. r
curious naopla will be governed, i tLo law
of tho church, and tliut emanates from Gov.
Brighnm Young, and him alone.
1 do behove that if llioro were a man
put In office as Governor of that Territory
who li not a member of the church (Mor.
mon), and be supported with a sufliciuiit
military aid, that much good would rosuli
from tucb a course ; but, as tbo Territory
it now governed, and has been since the
administration of Mr. Fillmore, at which
time Young received his appointment m
Governor, it is noon-day madness nnd folly
to attempt to administer the law in thiit
Territory. The officer are inaulted, ha
rasod, and murdered, for doing llipirduly,
nuJ not recognizing Brigham Young as
the only law.givcrand lawmaker on earth.
Of tbU every man can bear iueontestiblo
evidence who has brn willing to accept
nit appointment in Utah, and, I nsuroyou,
Kir, that no man would bo wiling to ris-k
hit lifo and properly in I lint Territory after
onco trying the sad experiment.
With an ardent desire that the present
Administration will give due and timely
nid to tho officers that mny bo so unfortu
nate a to accept situations in that Terri
tory, and that the withering curse which
rest upon this nation by virluo of the
peculiar nnd heart-rending institutions of
tho Territory of Utah may be speedily
removed, to the honor and credit of our
bappy country,
1 now remain your obedient servant,
W. W. DllC.MMONP,
Justice of Utah Territory.
March 30, A. D. 1W7.
l)c (Dragon Strcjus.
v. L. aii.dib, Kinruit and rnorniKTon.
OREGON CITVi
SATURDAY, MAY 30, 1857.
Republican Nominations,
CLACKAMAS CO.
For Delegates to Cvnslilutional Convention,
GEORGE ABKRNKTIIY,
GILBERT REYNOLDS.
For Ilfprcseutatii-fS,
W. C. JOHNSON,
C. W. BRYANT.
Fur Sheriff,
JOHN M. BACON.
Fur Assessor,
WILLIAM P. CUltNS.
tS5" U. . Csaio is aulhnri.c.l to do any bus-
incus connected Willi 1 lie Argus lUIue during my
absence. W. I,. ADAMS.
j&T Q. V. Lawson, li-q., independent
candidate for Congress, made a speech to u
crowded houso in this city last Tuesday,
with good cfli'ct. Wo belie, o that more
than two thirds of llioso who heard him
will role fur him.
JUT In order to have our position fully
tmlnruln.il ua tm.a tl.ilu ft.nt . I!l.i ium
UUUUt.hVUU ii v iiiiu QUIhU tuub, wiiiiv 1 o
advocate Republican principles, and support
Republican nominees when properly cho
sen, wo shall never depart from a rule wo
Lavo always lived up to, never knowingly
to support a bad limn fir office. Con
sequently, when the l!epublicaus nominate
a man for odico whom wo l.icw to be a
villuin, they must excuse us for neither
- advocating hi in nor even priming his numo.
JL'-ff" We call the attention of our cili
zens in this vicinity to tho suggestion of
friend Atkinson in this paper, in relation
to a Cold Water Army fourth of July
celebration. Wo had a good one last year,
and we think it can bo improved upon so
as to meet tho wants of nil, old and
young, this yoar. Tho impressions made
upon our mind by tho occurrences of last
year on tho memorable Fourth, tho Imp
picst ono wo ever experienced, havo not
yet been obliterated, and tho littlo heroes
of the Cold Wafer Army fairly chip their
hands for jy at the prospect of n recur.
Tence of theso events. While old drunk
ards are fulling around us, and while our
young men arc being tempted to drain the
convivial glass of tho burning poison that
creates a drunkard's nppetilo, it is meet
that parents nnd guardians throw around
their nll'spring all possible inducements ton
love of virtue and n deep seated loathing of
sice. We venture the assertion that the
liquor dens will get few subjects from the
Cold Wnler Army.
We hope to sr tho white flag of peaeo
floating over the heads of these littlo in
t'inoiblcton the coming Fourth.
iCS?" It will bo seen by Mr. Nowsom's
communication that he is the "tirst man on
the ground" with a budget of acceptable
information for tho Immigrant Aid Sj
eicty. What Mr. N. bus said of his love
ly Abicaw valley may be properly said of a
thousandothor valleys which constitute tho
Willamette, Umpqiia, and Rogue River
valleys, excepting perhaps tho advantages
of water may nut bo as munificently be
towed upon soma others.
