The Oregon statesman., April 06, 1858, Page 2, Image 2

power.and accepted by them from necessity,
Most of their lands had already been taken
way from them under the donation act,
and under the treaties they gate up, for
certain considerations, what remained. Hut
. the agreement thns dictated to them was
. new ratified, and they never received the
promised considerations under that tnstrn
ment.' Between private individuals this
would be regarded as obtaining property
under raise pretences.
In the meantime the commissioners were
; preparing to go sonth and treat with the
. Hogue river and Shasta tribes; whose dis
affection was becoming formidable, when an
order came from the ludian department sus
pending their functions. The offices of gov
' ernor and superintendent were disconnected
and anew superintendent Dr. Dart was
.appointed.- This officer, acting in conjunc-
tiOD with Mr. Skiuner, Indian ageut, made
treaties with the Clatsops and other coast
triUes, near the month of the Columbia, a
peaceful and degraded race, of no impor
tance, and with whom there was no press
iag demand for treaties. Mr. Skinner was
then ordered sonth to prepare the way for
. negotiations with the southern tribes. lie
held councils with the most powerful and
Warlike tribes; nrged them to be patient
awhile; that government would soon make
treaties with tbem, and pay them for their
lands. But neither the promised treaties
nor the promised payments were made till
they forced government to pay some respect
to their demands by an attempt to external
nate the white settlers who were crowding
in upon them, and whose encroachments had
been the subject of protest and complaint
amongst them since the first claims nnder
the donation act. The Rogue River war of
leo3 will not soon be forgotten. These
tribes were in constant intercourse with
those of the Willamette valley. They saw
that there was but one way of securing
tneir rights oy lorce or arms. .Nor. were
they by any means conquered when they
agreed to the treaty of September 10. 1853
llad they chosen to hold out, and take to
.the mountain fastnesses of their country, it
might nave taken ten years to subdue them.
It was not only through the determination
and gallantry of Gen. Lane, who led the
volunteer forces in tins war, by -his tbor
ough knowledge of Indian character, his
skill m that sort ol diplomacy, bis general
sagacity and prudence, that it was brought
to a close. Ihe most enlightened and in flu
ential of the chiefs knew him personally,
and respected him both in war and peace.
But they cither misunderstood the terms of
the treaty, or the mducements held out to
them to stop the war were such as it was
not afterwards practicable to fulfil. Their
views upon this poiut are fully sst forth in
ray report of November- 17th ultimo, iu
which the result of a "talk" with them at
the "Siletz reservation" is given in detail
In order to preserve as far as practicable
tne connection between the causes of war ia
dinerent parts of the .territory, I must
again, return to the treaties of Chainpoeg.
As already stated, they were never ratitieJ.
It was well known to the public authorities
in Washington that the donation act had
gone into operation, and that the non-ratili
cation of the treaties left the Indian title
unextinguished. The causes of the llogue
River war of 1853 were folly detailed in the
various reports of the officers of the Terri
tory. It cannot, therefore, be said, with
justice, that it was the fault of the settlers
that nothing was done to arrest the impend
ing war. butucient warning had been given.
The newspapers, from day to day, were filled
with accouuts of murders by the Indians;
sometimes pack-trains attacked; the camps
oi miners robbed; dead bodies of white men
found on the mountain trails, &c.
At the time the treaties of Champoeg
were negotiated l, April, isol.) the valley ol
the Willamette was the mailt resort of the
Klickitat?, a powerful and warlike tribe from
the country west of the Simcoe, in the Cas
cade mountains. This tribe has well been
compared to the Arab merchants of the
east. Bold, adventurous and cunning, they
had gradually acquired an influence over
nearly all the Indians of Oregon as far
south as Rogue river.
At an early date (probably between 1S35
and 1840) they descended from the Simcoe
to the banks of the Columbia river, on the
northern Eide, where they commenced a war
against the Cowlitz, Cbeuook, and other in
ferior tribes, whom they soon conquered and
reduced to such terras of tribute as they
chose to dictate. In 1841 they began to
turn tbcir attention to the sonth side of the
Columbia.
Rich valleys and fine hunting grounds ex
isted there, of which they had heard tradi
tionary report. At this time the Clackamas.
Molallas, Yamhills, Santiams, and the other
tribes of the Willamette valley had become
greatly reduced by diseases introduced among
mem by the whites, famall-pox, measles,
and venereal had swept them off by thou
sands. They were wholly unprepared to re
sist the encroachments of their warlike and
formidable neighbors. From time to time,
as opportunity occurred, the Klickitats
crossed over, made inroads npon them, and
finally entirely subdued ail the tribes of the
Willamette, whom they caused to pay tri
bute. Assuming a possessory right over
the whole valley, they established camps on
the various rivers, and in the course of a few
years, by gradual advances, pushed their
way over the Calapooia mountaius into the
yalley of the Uuipqna3.
In former times the Umpquas were a pow
erful tribe, owning all the country between
the Calapooia mountains uorlb, the Canyon
mountains south, the Cascades east, and the
Pacific west. The Sbastas and Rogue Riv
ers had Ireqaeot wars with them, but finally
through mutual interest, effected a coalition.
From this time the Umpquas began to lose
much of their original independence, and at
the period of the invasions of the Klickitats
bad greatly degenerated.
The Klickitats, fresh from the scenes of
the recent victories, skilled iu the arts of
war, and still determined upon subduing all
the races of the south, found no difficulty in
reducing the Umpquas to such terms of sub
mission as they thought proper to dictate.
One great source of their success was their
skill ia the use of fire-arms, of which they
had procured an abundant supply from the
trading posts of the Hudson's Bay Company.
