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About The state Republican. (Eugene City, Or.) 1862-1863 | View Entire Issue (July 26, 1862)
THE STATE REPUBLICAN. "The Struggle of to-day is not altogether for to-day, it is for the vast future also. i EUGENE CITY. SATURDAY, JULY 26. 1862. How they Iteason. One of the strongest evidences of the mental perversity of secessionists, is in their style of reasoning in regard to tho affairs of the war. This diflieulty in reasoning upon these Impor tant matters, prove their traitorous proclivities. While they consider themselves exceedingly sharp and smart, and entirely successful in vent- t ing their spleen against their country and govern mont under tho guiso of patriotism mid Union Democracy, their cloven feet all tho while are sticking out in plain view of every one but them selves. They are known to be secessionists, t positively, by tho working of their brains. A secessionist traitor cannot possibly reason like an honest patriot. His evil instincts unfortu nately force him to adopt and express the wrong conclusion to tho premises, By paying attention to this peculiarity of theirs, they can be detected at any time, no matter what kind of protestations they may make. Thev also manifest a strange inability to distinguish between truth and false hood, and a f ital and unaccountable propensity . to adopt that which is false. Since the Bull Run affair, there has been about ' a hundred hard fought battles. Those so called Democrats Union Democrats (?) have been mourning all the timo over our defeats. In all tho hundred battles, they have not heard c one Federal victory, but unfortunately " we have been whipped !" Well, let us look into this matter a little. We would ask these mourners r if we were defeated at tho following places: Elizabeth City, Edenton, Winston, Newbnm, Beaufort, Bowling Green, Painsville, Nashville, Clarftsville, Dover, Fayettcville, Bentonville, Martinsburg, Lcetown, Lovettsvillo, Smithfield, Bolivar, Charlestown,llarpors Ferry, Big Bethel, . Winchester, Woodstock, Strasburg, Paris, Hut tonsville, Romney, Florenco, Decauter, Ilunts villo, Cedar Keys, Eastport, Columbus, Lees burg, Springfield, Brunswick, Fernandina, Mid dl cburg, St. Marys, Berryville, Centrevillo Oo coquan, Windsor, New Madrid, Port Royal, Forts Johnson, Beauregard, Evans, Pigs Point Battery, Shipping Point Battery, Cockpit Point Battery, Forts Clinch, Henry, Donnelson, Pu . laski, Columbus Fortifications, Bowling Green Fortifications, Mill Spring Fortifications, Itoan oke Island Baltorios, Elizabeth City Batteries, St. Simons Fortifications, Aquia Creek Batteries Island No. 10, Shiloh, New Orleans, Corinth, Memphis, Williamsburg, etc., etc. Now what is strango in the matter is this : according to the mode of reasoning referred to, notwithstanding nil theso defeats, our army has still marched on! It has captured from the rebels over five hundred thousand square miles of territory. Tho question resolves itself into this shape: il the Federal army has been defeated oil the time at every place it conic to ; and yet has taken so much country and bo many cities from the rebels ; how ninth more territory might it have taken, if tho said Federal nrmy had not been defeated at nil these places, nud whero would secession have found a spot of ground to rest upon to-day 1 If an army can be so successful Slid bo defeated all the time, hovr (successful might it bo if not defeated ? If our army has been defeated at all these places why has these forts and cities surrendered ? Study on these things, ye secession numskulls, and it will do you good. You will sec tho absurdity of main taining that our army lias been defeated, and you will gradually dispenso with those disgusting croekadile tears you have been shedding over the Union cause. You deceive no one ; tho case is too plniir. Well, what ok it? The newly elected coun ty officers wero duly installed on the first Mon day in this month, and wo h .ve been anxiously waiting to obtain a statement of the affairs of the oouutv to lav beforo oirr readers. Thus far our our patienco has not been crowned with success, but, in tho language of ono who ought to know, wo " mnst wait a little longer,"-until tho new officers shall habe brought order out of tho dire chaos in which tho old officers h ft tho county's affairs. Wo learn that tho Clerk's ofiieo in par ticular was in such an incomprehensible state of confusion that it willl take some considerable time to bring things to their legitimate condition. While yet a young county we built a Court House, the best in tho State at that time, wo also built a fire proof Jail, and a fence around the Publio Square, and