Mr. N. is certainly within bounds when
lie says Oregon could support a population
of two millions, lie might havo said fif.
tern millions. With the boundaries fixed
upon by the U. S. Senate, o hv nn
area just twice us large ns that of the Stale
of New York, and she already contains
population of about four millions, with
ft fair projpectof having it quadrupled in
loss than fifty years. Thewbolo of Great
Britain, including England and Ireland, is
less than ore and a half times larger than
Oregon, and it contains about thirty mill
ions of inhabitant. Our soil is equal
to any of these countries and our climate
far superior to most.
Tlit fact is, our three great mountain
ranges, tbo Blue, Cascade, nnd Coast moun
tain, are all susceptible of settlement.
The land it richer, and the climate less ob
jectionable, than those of the barren bills
of Maachusetti aud .New Hampshire,
which literally swarm with live Yankoes,
who not only make a good living but are
oblo to school their children.
Wehopoour friends in all sections will
contribute their mile towards furnishing iu
formation respecting their localities.
Traitors In I tin (.amp.
We learn thul Starkweather and the
other Democratic candiJalus who have
spoken in the county precincts, when cor
norod on the stump, rcpudiato tho Salem
platform and tho Statesman. Kcllcy and
Wail, who aro nominees, nnd were mem
bers of the Salem convention, nnd submit
ted to its dictates, hnvo not yet come out
before tho peopln to answer questions as to
their position. Do they dare do it ? Wo
have seen a U tter from the Dalles, how
ever, in which it is stated that "the Bush
Democracy thero have nominated Hum
nson for Councilman, because they can't
and won't go Wait." We wonder which
bundle of hay theso political animals of
doubtful gendor will choose, or will they
starve between tho two
jtiT Our two old friends "Sep" and
"Dolph" got into a warm discussion last
Tuesday in this city, upon busbism, the
latter for and the former against. The
debate was getting decidedly interesting,
when "Sep" gave a "striking Argument"
by hitting his opponent in tbo faco. Upon
this, an iron weight was thrown, when
"Sep" seized n spado nnd "Dolph" an ax,
and something might havo happened bad
it not been for tho bystanders, who inter
fered with tho loss of tho end of a finger
by one of them by some way getting it
mixed up with the ax.
OCT Some villain made an unsuccessful
attempt to fire Demcnt's store-house last
Tuesday night. The ftro, which was kin
dled against the building in tho rear, went
out of its own accord.
By referring to our advertising columns
it will bo soon (but a large reward has
been offered for tbo dotectiou and convict
ion of the scoundrel.
OCT Tho U.S. M. Steamer Columbia
reachod .Portland last Sunday. No later
Stales news, than was brought ly tho
Commodore.
03 A serious tight occurred at Portland
on board the Columbia last Monday, be
tween tho officers of the boat and some
persons who nttompted to board her for
tho purpose, as wo hear, of chastising the
mate, who had knocked down a passenger.
Suvuial persons were seriously injured.
(XT Wo hear that a flatboat load of hoy
took fiio a few days ago from the sparks
from tho steamer Eagle, which was towing
it up tho Willametto to Portland. One
man on board tho flat camo near being
burned up before he was taken ofT.
05" We leurn from Ex-Governor Ah
crnethy that, from recent explorations of
tho Tualatin river, it is ascertained to be
navigable, as high up as Hillsborough.
03" Tho report of tho Clatsop Repub
lican convention, with a number of com
munications, came to hand loo lute for this
issue.
05" Tho private letter of A., at Yon.
calla, camo to hand, but no communication.
JttT Tho Republicans of Washington
Territory havo nominated A. S. Aberncthy
for Congress.
Tho Jacksonvillo Sentinel pub
lishes an imploring letter in favor of slavery
in Oregon, signed "Mary Ann." Tho ar
gument nnd stylo of it is precisely that of
" tho Mary Ann of tho Mexican war."
OCT Gen. Adair, tho bushito candidnto
for Convention from Clatsop, has declined
running.