They opened an extensive trade with the
southern tribes in furs and peltries, and
crossed the mountains at various intervals
daring the year. The valley of the Willa
mette was their public highway to the north,
and their depot during the greater part ol
the year, where they left their property and
families. After the emigration, under John
Applegate, in 1843, they found it profitable
oaring particular seasons, to work, as farm
laborers, and soon became well skilled in the
arts of husbandry. Their services were re
garded as more valuable than those of any
other class of Indians. Desirous, however,
of pushing their conquest still further south
than they bad yet penetrated, so as to ob
taiu the same supremacy over the Shasta
and Rogue River'tribes which they bad al
ready obtained over the Umpquas, they
proffered their aid to the whites on the oc
casion of every outbreak or manifestation
f war
In 1851, when Lieut. Stewart was killed
on Rogue River, near the month of Stew
art's creek, they armed themselves ready to
nnite in any expedition against the hostile
tribes. In 1853 General Lane considered
it expedient to avail himself of their repeat
ed offers, and a party of sixty Klickitat
warriors, well mounted and armed, proceed:
ed to join him at the scene of war. lhey
had reached as far south as the Grave creek
hills, where they were met by Mr. G rover,
one or the commissioners who had uegotia
ted the treaty of September 10, 1853, just
concluded at Table Rock. As there was
then no necessity for their services, they
were directed to return. At their request,
however, Mr. G rover gave them a written
certificate that pence had been declared, and
that they bad complied with their promise
in order, as they suid, that the whites should
not doubt their friendship.
It will be observed that the commissioners
of 1851, in their councils at Shuinpocg, had
wholly ignored the claims of the Klickitats
to the right of possession over the Wil
lamette valley. They were notified that it
was not their country; that they had no
voice in the relinquishment of tho Indian
title to the lands. That such a right had
been asserted, and to some extent main
tained by them, can doubtless be seen by
reference to the records of the courts.
At a term of the United States district
court, held iu Washington county in 1851,
complaint was made before the grand jury
by one uonaid nicLcod that a band of Klitk
i tats had committed a trespass npon his
property by destroying timber which he had
prepared for his house.
Ihe accused were brought before the
court, with Ageut Parrish as their inter
preter ; bat after an informal hearing of the
case, i lie judge could not hid any law
meet it. They maintained their risrht
destroy their own timber; that it grew on
their own la td ; that they had acquired the
laud by conquest; that they hail given Mc
Leod warning not to settle there; that it
had never been purchased from them, &e.
The judge held there could be no action
lor trespass ngamst them ; that it was not
shown that McLcod hud acquired any legal
title to the land, but it was shown that the
accused hud a possessory claim to it which
government had never extinguished.
Another case was brought before the same
court. One Bridjcfanner built a fence
across a certain trail which had been opened
by tliejn, and which was their public high
way. They broke down the fence, and
passed as usual. Au attempt was made to
bring an action of trespass ugainst them.'
The judge delivered an opinion to the same
euect.
t rem mis ami many f miliar cases winch
might be cited, it Will be seen that there
was at least some recognition of the rights
assumed bv these Indians. They had be
come familiar with the ieoile of the vallev,
and were esteemed as a superior tribe; nor
were their repeated proffers or friendship
without effect. It is true they had in view
the subversion of .the southern tribes and
sought ower; but whatever tuny have been
their motives.they were entitled to some con
sideration. Incensed at the action of the
commissioners in 1851,it was with difficulty
they could be pacified; but they soon found
consolation in the general disapproval of the
treaties by the settlers, who were of opinion
they would not be ratified.
Ivirly in the Fpring of 1855 the Euperin
tendent of Indian affairs thought it expedi
eut to remove them from the Willamette
valley to their original country north of the
Columbia. Under the provocations which
they had already received, it may readily be
supposed, they left with no good will to
ward the whites. From the moment of
their departure they were in a state of war,
Driven from a country to which they - had
established a rivcht, under Indinn usages,
back to their homes in the Simcoe moun
tains, they openly declared their determina
tion to fight. They charged fraud and bad
faith on the part of government and its
agents, accused all the whites of cheating
them, and protested that they would have
satisfaction.
Having now followed up the provocations
of war from the southern line of Oregon to
the north side of the Columbia, I propose
taking a glance at the condition of affairs
in Washington .territory, llie most for
midable of the tribes in this Territory were
the Yakima, inhabiting the country on the
easttru loe of the Cascades. This tribe
has long been connected, by strong ties of
blood and interest, with the Klickitats.
They frequently crossed the mountains and
descended to the Sound, but their principal
held of adventure was eastward, They
traded with the tribes of the cast, from
whom they purchased furs and peltries, and
held a profitable connection with the poses
of the Hudson's Bay Company. In their
intercourse with the King Ueonrc" men.
as the English are called,- they had bieti
taught to believe that the Columbia river
was the boundary between the American
and British possessions. Until within a few
years past they had seen but few Americans
and those of the worst class. Thev looked
nio:i them as an inferior race of whites.
They had never felt the power of the Amer
ican government. Ihe traditions which
had reached them across the Rocky moun
tains were vague and unfavorable. Of the
Indian battles there, they only heard of In
dian prowess and the slaughter of Ameri
cans, looming irom triuc to tribe, in every
form of exaggeration, the talcs that were
told theni were of a rapacity and injustice
on the one hand, and deeds of valor on the
other. But they were aware that still fur
ther east, where these bad people lived, they
had taken away the lands of the Indians,
and were gradually trying to get the country
west o: the lioety mouutaius.
The question of boundary had been agita
ted in Congress and througout the Union.