other little ctcaeteras, which amounted to over tl.1,000, and still had county funds to loan. Four years ago, when tho " si inon pure ""took tho reins of the county, they found everything in good condition, county scrip worth 100 cents on the dollar, the publio build ings completed and paid for. This was all done in six years, at tho starting of a new county. When tho taxable property became moro than than double its former value, our taxes hare been a IittU higher, and in tho four years of IVmo cratic rule our funds are exhausted, our county in debt, county scrip worth sixty cents on the dollar, a delinquent tax list of four years stand ing, and everything out ot shapo generally. Gin some of the unwashed tell where the fuult lies t We would like to know. Correction. The statement in last week's issue, that the editorial "will hereafter bo in ehargo of the publisher if tho paper," fcxve read " publishers of tho r aper." should IMPORTANT ! ! By recent Proclamation of tho President, the lands embraced in the surveys of Oregon, except Donation claims, Pre emptions completed, and the mineral lands in all of the Townships west of the Cascade mountains, to tho Pacific Ocean, is on tho 6th day of October next to be offered at public sale, at the Oregon City Land Office, W. A. Starkweather, Register, nnd W. T. Matlock, Receiver, for all .f the land lying north of tho 4th Standard Parallel south, being tho Township lino between Townships 18 and 10 south of Base lino. And at Roseburg Land Office Oct. 13th, John Kelly, Register, and Win. Brigs, Receiver, for all south of the 4th Stand ard Parallel and west of the Cascade mountains. All pre emption claims must be entered be fore that day of sale, October Cth, 1802, for Oregon City Land Office, Willamette District, and October 13th, 1802, at Roseburg Land Office, Umpqua District, or they will bo forfeit ed. It is of tho greatest importance, that nil Donation claimants should coniplrto their proofs and settle all conflicts at an early day$ and that in every case where patents have not issued, claimants should, if they have not already done so, make oath of allegiauco to tho United States Government, in completion of their pa pers and in compliance with tho law, and without which no patent can issue. By attention to this notico and tho Frocla mntion, much labor can be saved to the Land Offi cers and many claims be saved from forfeiture. Tho Proclamation of the President can be seen at the Surveyor General s Office, at tho Post Offices at Eugene City, Corvallis, Salem, and generally throughout the State, and will bo pub lished probably by most of tho newspapers of the State. Persons having friends in the Salmon or Pow dor river mines and elsewhere, who have made declaration of intention to pre-empt, should take pains to notify thorn early by transmitting pa pers containing this notico or tho Proclamation. Washington Territory Correspondence. Cottonwood Grove, Walla Walla Co., W. T. June 28th, 1702. Mb. Editor: The general spirit of discontent, everywhere operating upon tho peoplo of Ore gon, of all classes and conditions, has thrown many of her most valuable citiztns into this upper country. Owners of real esfuto in the Willamette Valley seem to prefer the precarious and laborious operations of the miner to the certain and less exposed labors of the farmer. Tho bearing orchards, broad fields, quiet and'' steadily improving social advantages of home, are all forgotten, or counted as naught, when compared with tho alluring prospects of Salmon River gold mines. This is but a natural incident following as tin inseparable sequence from the disposition so common among tho people of tho Willamette to think every other country nffords better advantages than their own. Time will prove tho mistake of thoso who have wandered from good farms nnd sought other and new ones East of tho Cascades. During tho present un settled condition of n Hairs on this sido of the mountains, thoso who havo luckily secured pieces of land on tho traveled roads, will make money, but all their accumulated labor in the form of improvement, has a value solely depen dent upon the continuance of travel. The tracts of fertile land East of tho Cascado range of mountains are few and small, separated by long reaches of hilly barren, or deserts, across which roads can never bo made that will justify the husbandman in hauling his grain nnd other pro duce to market. Tho densely populating this country will have precisely the inverse effect upon the prico of field produce, that the settling up of tho States in tho Mississippi Valley here tho older the country, tho moro farmers, the cheaper produce there large quantities attract