05" Jackson county seems to bo infested
with thieves and niurdorers. The Setui
nel says an old man named X. B. Lane,
was found murdered iu his house on t.'ie
6th inst with hit hands tied behind him.
No clue has been got to the murderers.
If. Noble, Eli Judd aud C. Walker,
were lodgod in jail for robbery, but Noblo
broke jail nnd escaped.
05" Trespassers will do well to notice
Mr. Hcman Buck's card in to-day's paper.
$ir'i6 proceedings of the Republi
can convention in Yamhill camo to hand
too Into for last week's paper.
G. W. Burnett was chosen chairman
and J. 11. MeBride secretary.
Resolutions were adopted to support no
man ns Stato delegate who was not in fa.
vor of submitting a free constitution to
the people, as also repudiating tho idea of
caucus sovereignty.
The following candidates were nomina
ted; Delegate to Stato Convention J. R. Mo
Bride.
Councilman, jointly with Clatsop A.
A. Skiunor.
Representative J. E. Brooks, T. R.
Harrison.
Sheriff Henry Warren.
Auditor J. W. Cowles.
School Superintendent G. W. Elmer.
Assessor James Graves, Jr.
Couuty Commissioners J. R. Bean and
Win. Odeil.
" lort ntry inci of tin l aun." Jo Lin I
8ir, if you lore each inch w tirad
If tliif g-wi land for which you bird.
Your love uwinewhM thinly iprtmJ,
l'pn my lift, cr !
Yea bars but lint left, I tivw,
To jv jour wile, six!
Domestic lumculite,
NOTES TAKEN TIIKOl'UU A " KNOT HOLE."
Dramatis Tersonu!
Old Jo.
Mac, a Pro Slavery Democrat.
Lex, a Free Stato Democrat.
Euitor op CzAi'KAY'a Oboa.n.
ACT I.
Scene II. Private Room in Sulem.
Enter Jo and Lex.
Lex. What do you think about tbo
payment of tbo war debt, General I
Jo. Why, God bless your soul, it'll bo
paid; titers is nothing surer than that.
Lex. Happy lo hear it, and hopo you
won't bo di.appoiuted.
Jo. The Government always, has paid
such debts, nnd I prctumo it will contine to
do so. Tho fact is, it would Lavo been
paid ling ago, if it bad 'lit been for the
Black Republican Houso.
Lex. I believe that the word "pay"
was stricken out of the bill in tha Senate,
whero Black Republicans are about at
senrco ns they are in Missouri.
Jo. Yes but it was upon Seward's mo
tion.
Lex. Then Seward it responsible for
what tho Senate did at Lis suggestion I
Jo. Well, tho blame ought to rest
somewhere, and you know it won't do to
throw it on " reliab!o"dcmocruts.
Lex. Why did those appropriation
bills, that were recommended by the House
in committee of the whole, fuil to pass tho
Senate!
Jo. I supposo it must have been ow.
ing to a want of time.
Lex. Or probably to Seward's influ
ence. But how do you account for the
fact that Faulkner of Virginia, a strong
democrat, was the man of all others most
conspicuous in the House to oppose the
pnymont of the war debt!
Jo. Well, really, 1 hardly know, unless
Seward had some influence ovor Lim ; but
here, let us take something, (drawing a
flask from his pocket.)
Lex. No, thank you, I don't drink.
Jo. A democrat, and not drink! Well,
it's all right. Tho democratic party you
know, is neilhor temperanco nor nnti tem
pernnce, slavery nor anti-slavery, but stands
wholly on the principles of tho Nebraska
bill.
Lex. It seems to hnvo been a disputed
point among democrats as to what the prin
ciples of tho Nebraska bill wore.
Jo. What do you mean !
Lex. I mean that whil the northern
wing of tho party contended that the bill
announced the sovereignty of the people
of the Territories over their domestic in
stitutions, tho southern wing repudiated
the idea, and contended that tho domestic
institutions of tho South might go to all
Territories in spite, of the people.
Jo. Well, but tho Supromo Court, you
know, has sottled that matter.
Lex. Yes, tho five slaveholders that
compose a majority of tho Supremo Court
have decided that the southern wing of
tho party was right, and under this decis
ion, tho democratic party which fought the
last campaign upon tho squatter sovereign
ty platform, find tho planks nil knocked
from under their fect and they aro com
pelled either lo renounce tho democratic
party or stand upon a slave sovereignty
platform, which the supremo Court now
declares tho Nebraska swindle to have been.