War between the United States and Great
Britain was the coustaut topic. The feeling
of animosity was particularly appareut
among the agents ot the lludsou s Jiay Com
pany. Their coutiuuance iu employment de
pended upou the defeat of the assumptions
of the Uuited States. They not ouly de
manded the claim of 54 40', but contended
for the line of the Columbia, and would
probably have iucluded Oregon proper, had
it bocu in their power. Remote as were the
few emigrants in this region from their moth
er land, they yet warmly espoused the cause
of the Uuited Slates. They had lost none
of their nationality. The inhospitable wild
erness that lay between them and their for
mer hopes served but to strengthen their at
tachment to the institutions uudcr which
they had grown op. As yet few Americans
had settled north of the Columbia.
The Yakimas, in common with other tribes
who derived a profitable trade from their
connection with the Hudson's Bay Compa
ny, naturally espoused the cause of "King
George." Many of their women were mar
ried to the company's employees, who in
that way cemented the ties of friendship
The company bad always encouraged con
nections of this kind, and it was rare to fiud
any officer or employee without a family of
half-breeds, either Yakimas, Klickitats, 2is-
quallys, or some other tribe. It required
uo great enort, tuereiore, on the part of the
company's agents, to spread the feeling of
dislike, and to misrepresent the intentions
and character of the American people. The
Indians, predisposed to hostility, implicitly
relied upon all they heard. Kam-i-a-kin,
the chief of the lokimas, was bitter in his
animosity. As early as 1853 he projected
a war of extermination against the whole
race of Americans within the country. It
was bis settled determination to make the
war general, and he spared no inducements
to effect a coalition with the Nez Perces
Cayuses, Walla-Wallas, and other tribes.
For your ii.formntion on this point, show
ing that war actually was premeditated in
1853, I send yon enclosed a translation of
the letter of father Tandory, priest at the
Atahnnm Mission, dated "April, 18o3. to
Father Mesplie, at the Dalles, in which he
says: "A chief of the upper jei Perces has
killed thirty head of cattle at a feast given
to the nation; and this number of animals
not being sufficient, seven more were killed
The feast was given in order to unite the hearts
nf the Indians to make declaration of war
against the Americans. Through the whole
course or the winter I have heard the same
thing that the Cayuses and jN'ez Perces
have" united themselves for war. Dtirin
the course of last spring I was in tho Cay
use, country after they had given a similar
feast. I said nothing, because I thought
they had a sub-agent who would speak.
I wilt recount to yon what they say. All the
the Indians upon the left (north) bank of
tho Columbia, from the Blackfeet to the
Chcnook, inclusive, are to assemble at the
Layuse country. All on the riirht bank
through the same extent of country, are to
assemble on tne Mtneoe, (on the Yakima,
including those from N'isouallv and the vi
cinitv. The cause of this trar is, thnt the
Americans are going to seize their lands."
This grave and startling information, so
tearfully verified since, was promptly com
municated to Major Alvord, who reported
n loucuerai iiitciiroeK, the then command
ing officer of the military department .on
this coast. Major Alvord was censured as
an alarmist, and rut her Pandory was treat
ed in the same manner bv his superior.
It will be observed that the date of the
letter is April, 1853. If the war. therefore,
was one of speculation, gotten up by the
settlers of Oregon, the scheme should have
been frustrated then. Information that a
war was actually going to take place that
the Indians had avowed it in council was
in possession of the commanding ' officer of
the military department. Why did he not
expose the speculation? Why did not the
departments iu Washington issue orders to
the governors of the Territories, apprising
mem ol tneir knowledge or this scheme
and cause it to be then arrested? Simnlv
as I conceive, because uo such scheme was
contemplated, either then or since. Th
settlers only asked protection for their lives
and property; and nfter both have been
frevly sacrificed, the charge is, for the first
tune, against them.
But to return a moment to the combina
tiou. As no change took place in the Hud
son s iJay Company s posts after the treaty
of 184 1), and their sessions and appear
ance ot power remained the same as before,
the ludians, up to a very recent date, re
garded the lemtory ot U ashmgton as un
der the influence of '"King tieorjre.''
The Nisqnallis and other tribes of Puget's
Sonnd, whose chicr intercourse had always
been with "King George" men, naturally
shared their animosity nainst the Ameri
cans. V lieu tjoveruor Stevens trealvd with
them, he found them in a very disaffected
condition. It was with difficulty that chiefs
could be gotten together. Something had
to be done with them, and, under the cir
cumstauces of difficulty attending the mak
ing these treaties, I am satisfied no public
HWr could havo done better. - The treaties
were not the cause of the war. I have al
ready shown that the war had been deter
mined upou long before. If Gov. Stevens
is to blame because he dul net so frame the
treaties as to step the war, or stop it by not
making treaties at all, then that charge
should be sR'cificaIly brought against him.
My own opinion is, that he had no more
control over the course of events than the
ecrctary of War in Washington.
. Lesthi, the celebrated Xisqually chief,
wus most determined in Ins hostility. Hold,
adveuturous, and eloquent, he possessed an
unlimited sway over his people, and, bv the
earnestness or his purpose nud the persuas
iveness or his arguments, carried all with
him who heard him speak. He traveled by
day and night, caring neither for hunger or
fatigue; visited the camps of the Yakimas
and Klickitats; addressed the councils iu
terms of eloquence such as they had seldom
heard. He crossed the Columbia, penetrat
ed to southern Oregon, appealed to all the
disaffected there. He dwelt upon their
wrongs; painted to them, iu the exuberance
of his imagination, the terrible picture of
tne pouikf vieAa," the land of darkness,
where no ray from the sun ever penetrated;
wnere mere was torture and death Tor all
the races of Indians; where the sting of an
insect killed like the stroke of a spear, and
the streams were foul and muddy, so that
no living thing could drink of the waters.
lliis was the place where the white men
wanted to carry them to. He called upon
them to resist like braves so terrible a fate.