capitalists and creato a market. There is not enough land capable of producing on the east side of the Cascades to offer any inducements to capitalists. Tho farmers on this sido of tho Cascades will always bo isolated from tho great controlling markets of tho world, solely depend ent upon home consumption for market, this alono controlling the price. . A few facts from tho history of southern Ore gon will illustrate tho impropriety of investing either capital or labor in an isolated limited ag ricultural valley, however fertile. Many of tho best farms in Jackson and Josephine counties can bo purchased to-day for much less money than the improvements on them would cost at present rates. These counties are not nearly so far from tho trading center of tho coast ns we are. Tho improvement of tho Willamette will bo slow, very slow, but sure. This much I have said for tho consideration of those men who loiter about their valley homes and wish they were somewhere else. I do not propose to detract from the real worth of this region, or present it to a disadvan tage. Tho scenery is like all mountainous re gions, grand, provocative of extravagant expres sions such as " grand," " majestic," etc., but all these do not supply the requisites of a home. A landscnpo that by its varied surface, " shad owy cliffs," and murmuring brooks is sufficient to set half the tight booted young men in the country quoting poetry, may be wholly unfit tor pumpkins, peas or pig. The- scarcity of timber will be never ending objection to this immedi. into valley to haul fire wood and building male-j rial from eight to ten miles, is a tax upon the farmers' time and labor that counts heavy on expense page of his day book. The severity of tho hard winters is another objection to this val ley as a permanent home. To counteract these many objections, tho most potent argument is t this is a new country; tho second, its closeness to tho gold mines, (about 200 miles) therefrom, or about twenty-five miles further than Eugene City is from the Jackson ville mines' the third, tho dryness of tho win ters. I have spoken thus freely about the upper country, because 1 urn n resident of the East of tho Cascades. There was a strong effort made a few days ago by the citizens of the village and county of Walla Wulla, to unite the secesh and Union elements. As might bo expected, the attempt was a failure. Tho meeting broke up rather boisterous. The object of tho meeting was to nominate county officers to be voted for in July next. The stccsl) material of this county is fast wearing away, the brass is fast melting out of their faces. The Council of the village of Wal la Walla met a few evenings ago and deposed their loafering, secesh, contemptible bummer Marshal, George Porter. The inducement which operated on the vMlago trustees were about these : tho evening after the brent: up of tho secesh-Union convention, Georgo Anderson, a rabid secesh, without any provocation what ever, threw a large stone at and hit a Corporal belonging to Company B, 1st Cavalry, Oregon volunteers, (Harding's Company). Tho Mar shal was present and saw the transaction, but refused to arrest Anderson, in fact, assisted him to get out of tho way, This proceeding on tho part of a public officer enraged the soldiery most terribly, as well as all the good citizens of Walla Walla town. So great was the indigna tion of tho village trustees that they acted as obove stated, and Mr. George Porter, minus his Marshnlship, was politely requested to leave tho town and county.- Thero are ono or two more rabid traitors here but it is hoped that requisitions from California will soon rid the community of them. This region of country has sheltered robbers and fu gitivo murderers long cuough.- So think the good citizens and so say we. News from the mines encouraging, without full particulars. We are having fine showers every two or three days had new potatoes for dinner yesterday making grand arrangements for the Fourth. Each man expects-to drink all the whiskey he can buy or borrow. G. Necessity of Confiscation. Let the rebel lion s'op tomorrow and its armies disband What, we ask, has occurred that would deter corrupt and unlucky aspirants for office in future years from stirring up another rebellion, in order to get into power 7 Neither Davis nor Beaure gnrd has suffered any punishment which would prevent them from renewing their attempts. On tho contrary, there is much reason to fear that many thoughtless and ambitious young men would regard their career ns rather a brilliant one, and worth following us nn example. They as well ns many others, would be regarded by the weak and vicious as daring fellows, whose