Jo. Why, my dear friend, don't call
tho Nebraska Bill a swindle.
Lex. I call it a swiudlo becausa it was
offered to the North during tho last can
vass, as containing tho principles of squat
ter sovereignty.
Jo. Well, has tha democratic party
ever decided that it does not !
Lex. Buchanan in his Inaugural stated
that the Supromo Court would settle the
difficulty thai had arisen iu tho minds of
the people in construing the bill, nnd ho
nnvn il oo 7, ,'t ntniin tli, tVi. I. ill
v J IKtf V1UIVU .11.11 btto will tUll-
tained no such thing as squatter sovereign
ty. The Supreme Court has decided that
ho was right. I, for one, believe in the
sovereignty of tho people, even of the
Territories, nnd I think it would be Wull
enough to let us elect our owu officers.
Jo. Weil, God bless your soul, the
great democratic party goes in for the
largest liberty to the peoplo of the Ter
ritories. Lex. It certainly looks to ms liko the
largest measure of despotism.
Jo. How do you prove that I
Lex. From the Nebraska bill, as con.
strued by Buchanan and the Court.
Jo. Let us hear your proof.
Lex. When tbo Nebraska bill was
passed, it was boasted of as having enun
ciated a very important fact, and that was,
that squatters in Territories were sover
eigns. Jo. Yes, and tho great democratic par
ty discovered this doctrine.
Lex. Well, if they have discovered
it, 1 should be pleased to have it pointed out
to me, and you can do mo a great favor by
putting your finger on a single point
where, under the Nebraska bill, the peo
ple of the Territories enjoy privileges they
did not enjoy before ; for instance, they are
not allowed to elect their Governor, Judg
es, or any of their Territorial officers.
Jo. No, of course not.
Lex. But the officers of these newly
created Territories, are appointed by the
President, and their Governors are clothed
with tho veto power. There is one in
stance where the people have been robbed
of tithe of sovereignty, instead of hav
ing their privileges increased.
Jo. Well, yoa can't mention another.'
Lex. Let us see. Orogon and Wash
ington Lad the privilege conceded to them
by all statesmen, North and South, lo leg
IslaU slavery out of their Territories, and
ihoir Legislatures, acting upon the con
viction of this right, did exclude it, but
the Nebraska bill has declared their acts
null nnd void, upon tha ground that they
had no right to legislate slavery out of any
of tha Territories belonging to the United
States. ll:r I have furnished tiro In
stances in which the Nebraska bill, as con
strued by Buchanan and tha Supreme
Court, has robbed tho peoplo of the lerri
lories of sacred privileges they enjoyed be
foro, and I challenge you to put your finger
on a single quid pro quo which they have
received in return for them.
Jo. Wfll, the decision of tha Supreme
Court is final and is now the law of the
land.
Lex. We will attend lo that after a
whilo ; but lot us examine squatter sover
eignty a littlo more.
Jo. I don't think we had better agitate
this question
Lex. Information is what I am after
just now and I wish to propound a few
questions.
Jo.-Well.
Lex. Undor the Nebraska bill the
people of the Territories are not allowed
to elect their own Territorial officers.
Jo. No.
Lex. Beautiful sovereignty, that!
The Governors of Kansas and Nebraska
are clothed with the veto power!
Jo. Yes.
Lex. Then whero is the sovereignty
boasted of ?
Jo. In " regulating their own domestic
institutions.
Lex. But Buchanan and tho Court
hnvo decided that they aro not entitled to
oven this privilege. The last ndministra-
tion tore down the bar of tho Compromise,
telliug the peoplo that as Congress had put
up tho bar, it was not compatible with the
sovereignty of the people, and they had
no oarthly object iu tearing it down other
than merely to give the people tho blessed
privilege of putting it up themselves, pro
vided they saw slavery making a push to
get in. After the election is over, Buch
anan and tho Court tell thorn that they
have no right to put it up, but tbut slavery-
can go into all the Territories in spite of
the people. This is "squatter sovereignly"
with a vengeance!