The white men were but a handful now.
lhey could all be killed at oiiee. and then
others would fear to come. But if there
was no war, they would grow strong and
many, and soon put all the Iudiniis in their
big ships and send them off to that terrible
laud, where torture and death awaited them.
It may readily bo supposed that a rude
and ignorant people, naturally prone to
superstition, were not slow in giving cre
dence to these fearful stories. Each tribe
has its grievances from the north to the
south. Common interest bound them in
their compact agniust a common enemy.
The Mormons, at this time, had also sent
their emissaries among them to spread the
disaffection. In the Simcoe, at a council of
the tribes in lb54, a chief from the Mormon
country urged them to war. The talk of
this chief, as detailed by a friendly Indian
who was in the council, was to this effect:
That far in the desert there lived the great
est people r,.t earth, who controlled the sun.
He had been among them and talked with
them, and they had sent him l.cre to say
what they were. They could strike dead
anybody at any distance; they could make
the sun stand still; they could make powder
and muskets, and they were the frieuds of
the Indians, ihe Americans were the ene
mies of the Indians. They wanted the In
dians to kill them all. They would send
them powder aud Muskets, &c.
That the Mormons did furnish several of
the tribes with ammunition is proved by the
narrative of Captain Shaw, of the Walla
Walla volunteers. At the last battle fought
up there, he found powder, muskets, balls,
&c, among the Indians bearing the Mor
mon brand.
George B. Simpson, late interpreter and
local agent for the Salt Lake mails, states,
from his own knowledge, that the Mormons
sent out emissaries among all the tribes of
Indians prior to the war, urging them to
unite iu exterminating the Americans.
Bnt the plan of 'operations had not been
snfficiently matured. Some of the tribes
were too impatient to wait till the proper
time bad arrived. In the summer or lead,
after the discovery of the Colville mines,
a general rush took place there. The first
man murdered was Mattice, a miner, who
was on bis way there with a- considerable
amount of money and provisions. He was
killed soon after descending the Snoqualimie
pass by a party of Indians supposed to be
lukimns. Is ear the same time, tantjoy,
another uiiuer, was killed. The.ie were both
respectable men from the State of Maine.
They were proprietors of a coal mine on the
Dauamish. The murders on the White river
occurred some two months after. Agent
Bolen, hearing of the Yakima murders,
crossed over from the Dalles to see the chief
Kamiukin. Ouahl.atiother prominent chief,
was present in camp. Bolen spent the night
there, no doubt remonstrating with them
for their acts. Next day, as ho was riding
back, he was overtaken by two or three In
dians, who rode along with him in au no
parently friendly manner. One lagged be
hind, and, while the others engaged his at
tention, shot him iu the back. lie was
then dragged from his horse, scalped and
partly burut. One of the murderers Is said
to be a son of the chief Ouahi.
On the 8th or 9th of October the Indians
of southern Oregon began the work of ex
termination. They slaughtered, indiserimiii
ately. men, women, aud children. At or
about the same date the war had opened in
Washington Territory. The movement was
simultaneous, and could only have been the
resnlt of concert; bnt the Indians them
selves have freely admitted that their plan
embraced all parts of the country from
north to south. '
I will Dot undertake to follow up the his
tory of the war to a later period. Its pe
culiar features have been represented ofli
cially on both sides, and it progress and ter
mination are matters or public record.
Upon a careful perusal of all the dis
patches, I find nothing to sustain the charge
of speculation. .Xo persoa can visit the
Territories of Oregon and Y ashingtoti, con
verse with the people, see them on their
farms aud at their daily labors, and consider
their true interests, without coming to the
the conclusion JLhnt such a charge is absurd
and monstrous. What could they hope to
gain? Few of them bad anything to spare
upon which to base a speculation. A tar
mcr is well off who has his fields fenced in,
a few head of oxen, and three or four cows.
If he got treble price for his stork, the sale,
on unlimited credit, would have been a sac
riGce to him. His farm must go to ruin.
Ihe interests of the settlers of nearly every
pursuit are nearly identical. Their future
prospects depend chiefly upon the prosjerity
of the country the increase of emigration,
enhancement in the value of property, secu
rity of life, opening of new facilities for the
transportation or their products. All this
was diametrically opposed to a war. Xo
compensation that government could make
would atone for the murder of families, the
stoppage of labor everywhere, the loss of
time, the suspension of emigration, and the
numerous evils resulting from this disastrous
conflict.
The commissioners at Vancouver have
faithfully and impartially performed their
duty. Whatever snm they may have deci
ded npon iu estimating this war debt, I hold
that amount to be justly due, aud trust that
Congress will at once provide for its ex
tinguishment.
Very respectfully, your obedient rvant,
J. ROSS BROWNE,
Special Agent nf the Treasury Department,
Deer Creek, March ?4, 1858.
Dear Bi'sn 1 am happy to congratulate
you and your democratic frieuds upon the
nominations made at Salem on the lGth insi.
Everywhere they meet with approval and
assurance of a triumph of the old fashioned
sort on the first Monday in June. Gen.
Drews withdrawal surprised and somewhat
chagrined many of his more ardent frieuds
who had anticipated making him some re
turn for his faithful and arduous labors of
the last two years. His reward it seems is
not yet, bnt not the less certain from a little
delay. Ao man iu the Territory deserves or
can number more and faster friends than lie.