crimes were so brilliant and fascinating that tho Government had not the heart to punish them. They would bo viewed ns heroes, whose faults wero c 'neealed by their gilding. Let us re member that in many communities throughout the South, made up of wealthy traitors, tho guilt of treason isaetuully the passport into society, and no inconvenience will be felt by multitudes who have given thousands of dollars to the rebel lion unless the Federal Government shall confis cate their property nnd strip them of their pos sessions. What cares a luxurious cotton or sugar planter, a banker or a merchant, who has lieen implicated in this heinous sin of treason, that ho is excluded from holding Federal offices so long as he can revel undisturbed in his coterie of rebel friends 7 These men in their neighbor hoods will dignify their crime with a false re spectability, and loyalty will bo banished from society. Every man of sense can easily foresee this. It certainly must be obvious to all persons of practical sense that in order to crush out this social respectability of treason, nnd place the brand of disgrace upon its forehead, so as to make it as contemptible as it is wicked, not only in Kentucky, Missouri nnd Tennessee, but in Alabama, Mississippi nnd South Carolina, the Government must let its hand fall heavily upon all offenders ot tho rich nnd aristocratic class. Tho luturo health of tho political body demands tho copious extraction of rebel blood and treas ure. The cause of tho rebellion, its malaria which has poisoned tho land, is its pseudo-aristo-cralio spirit." Shall the Government suffer that spirit to remain among us, and to strut abroad again in security, unsubdued and unbroken? He who says yes, lacks cither loyalty or common sense. Xashvillt Union The Cincinnati Gazettt has a suggestive article upon the commercial and financial revolution. It that while the exports of cotton were reduced to nothing we balanced our accounts with Europe by tho products of free labor thus overthrow ing all the calculations of the political economists of Europe and the South. The conclusion of the article puts our financial condition in a striking light : " Who does not remember the taunts which the London bankers give us every year about our credit, and the need of keeping it up I It is now of very little moment whether we hare any credit in Europe or not. We have achieved our financial independence. That is a ereat fact. It is equal U the cost of a whole war. We say then, as we begun, that the war of the rebellion is worth the cost in the commercial and intel- lectual light it lets in upon the public mind, not only of the United States, but of Europe. It is j a costly lesson, but rich and enduring will be its, fruits, ft has advanced the commercial mind a century, and it has shed liijht upon the minds of statesmen and nations." Crossiag the Cascade Mountains. Dalles Citv, July 18, 1802. Ma. Editor: Wo have niado the trip through from Eugene in nine days. We fouud the ro d over the mountain in on awful condition after we passed Laurel Hill. Beyond that point, how ever, there has recently been a good deal of im provement made. There is nn excellent ferry on Clackamas river four miles from Fosters; Mr. Waterburry, the proprietor, seems to have a thorough business tact, and is very obliging and pleasant. Wo olso found tho additional luxury of a toll bridge at Revenues, on Sandy. The people along thero are liberal with their mean in repairing tho road, so as to keep tho travel, which is now no small item. They have put in a free bridge about seven miles above Fosters, and nlso bridged Zigzag creek. Tho road is now very passable up to the Big Hill, but it will cost more, 1 apprehend, to make a good road across the swampy ground on the mountain than they can afford to expend. There is about ten miles of snow yet, and the mud at the second prairio is almost without bottom, yet, bad as it is, we met hundreds of men and animals, returning from the mines on this route. What a saving it would have been to them had they gone down on tho McKenzio route. The value of tho dead stock now lying along the road between Fosters and Barlow's Gate, 1 suppose would not have been less than un aggre gate of $30,000, which would have been saved to tho owners had the McKenzie road been open in tho spring, as this stock has mostly perished from starvation, whilo the McKenzio road affords abundance of feed. We paid eight cents per pound for oats to carry over tho mountain and feed our horses, by this means they all came through safo enough in three days, although much fatigued. We passed on tho road a great many cattle and sheep, and one pack train loaded with