the ken of our wisest statesmen. What better limo could b) desired, then, limn tho present summer, for laying tho foundations of an iudependent Stnto, that shall develops a policy of its own, upou which lo found a heahhy party orgamza- Hon. W lien tins slmll nave uocu accom plished, a new era of prosperity will have dawned upon Oregon. Our people will cease looking to Washington as they now do, nnd look to Oregon as tho goat source from which a permanent pecuniary pros perity is to be derived ; and hundreds that are now looking back to tho States from wliich ihoy came, indulging the feeling that Oregon is not their permanent home, will vow feally to ihe new and rising Slate, und redouble their eflbrts in securing for her an agricultural, manufacturing, and commercial development, that will make her beautiful' valleys ihe envy of the world. Men who now look upon each other with suspicion and distrust, from their long party opposition, will find themselves drawn together around the same parly lender in a struggle for the success of somo measure of State policy, that shall ill us trato practically tlutt both parties are alike patriotic, and in pursuit of a common in terest, oven when they travel different to ihe same goal. ' ' ' It is very certain that remaining a Ter ritory will not remove the evils complained of ; whilo there is god reason lo hope: that a change of government will improve its administration, and give a new impulse to our prosperily. .The only thing involv- ed iu tho experiment is a few dollars and cents, which can bo spared without injury, as it would only pass out of ono pockot into anothor, of our own citizens. A. G. II. Views of tlie Ui'lUsli Ministry on Ibe rears vuenimn. VV bat nasses at Cabinut Councils is pre- sumed to kept a profound secret and yet, ... i somehow or other, tilings do oozo out, ami become the suhi'ict of conversation in favor-1 ed circles. Persons who have friends in tbd Cabinet, tipoke very plainly lust night, in ho West end, as to what Ihey alleged to liave taken place at tho Cubinut Council vesterdav. It is stated that n majority of 4 4 - the menibors of Lord Pulmerston's Admin istration wero iu favor of actually intimat ing to Russia that the western rowers were readv to receive nronosnls for pultinu art end to tho war, and at tho samo lime letting herundorstund that tiny were tnsposeu to accept of such proposals as tbo need havo no hesitation iu olTuring- His added, that Lord Palmcrston decidedly Tufusod to ac cede to either of these propositions, and took care to leave no room for any ono present to doubt thai, rather than become a party to the suggested courso of procedure, ho would prefer resigning at once. AVe are further assured und have no reason to doubt the accuracy of our infor mation that the noblo Lord is even pre pared that England should proceed uloiio with the war, assuming what is generally staled to be true that Louis Nujioleon is prepared to accept insecure and dishonor able proposals of peace, rrom the reit. ence offered to his Lordship's intended pro cedure by a majority of his Cabinet, it is Ihe opinion of bis personal friends that be ouuht at once to resign. We hope ho will . . . if ri.. t.. i? i In tliutcase, oeiore me inr.siiim.i iioiiuays are over, he w ill be borne back to ihe Pre miership on iho shoulders of tho people, aud become the most poweiiui ami popular Miwtf.-r of uiod-.ta limes. .o.Wi.'fi Jd,