The little cauldron of the nationals aud
"incendiaries' is seething and bubbling fu
riously from the strange mingling of incon
gruous political elements.
'Blurk spirit and white, ml spirit!) anil gray,
Mingle, mingle, mingle, you that mingle may"."'
"Rigadoou" leads the dance in this coun
ty, nud ninny a fantastic figure we expect he
will cut for the innocent amusement of the
unterrified, until the first Monday in June,
wheu the people will dismiss these political
harlequins to the merry step of the Rogues'
march. Some of the small beer politicians
have caught the trick of the Corvallis mis
sionary, and we are assured daily that the
rant and nie are gone or going over to the
"capitol burners" "we are in the midst of
evolution" say they but it is the undis
turbed revolutiou of the people in the old
democratic orbit, Which iu its annual return
brings a good rouud democratic majority.
free from nil isms or taint of sectional in
fluence. Not the least remarkable feature
of this new movement is tho bald-faced im
pudence with which they announce them
selves the special guardians of Gen. Lane's
political interests! lorsooth give them
the power the devil may turn preacher, but
they will never elect him to the Senate. J.
C. Avery and the successor of Lctand the
particular friends of Geu. Lane! that is
cool.
The great National mass meeting of Jack
son county was held at Jacksonville on Sat
urday last. Ihe "missionary" had proclaim
ed it with a flourish of trumpets, and the
ppie were to be lucre m their strength, to
the terror and cousternation of the Salem
federals. The day aud the hour came, when
lo and behold! the Missionary, Dave Bran
nan and one L. S. Thompson comprised the
multitude which no man was to number.
lo you not think the democracy of Jackson
ought to feel honored by being represented
by such a trio. It will be singular if they
do not appreciate so much kindness.
lours, Q. v.
Portund, March 2tth, 1858.
Dear Sir You announce iu the States
man that I will accompany the candidates
on the Democratic ticket through the North
ern counties. Will you allow me to say
mat i suuii enuearor to visit and speak iu
the different counties of the Territory, hav
ing been invited so to do by the rliairnmn
of the Central Committee, before the elec
tion, bnt on account of the arrangement of
the Courts in this District which I must at-
tend, I shall not bo able, as I wish, to go
with the candidates.
Yours, &c, GEO. II. WILLIAMS.
Pleasant IIujl, O. T., March 25, '58.
Dear Sir Tho "nationals" have not
been able to raise a single primary meeting
in this County. A. A. Smith is a candidate
for Governor on their ticket. They can't
muster a corporal's guard in this county.
M6T Most of tbe delegates to the republican State
convention were in earnest in organising their party.
If an attempt was to be made bv the leaders tn tva no
te them to the softs Wio republican voters in this por
tion of the State would not be sold, or vote for a soft.
I OREGON STATESMAN.
TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1858.
Elettlon, Monday, Jane 17th, 1858.
DEMOCRATIC NOMINATIONS.
State Ticket.
POK BKTKKSKNTATIVB TO COKCRKSfl,
L. F. GROVE It, of Marion.
FOR GOVERNOR,
JOHN WH1TEAKER, of Lane.
FOR SKCRRTARV OP STATE,
LUCIEN HEATH, of Polk.
FOR STAVK TKKASl'KKR,
JOHN D. BOON, of Marion.
POR STATE PRINTER,
ASATIEL BUSH, of Marion.
POR J IT STICKS OP TIIR SUPREME COl'RT,
M. P. DEADY, 1st District,
R. E. STRATTON, 2d District,
It. P. IIOISE, 8d District,
A. E. WAIT, 4th District.
Marlon County.
FOR 8KSATOKS,
JOHN W. GRIM, E. F. COLBY.
POR REPRESENTATIVES,
B. F. HARDING, B. F. BONHAM,
J. II. STEVENS, J. H. LASATER.
FOR COl-NTT Jl-IXIE,
MILTON SHANNON.
Polk County.
FOR SENATOR,
FREDERICK WAYMIRE.
POR REPRESENTATIVES,
B. F. BURCH, J. K. WAIT.
FOR COl-NTT Jl-DCE,
BENJAMIN HAYDEN.
TERRITOMA L TICKE T.
Marion County.
FOR REI-R15KSTATIVK!,
B. F. BONHAM, J. II. LASATER,
JOHN II. STEVENS.
Polk County.
POK REPRESENTATIVES,
ISAAC SMITH, II. N. V. HOLMES.
IV hot we hare at Slake.
Last week we referred to some of the Na
tional and local considerations which should
influence the electors of Oregon in the com
ing political contest. There is one other
home consideration to which we wish to call
attention.
Oregon now has claims against the Unit
ed States of about seven millions of dollars,
on account of Indian wars, and spoliations
growiug out of them.
The uatiou has a Democratic President
whose term continues for three years from
this time; all the departments are democrat
ic; the present Congress is Democratic iu
both branches. The probabilities are that
succeeding elections will but continue and
confirm democratic ascendency in the nation.
Through what kind cf agents is Oregon
going to ask of these Democratic powers
the payment of these seven millions? Is
she going to urge her claims throngh a dem
ocratic representative and democratic sena
tors iu Congresf, who will End "the powers
that be" members of the same great party
with themselves political friends and asso
ciates? Or is she going to send up to the
councils of the nation Setcard Africans, or
Cameron snfls, to meet there President, De
partments and Congress, who will have no
affiliation with theui, . aud between whom
there is a political high wall and deep ditch,
never to be r moved?
Which class of these agents will Oregou
send? Which would be likely to meet with
success, and bring to her this seven millions
of dues? Which class would the voters of
Oregon, acting as individuals, in their own
private business, choose? Would they send
friends aud associates to persuade friends
and associate., or would they send opponents
and enemies? Let every claimant in Oregon
answer this question dispassionately, and if
he holds these interests to be of paramount
importance, tote the democratic ticket.