Jo. But will you nullify the decision
of the Supreme Court 1
Lex. My object was to show you that
squatter sovereignty bnd turned out to bo
nothing more than slave sovereignty, and
that the Northern wing of tho Democratic
party had now nothing left but to abandon
tho party, or become tho willing tools of
tho slave power, more object if possible
than '.ho negroes who toil under tho lash.
Jo. But the decision of the Supreme
Court is law.
Lex. I deny that. It is merely an extra-judicial
opinion upon a matter not bo
fore tbo Court, and every lawyer in the
Union of any note will toll you that il has
just about as muuh weight, nnd U entitled
to full as much consideration by the Courts
and tho people, as Pratt's "directory opin
ion" on the location difliculty.
Jo. Why, you certainly talk like a
Black Republican.
Lex. Well, I hope I talk liko a man
who has a little sense, and who knows bis
rights and privileges under the Constitu
tion as an American citizen, and not aa a
mere thing, a tool, for demagogues.
Jo. What do jou mean by "tool" !
Lex. I havo already shown you that by
recent developments in regard to tho 'squat
ter sovereign' swindle, democrats aro con
verted into mere tools. If nnything.how
ever, were wanting to put tho finish on the
tools, it has been done by the "caucus sov
ereignty" platfoim of Salom. The Ne
braska bill deprives us of tho privilege as
citizens of a Territory of electing our own
ofiicers, and even of excluding slavery or
polygamy, and the Salem platform lakes
away what little sovereignty we had on
other matters, and lodges it in a caucus at
Salem. If you can show me nnv differ-
ence, then, betweon a "reliable democrat"
in Oregon nnd a serf in Russia, I should
like to have you point it out.
Jo. Then you will probably leave the
Democratic party.
Lex. The Democrnlio pnrty has left
me.
Jo. So will I. Exit Jo, Lex following.
From Nicaragua.
Tho expedition under Col. Lockridge, to
open the San Juan river, and effect a junc
tion with Gen. Walker at Rivas, has com
pletely failed, and the army disbanded.
Col. Lockridge, however, with about 100
men out of 400 determined upon mak
ing nn attempt to force a passage to Walk
er's camp overland, and started up the
river on the steamer J. N. Scott for that
purpose ; but, when two miles above Sera
piqui, the boiler exploded, killing thirteen
aud wounding twenty or thirty. The rest
returned to Greytown, and from thence
sought opportunities of getting back to the
United States, in which they were assisted
by tho British vessels-of-war in port.
The failure of this expedition will no
doubt operate most disastrously to Gen.
Walker, and it is not probable that he can
maintain himself in Nicaragua much
longer. Disease a more fatal enerav to
him than the Allied army is thinning his
ranks rapidly, and to disease alone will
Central-American praises be due, far more
than to tha impotent valor of its armies,
Tor alter s discomfiture.
r The weather has been ytrr warm
for a few days past.
For thi Argus,
Tht Water Army ar FeurU tt July
Celrkraltoas.
At a meeting lately held in Boilon, it
was
Resolved, " That, under the deep im
pression mado by the addresses of Peter
Sinclair, of Edinburgh, relating to the int.
portance of a new juvenile lemperunce
movement, it be recommended by this
meeting lo all Iho friends of temperance
throughout the State, lo gather together
the youth of both sexes a soon as posstb.e
in lempernnco associations, and on tho 4th
of Julv next, to aid them in such public
demonstrations as shall bo cheering ond
animating to them, nnd useful to all around
them."
This Resolution, Mr. Editor, opens a vol.
umo of important truth not only to the
people of Massachusetts, but to tho friends
of temperance throughout our Union.
If we can gain all the children, we shall
soon have all the men and women on tho
side of "total abstinence." And it is
easy to get the children. Their convict
ions and sympathies are entirely with us
in this reform, and, until they are allured
into habits of drinking, or enter into busi
ness, allured by the profits of liquor-sel-ling,
or into alliances involving the sup
port of such vices, we retain those sympa
thies and those convictions.
But so soon as children become young
men and young womon, they are tempted
to drink, or to become clorks to liquor
dealers, or to associate and form attach,
rucnts among drinkers and venders ; and
when they do, we find thorn committed
against our cause, or else indifferent, or else
sufferers of the evils of intemperance.