bacon, coins to tho mines. A tew miles below Laurel Hill wo passed a tram of wagons with ox and mule teams, making desperate efforts to cross tho mountain eastward. They had families and seemed to bo emigrating towards tho States. We think they will not be able to get through with wagons. News from' the mines is diverse,-but generally not very encouraging. Great numbers are con tinually passing down tho river without their " pile." In ono thing worth our notice the returning miners all concur, that thero is an immense body of beautiful and rich farming bind lying on the road to those' mines, and this fict alone is suffi cient to insure a handsome return for all labor that Lane county may expend in improving the McKenzio route, as that will be the direct pass way from Eugene to that country. Save your Feed. To the f irmers of L ino county we would say, in view of tho heavy im migration which is reported and which is doubt less on tho way to Oregon, you cannot be loo careful in saving your hay nnd straw. Put it up in such a manner ns to save it. We all know that stock after their long nnd wearisome journey from the Missouri river to Oregon, are in but poor plight to weather an Oregon winter on no better fare than is dealt out to the Lano county stock generally, nnd we would suggest that if our own stock can livo on nothing, it would be well to provide for the incoming stock which are unused to Oregon living. It is not now as in former years. Tho vast prairies and table lands which were among the best grazing grounds in tho world, are now enclosed, and there is but comparatively litllo outside grazing left. We hope tho farmers without one exception, will awake to the importance of saving all their straw. We are in receipt of the April No. of Black wood's Magazine and the British Reviews, re printed by Messrs. L. Scott & Co., N. Y. They are acknowledged the best in their line. As they commence a new vol. this month, this is a very favorable tune to commence new suo scriptions. A discount of twenty five per cent, from the usual prices advertised in this paper will bo allowed to clubs ordering four or more of any one of more of tho above works. They are doubly important at tho present time, as they contain able and candid arguments nnd criticisms on the important events of our civil war. Let no ono fail to read tho article on our first pago entitled, " Whito and Black," as it shows up in a ridiculous but true light, tho groundless fears, or rather tho frivolous excuses, of the en tire pro-slavery clement of the United States against emancipation, on the ground of amalga mation. Now it is not amalgamation they fear, but they see in emancipation the death blow to tho " institution " itself, and there's w here the shoe pinches. From Powder River. A gentleman living near this place, and with whom we are intimately acquainted, called on us a few days since while on his return from Powder River, lie gave a very flattering account of the extent and rich- ness of the mines, but is of the opinion that the' D00'1 ,,trf th?n' to cram in' !r ear nu . . . . c , 'scous trash which the stomach of vour sens mining operations will be principally confined i Tevojts naiunst. to the wet season, as the water is too scarce du ring the dry season to admit of profitable mining j on an extensive scale. He reports the mines as MJWt generally from 13 to f 30 per day to ', . , m.- u ii ! ,hc hm' Th'9 "Js t0 u more llke ; reality than tho IQQ ouitco diggings we frequent- see chronicled. LATEST. EASTERN NEWS. Memphis, July 14. General Curtis' entire command reached Helena, Arkansas, on tho 1 1th. Oa the 4th, while the Thirteenth Illinois as coming down Whito river they were fi ed on by guerrillas, seven miles below Grand Glaze. Our troops returned the fire, killing 19 of tho enemy ; tho rest fled. On tho 7th Gen. Curtis, advance, consisting of two regiments, was attacked by two regi ineuts of Texan cavalry and a largo force of in fan try. After a sharp engagement, the rebel cavalry broke a road through their infantry .i i . i . .! .. ...i.s.u . : i j throwing them into confusion, which terminated in their utter rout. Tho rebels wero pursued by our troops, who1 took a largo number of prisoners and afterward paroled them. 1 10 rebels wero buried on tho field. Our loss was 8 killed and 32 wounded. Tho rebels had no artillery, w hich accounts for their heavy loss, us compared to ours. Tho shell and canister from our howitzers did terri ble execution. It is reported that part of the forces of Col. Fitch had an engagement on the Gih, with n body of rebels numbering 450. The Federal force was 200. The rebels lost 84 killod, wour. ded and missing. The Federal loss