No Go. We have not heard of the first
"national" in Marion County, ond do not
believe there is one iu it We heard of a
citizen of California, a speculator, who re
turned home on tbe last steamer, offering to
pay the expenses of any one who would go
to Eugene from this county, bnt we have
heard of no one's accepting.
In Linn County, likewise, not a "nation
al" has beeu beard of. No delegates have
been sent to Eugene from these counties,
and we have heard of none being sent from
Umpqua, Jackson, Tillamook, Josephine,
Coos, Curry and Wasco, and we think there
will be none present from any of those coun
ties, unless they are manufactured on the
spot, as was the case in Polk Co. There,
after a month's most industrious drumming.
after a pilgrimage of Col. Kelly, after the
circulation of haudbills from the soft office
at Portland, bnt three precincts out of about
ten, we believe, were represented, and not a
respectable meeting was obtained in one ol
those three. In Jacksonville, the "mission
ary" from the Willamette, Mauchanscned
and gtsseJ, advertised and posted the
mass convention, and collected two besides
himself, neither of which two we are told
ever pretended to be democrats.
Th natioauW experiment lias already
proved -a most mortifying fizzle, and the Eu
gene Convention will prove a complete farce.
The sturdy democracy have met these "na
tionals" before under the various names of
no party," "peoples' party," "whig," (and
bastard whigs they were) "knowuothings"
and "Lawionites," but they have reserved
for them the most thorough of drubbings
under this last name of "nationals." Col.
Kelly, aud the leaders, are most heartily
sick of it, and if they had not got their
"toot in," they wouldn't put it in.
Commencing Young Loan Bill of Min
nesota. Ihe Minnesota Legislature has
passed a bill authorizing the Governor to
contract a loan of $350,000, at eight per
cent per annum, to enable the Territory to
satisfy the claims of its creditors. iV. Y.
News.
Minnesota has been governed by a sort of
fusion, soft party, and above we see the re
sult three hundred and fifty thousand dollars
in debt I How does she compare with dem
ocratic governed Oregon? If you want debt
and taxation, vote for soft-fusion-"nation-als"
'
Acceptance ot Judge WBUteaker.
Albany, Linn Co. O T., )
March 20tb, 1858. J
To Hon. Jobs' Whiteaker
Xrar Sir I am charged with the
pleasing duty as chairman of the commit
tee appointed for that purpose of notifying
you of your unanimous nomination, by the
Democratic State Convention, recently con
vened at Salem, for tbe office of first Gov
erner of the State of Oregon, and to re
spectfully solicit your acceptance of the
same. .
The above announcement, is, perhaps, a
sufficient compliance with the duty assigned
tbe committee by the action of the conven
tion. But, honored sir, you will allow us
to express the confident opinion that not
withstanding your nomination is well known
to have beeu nsolicited aud unexpected, and,
perhaps, andesired also, by you yon will
not hesitate to accept it.
The unanimous vote of the convention
so cordially and so enthusiastically given
very clearly indicated the conviction of its
members that your nomination was demand
ed by the paramount interests of tbe coun
try and of the Democratic party.
From your well known political antece
dents, we are not permitted to doubt your
prompt and hearty endorsement of the prin
ciples enunciated in the resolntions adopted
by the convention as the Platform of the
Democratic party of Oregon iu the ensuing
canvass.
Iu conclusion, we beg to congratulate yon
as we do most cordially and uufeiguedly
upon the evidence which yonr nomination
affords of tbe public confidence, aud to ex
press to yon our unwavering conviction of
your triumphant election. To doubt it
would be to donbt the wisdom and patriot
ism of the people.
An early response is much desired. With
high considerations of regard, and much
personal esteem, we beg to subscribe our
selves very respectfully, and truly, your obe
dient servants.
DELAZON SMITH, CA'n. Com.
Spescer Creek, Lane Co., O. T., )
March 26th, 1858. j
To Hon. Delazon Smith, Ch'n nf Com., tft.
Dear Sir Yocr communication of March
20t!i, 1858, informing me of my "unanimous
iiouiinatio.i by the Democratic State Con
vention, recently convened at Salem, for the
office of first Governor of the State of Ore
gon," was received to-day.
Permit me, sir, to assure yon thai you
are right when you say my nomination was
"inso'.icited aud unexpected, and, perhaps,
undesired also," by myself.
As a member of the great Democratic
party of Oregon, 1 am happy to be able to
say that I do most heartily endorse the
"principles enunciated in the resolutions
adopted by the Convention as the platform
of the Democratic party of Oregon in the
ensuing canvass."
Your esteem and personal regard, coming
as it does from st high a source, may well
be cherished by au humble citizen as myself.
I feel the honor, and hope I may merit a
continuance of your confidence.
Although my nomination is repuguaut to
my personal feelings, and certainly can add
nothing to my pecuniary interests, yet, as a
Democrat, I am in the bauds of my party
i accept me place assigned me.
Permit me, sir, through you. as chairman
of the committee to inform the candidates
of their Humiliation, to return my thanks to
the members ot the convention for their con
sideration and confidence. Believg me,
sir, i remain,
Your obedient servant,
JOHN WHITEAKER.
Trill g Tales out ot School.