As children they aro unsuspecting unless
taught, especially on this subject. Our
temperanco organizations for adults hard,
ly reach the children. We are learning
loom to grow up and take their places in
society for or against this cause, without
making an elliirt to guide them in their
decisions. We are now thankful to gain
a young man to our rauks, who had even
been wavering, and much more ono who
had begun to drink occasionally. We nro
glad to save a young lady from "lifo un
ion" to a man, who has tho habit of using
liquor as a beverage. But if wo will bo
gin in the childhood of these young per
sons wo shall savo thorn from all danger
and hundreds more liko thorn. Let us go
to work and indoctrinate the thousands of
children in Oregon in the principles of
Temperanco. Let the friends of temper,
ance in every City, Town and Precinct
take this in Land. Let as have Public
and Family pledges. Lot us have Bun
ners and Badges. Let us have Process
ions and Celebrations.
If the moving "log cabins and the bar
rels of hard cider" elected Gon. Harrison
President, and if great public demonstra
tions are always found necessary carry
the Presidential election, or even to call
out much enthusiasm among men upon
tho subject, there is the more reason to
have symbols and public exhibition of our
principles and strength, to impress child
ren. 1
And what better day for such scenes
than tho Fourtu of JulvI
We eiiull thus bo following in the steps
of "our fathers," nnd make tho day not
only memorable for Freedom, but for Inde
pendence of " King Alcohol."
Yours, Truly, G. II. Atkinson.
For the Argui.
Aeicaw Valley, Ohix.on,
May 23, 1S37.
As general ns well ns local information is
desired, with respect to various sections of
California, and Oregon and Washington
Territories, for future settlements of the
emigrants to these shores, I will contrib
ute, in some small degree, to give such in
formation concerning some parts of the
Willametto Vulley as may be beneficial to
these for whom it is intended. The first
section of country to which I shall call
public attention is Abicaw valley in Ma
rion county. The Abicaw rises in the
western slopo of the Cascade Mountnins,
and is fed from pure cold springs gushing
out from the regions of almost perpetual
snow, and the waters are clear, pure, and
cold. About nine miles from the mouth
of this stream, the valley along its course
widens out, and affords fine locations for
farmers and stock-raisers. The lands nre
rich, and well adapted to the production of
wheat, corn, outs, rye, buckwheat, nnd all
torts of culinary vegetables, in the great
est abundance and of the best quality.
The various locations in the Abicaw valley
hnvo been tried in the culture of apples,
pears, plums, cherries, currants, apricots,
almonds, and gooseberries, and the results
are highly satisfactory. Tho lands can
be bought from their owners at from two
to ten dollars per acre, according to the
improvements or other circumstances. At
the base of the Cascade Mountains, and
extending eastward, the lands are vacant,
and subject to pro-emplion or to sale. On
these vacant lands there is an opportunity
now for a heavy and profitable settlement
by those who may desire to locate in this
part of Oregon. About four miles east of
the settlements on Abicaw, and on the di.
vide between it and Bute Creek, is
"Crooked Finger's Prairie," situated
twenty miles from Oregon City, twenty
miles from Salem, and near six miles from
Si'verton the last a thriving country
town on Silver Creek in Marion county.
This prairie contains about 1200 acres of
smooth, rich, and hcauiifully-situated lands,
well watered, and surrounded with an im
mense body of tall fir, cedar, ash, maple,
air! alder tinier. Outside cf the prairie
are large tree's of good second-rate lands,
called "fern openings." Tho bunch grmj
is exceedingly luxuriant On these lands,.
Elk, deer, and bear abouinl hero. Spn'ngs
of pure old water gush out every two or
three hundred yards all over theio rich
lands. I have never seen better timber
than abounds hero. On the bluffs of the
Abicaw, opposite nnd two miles south of
Crooked Finger's Prairie, aro exteniire
stone-coal banks. This conl has beta tried
nnd found to be excellent. Millions of
ions of iron ore abound Lore in tht bills.