was 20 killed and wounded. In an engagement, on the 7th, Col. Fitch took all the enemy's camp equipage and provisions. Both fights occurred within ten miles of Duval's Bluff, whero it is reported a largo number of rebels, under Gen. Iliudman, are stationed. Lexington, (Ky.), July 10. This city has been put under martial law. All ablo bodied men of Lexington and Fayette county are or dered to report themselves forthwith nt tho Court House Square. Morgan, with about a thousand men, crossed the Kentucky river at Shy rock's Ferry, yester day, enroute for Versailles. There are sufficient forces nt Frankfort and Lexington to protect both places. Washington, July 16. A special dispatch to the New York papers says : It is said that the Committee on Ways mid Means have agreed tu report to the House a bill making postage stamps legal currency. Tho border State representatives yesterday agreed upon a reply to the President upon tho emancipation plan. It is represented to be tern perato nnd respectful. They cannot, for reasons stated, indorse his policy. They will recommend their States to give the plan respectful cousidern tion, but in no way commit themselves to it support. Thoir reply is withheld until it is known what courso will be adopted by the Pn ideut on tho Confiscation Bill. The Confiscation bill has not yet been returned to Congress with tho President s approval. It is generally supposed that the postponement of litis adjournment was made in reference to that measure. Tho following Is tho text of the section in tho bill relating to negroes which passed the Senate yesterday : " lhe President is hereby authorized to rc ceive into the service of tho" United Slates, for the purpose of constructing indent hment ami performing camp service, rr tiny other military or naval service for which they may found com potent, persons of African descent. Such per sons shall be enrolled nnd organized under such regulations, not inconsistent with the Constim tion nnd laws, as the President may prescribe. When any man or boy of African descent who, by tho laws of any State, shall owe service or labor to any persons who during the present ru hellion have borne arms against the United .Slates or given to the enemy aid or comfort, shall per form service as provided for in this Act, hist family shall forever thereafter be five, n-iy law to the contrary notwithstanding. Persons of African descent under this law sha'l receive tuu dollars per month and one ration." Tho Senate yesterday passed a drafting bill", by which the President is authorized to cull out the entire militia of the country -ru period not exceeding nine months. The bill also provides for the use of slaves of rebels in the army, and) giving them freedom in consideration of luei services. Tho House has passed a bill nbolisfcir Con- grcssional mileage, and extending its provisions! to the present Coiigres. The House postponed till December the bill admitting Western Virginia. New York, July 16. The British steamer Ann has just arrived as a prize. She was dis covered under the guns of Fort Morgan, Mobile bay unloading cannon gunpowder. The Sus quehanna and the gunboat Kanawha sailed into the bay. lhe former engaged the fort, and the latter succeeded in cutting out the British vessel. Tho ciew of tho Ann deserted, after trying to. sink her. The cargo consisted of gunpowder,, arms, cartriges, etc. St. Lonis, July 17. Dispatches of tho 12th from Springfield Mo., give intelligence that a portion of the expedition which is moving into the Indian Territory, met a large body of rebela nnd Indian allies at Evnnsville, and routed then killing 140 Indians and 30 rebels and wounding many our loss win small. Major Miller, vith 600 troop attacked Rains, Coffey and others 1,000 strong, early on Tuesday morning, surprising and routing them, he took, all their munitions, arms and camp equipage. 30 rebels were left dead on the field. Our loss was 3 killed and 7 wounded. Washington, July 17. A bill passed both Houses yesterday romoving the President's ob jection to tho Confiscation bill. The Act is so- amended as to uot work the forfeiture of the reat estate of the offender beyond his natural! life. Frown uponf tfw scandal monger; listen noB to the tattler t-tyde rebuke the defumer of character k so decisive a manner that they will never approach yon sjain with their poisonous tongues waggiiiL- with the venom of slander. Tub moon, like certain politicians, chances.- every thirty days, when she looks at things in encrl ilh I"'10 new " fact were' wanting-to determino the sex- of the moon.it would oe fiund in her obstinacyabout her ,2e. Like most ladies she is never moro than a day older than thirty.