A correspondent of the California Chris
tian Advocate, writing from Oregon, says:
Several of the Representatives of the
Legislative Assembly of Oregon have sign
ed a call for a convention, to be held in Eu
gene City of those iu favor of a "National
democratic organization" in opposition to
tne regular Democracy. I his call is bt-iug
respouded to with very general interest, and
the probability is, that it will receive exten
sive cooperation. The prevailing party
(regular Democratic) is pro slavery, aud the
new organization embraces iu it a number of
free-soilers, and sympathisers with Dourla:
The Republicans have called a convention to
nominate candidates "if it shall be thought
proper." It is probable they will fuse with
the "softs" or national democrats. By the
time oar election comes off (June) we shall
see exciting times. The hards are opposed
to Maine Lawism aud to freedom. The
"softs" profess approval of both.
From the toue of the above, it is certain
that it was written by a "republican," or
a "national." Here we have an honest
statement from behind the curtain. This
disciple has been made to believe that there
is to be a fusion of the blacks and "nation
als" "by the time our election comes off in
June, and that the said "softs" or nationals
"profess approval of Maine Lawism and
freedom-shrieking. We suppose Tom Scott,
Shuck, and the ostensible of Avery's Cor
vallis organ, represent the "Maine lawism."
Wiiere is the Trouble? Our subscri
bers in Polk County complain of the irreg
ular receipt of the Statesman, and that week
before last it failed entirely. The difficulty
must be at the Lafayette office. What is
wrong there?
Wo have made arrangements to send our
packages to Dallas and Eola by private ex
press nntil the election. We will also send
to Dallas the Bridgeport and Luckiamute
bundles, that they may be forwarded by
mail from that poiBt. They will go to Dal
las on Mondays.
I. S. Since the mair.of this week went np, we learn
that the Tolk Co. packages of week before last were
not received by that, the second mail. That number
of the Statesman contained the proceedings of the
Democratic State Convention, and the notice of the
speaking in Polk. As it is missing after two mails have
gone, we suspect foul play The carrier on this route
says he delivered the packages at Lafayette. Why didn't
they get beyond there? Will the .Postmaster at that
place see who distributed the mail from Salem of that
Week
Show Your Faith.
We are authorized to bet the following
sums upon tbe following candidates: five
hundred dollars that the nominee of the
democratic convention held at Salem, for
Congress, will be elected; five hundred dol
lars, each, that the four State candidates
there nominated Governor, Secretary
Treasurer and Printer will be elected.
Making tweuty-five hundred dollars that the
democratic ticket will be successful. The
bets to be taken together, and the money
staked. Kotes will not be takeu.
Specimeusof the "deep tiller plough,"
advertised iu Statesman, can be seen at
Moores.
Repablleaa State Convention.
This body met at Salem, on the 2d inst., and
elected T. S. Kendall, of Linn, President, and J.
- McBride, of Yamhill, secretary. The counties
of Clatsop, Tillamook, Clackamas, Yamhill, Ma
rion, Polk, Linn, Lane, Jackson and Umpqua
were represented by delegates. Committees on
credentials, order of business, and resolutions -were
appointed. Adjourned.
Afterxoos. The committee on resolutions,
reported the following?
I. Resolved, That the Republican party, true
to the principles that form the basis of our free
and democratic system of government, reaffirms
to them its unalterable devotion as laid down in
the blood-bought charter of American liberty, the
Declaration of Independence, and developed in
the Constitution of the United Rtates ; and that
the prosperity and perpetuity of onr Union de
pends npon a strict adherence to the doctrines
taught, and rights guarantied ia these honored
repositories of Republican faith.
Resolved, That in relation to the institution
of domestic slavery, we remain where the patriots
who formed our institutions planted themselves,
and where tbe leading statesmen of all parties,
ontil within a recent period, have harmoniously
stood that it is a purely local not general
State, and not National institution determinable
by the States, each for itself: over which the oth
er States have no control, and for which, no re
sponsibiiity.
3. Resolved, That with Washington, Jefferson,'
Madison, Franklin, and their compeers and co
temporaries, who, in the framing of the Constitu
tion, made effectual provision fur the annihilation
of the traffic in slaves, and, who were especially
anxious that that instrument should contain no
admission of the right of one man to hold proper
ty in another, we believe slavery to be a politieiiI
social and moral evil ; and while we disclaim all
right and inclination to interfere with it as a mu
nicipal regulation of any of the sovereign States,
of the Union, we believe that tho organic act of
1787, for the government of all the territory then
belonging to Ihe Republic, penned by the sapn
cious Jefferson, and signed and approved by the
immortal Washington, and strictly adhered to in'
the formation of every Territorial government;
from that time down to i8S4; embodies the duty
of Congress in framing governments for the Ter-'-ritories
'that is, the non-extension of slavery.
4. Resolved, That tbe unfortunate departure"
from that principle in the late act organizing tii
Territory Of Kansas, to which we directly UttM
the bitter agitation which has destroyed the peace
and reddened with the blood of brothers the Vir
gin soil of that fair land, has proved by its bitter
traits the wisdom of the ancient policy which it
supplanted.
5. Resolved, That we stand by and maintain,
as did our forefathers, true popular sovereignty,
ana the inalienable right of the people to govern
themselves, but we deny that a man is deprived
of them unless he enjoys the privilege of enslav
ing others, and affirm that the result of such a doc
trine would be to found the liberty of the citizen
upon a basis of despotism.
6. Resolved, That the attempt upon the part of
the present democratic administration to force
npon the people of Kansas a constitution abhor
rent to a large majority of its citizens, and to sus
tain in power a usurping and tyrannical minority
against the known will of the remainder, is an
outrage not to be boi ne by a free people; and we
hope that, planting themselves firmly upon the
immortal truth first enunciated by the I Meliora
tion of Independence, "that all governments de
rive their just powers from the free consent of the
governed," they will be able to wrest from tbe op
pressors that which is inestimable to a free peo
ple, and formidable to tyrants only the right to
compel the rulers to conform to the wishes of the
rnled.