1 havo teen this ore, and have no doubt 0f
tho exhaustlcst quantity of the ore at this
point. The geologist scut to Oregon never
examined these iron mines, and hence they
are unknown. I have never seen such a
stream at the Abicaw it, according to iu
size, fur water-power facilities. It affords
a good mill-seat every half mile fur twenty
miles from its mouth. As yet there it no
mill or any water-works upon it, except a
saw-mill al its confluence with Silver Creek
In sec. 20, town. 6 south, I west, Vj(ln.
etto meridian. This stream rum nearly
due west, and a good wagon road or plank
road could be made from the coal miner,
iron mines, end " Crooked Finger's Pras
rio" to Salom, or to Fairfield, on tha Wil.
lametlo River. A wagon road now loads
from the settlements to this charming prai.
rlo. A territorial road nnd two county
roads cross Abicaw creek at right angles.
A more healthy region of country than this
valley is not in Oregon or North America,
If ever a Railroad is made from tht mouth
of Big Sandy and up the Willamottt val
Icy south to California, it must cross Abi
caw valley. Mills, stores, mechanic sbopn,
churches, and school-houses are being
erected in this valley and adjacent to it.
Yet under tho system of Oregon land
laws each settler holds generally a section
of lund in this valley, and therefore the
farms aro "few and far between." There
is scarcely a section-holder here bt woakl'
sell a part of his ckim very cheap. Torav
pernio and industrious farmers, mechaoier,
muchinUls, iron-mongers, nnd stock-raitenr
can find excellent openings in this valleyy
aud such men nre greatly ueeded here. If
muy be asked why all these "openings"
are not already occupit-d. I answer thai
but a mere ite of Oregon is yet settled1.
What will bo included in Iho State of Or
egon (if wo include Grand Bond), can sus
tain a population of two millions. And
yet our present population is only 50,009.'
Grain, stock, vegetables, lumber, cfce-, ci
bo had here, on reasonable terms, for an
increase of one tbotisswd persons in Abies
valley this year. Thero are many ether
favorable "openings'' iu Marion county far
immigrants, but none nre more so that
Abicaw valley. Tho sizo of this crock
about eighty fect wide, nnd twenty inches
deep fiom March to December, on an av
erage. Its bottoms are never overlowed
by its waters. Light draft stoamors ascend
the Willamette nearly all the year, and
emigrants by water can land at Champorg,
Fairfield, or Salem, and thenco on good
roads can roach Abicaw valley.
It may be asked why I give such a glow,
iug description of this section of country f
My answer is that I have no special interest,
apart from hundreds in Oregon, to misrep
resent any portion of the country. I truly
rejoice that emigration is agniu approach
ing our far-off country. We have experi
enced hard times in Oregon for four years
past. With our bitter experience fresh in
mind, and a heavy influx of emigrants to
our shores, they aud we mny be alio to
developo the vast resources of our largo
Pucifio possessions in Oregon, VVashtns;
ton, and California.
Wo say then to our friends in the United
Stales and Europe, Conio and help us to
build up a great moral edifice, that shall
endure while tha broad flag of our glorious
Union shall float over Ocean's broad bo
som, and tell, to the down-trodden nations
of the earth, of " the laud of the free and
the home of the brave."
David Newsox.
To lbs Friends of Temperance la every
Precinct la Oregon.
Tho undersigned Executivo Committee
of the Oregon Temperance Society as ia
structcd by the Society (see proceedings
on tho first page) have prepared the fol
lowing petition which they beg you will
circulate in your several preoincts and for
ward the same to some memberof the con
vention, provided Such convention shall
be ordered.
PETITION
To the Convention for framing a J'
Constitution for Oregon.
Tho undersigned, legal voters of Or
egnn Territory, respectfully represent to
your Honorable Body, that
Whereas, in several States of the Un
ion laws enacted for the Prohibition of the
Liquor Traffic have on different grounds,
been declared unconstitutional ;
We therefore pray you to insert in the
constitution which you may frame, a clause
clearly staling that it shall be constitution
al for the Legislature, at any time, W n
act a Prohibitory Liquor Law, or, to frame
and submit such a law for ratification la
the people of Oregon, and if it be ratine
by a majority of those voting thereon,
shall bare full force and etlect.
D. E- Blaix,
TT 1 w
W. C. Jnnssos. Ex. Ce'
David Rdtledge,
Daniel Baglev, ,
05" Although the Salem convent?or
treated the Sentinel with perfect contempt
by ordering the platform to be published
only in Czap's organ and the Times, the
Sentinel copies the platf'rm, anJ whia'
for it r?ilou:-ly.