7. Resolved, That we insist that the right of tbe
nation to govern, necessari'y follows the right to
acquire aud hold territory; and that in providing
a government for a Territory under this right, it
should be based upon the inalienable rights of ther
j eople ; and we arraign the modern system,' as
practically carried out in Kansas, for its utter and
gross violation of these principles, and affirm that
the dark catalogue of wrongs and crimes commit
ted by the late and existing administrations,
against popular rights in that Territory, deserve
the execration of every lover of freedom of the
present day ; and as their just reward in history,
an immortality of infamy.
8. Resolved. Th.it the late partisan decision of
the .Supreme Court, in the case of Dred Scott,
which makes the Constitution a grand title instru
ment to every holder of slaves, is a disgrace to
the judiciary of the nation, and a stain npon the
character of the country, whose prondest boast is
its love of liberty in its largest sense, and its ha
tred of tyranny in every form.
9. Resolved, That we congratulate ourselves
and the people of Oregon upon the result of the
late election upon the question of slavery, as a
triumph of the Republican doctrine of non-extension,
and we only insist that we ought to use our
influence wherever it can be legitimately done, to
secure to other Territories the same priceless bles
sings of freedom which, by such a gratifying ma
jority, we seem so fuliy to appreciate for our
selves. 10. Resolved, That the reckless prodigality of
national treasure which has characterized the late
and present democratic administrations, bringing
to bankruptcy a treasury whose vaults have tS
ceived $U,Vtk),iK0 per annum, and necessitating'
a loan in a time of peace, is a clear and demon
strative proof of that wasteful extra vagsince which
has plundered the nation, and turned its treasury
into a shinplaster machine, with nothing bat its
credit to sustain its finances.
I I. That the Pacific Railroad is no longer am
enterprise of doubtful expediency, but has be
come one of imperative commercial and national
necessity ; and we favor its construction nnnn nv
central and practicable route, by the aid of the
jtenerai government, given p such manner as
may be best calculated to effect its early comple
tion. v
Ai. That the political dogmas sought recently
to be established by a party styling theinsplv
democrats, in this Territory, which asserts the
duty of a representative or delegate in some in
stances to be to obey the instructions of his con
stituents, while in others specified, he is bound to
disregard them and bow to the will of others, is
dangerous and -anti-republican in its tendency
and worthy to be sustained only by a party that
everywhere known as the ally of personal vassal
age, and the advocate of partisan despotism.
J3. Resolved, That we believe in th nnin
eled right of the citizen to think and vote as he
t!ejkf4S- ami wtf ntta.1. -1 1 . t-
r t . " ""'j nni or any rep
resentative, nnder any circumstances, to violate
the instructions or known will of the people he
represents.
14. Resolved, That the present system of Tot
ing viva voce, introduced bv -thnt nrtv to o.k.
ject the suffrage of he. citizens to the surveillance
oi partisan inspectors, and awe him, nnder the
penalty of being branded as a traitor, into abject
submission, is a relict of barbarism, which finds
fit friends in a party whose whole orraniMtinn ;
devoted to the extinguishment of every spark of
ciauiuu iiccuum, auu ine suojecuon ot its mem
bers to the entire control of an aristocracy f
leaders and that with snch a party we are proud
to have neither sympathy nor connection.
The resolutions were adopted ttriotim. Dele
gates from counties not fully represented were,
authorized to cast the full vote of the counties.
The Convention proceeded to ballot for candi
date to Congress, with the following result :
James McBride. 3; John R. McBride, 14; T,
J. Dryer, 6 ; Jesse Applegate, 9; Ai .-goose Adams!
1; Denney, 2; Leander Holme, 3; W, W.'Pac-
Ker, j ; rvanaan, j.
2d. ballot John Denney,5: H. X. Geore, 7u
Airgoose Adams. 1: T.J. Dryer, 8; J. EL Mc-
S". i! Jesse Applegate, 3; Holmes, 1 ; James -JIcBnde,
2.
A long discussion took nW W
subject of old and young candidates. A member -said
"he could not vote for Dryer without he'
took some position. You might put yonr finder
on Mr. Dryer to-day and to-morrow, find tht 1W
the Irishman's flea he was not there. He indsred
from Dryer's paper that he was holding back for
bids, and would iumn into the Enrn
could secure a good lot of the feathers." Dr Mc
Bndo declined being a candidate for governor oc
to speak lUnSS W0Uld BOt Permit mn
3d baliot-H. ST. George, 3; John R. McBride,
of 1 anthill, 31: Dryer,!, McBride was declared
unanimously nominated for Congres.
ist Dallot for Governor P. M. Curry, of Lane -10;
O. Jacobs. 4: John Dennv. of Marinn i t. t'
S. Kendall, of Linn, 9 : L. Holmes, of Clackamas" '
5i ; A. A. Skinner, of Clatsop, 1.
Holmes and Kendall declined. Tfon n- . .
declined. '
2d ballot Dennv. 24: E. L. Anr,,
George, 1; Curry, 12; John Denny, of Marion
was declared unanimously nominated:
1st ballot for Secretary of State L. Holm-. .
15: H. N. George, 13; G. L. Wood, of Yambin'
2 ; E. L. Applegate, 2; Jesse. 1, mnill.
2d ballot Holmes, 16; 11. N. Geora
22; Applegate George wtSfe
inously nominated.
1st ballot for State Treasurer E. L Annl
gate, of Umpqua, 36; L. Holmes. 3; Geo. ibe-
nominated. Mr. Applegate declined not in
cepted. Jlr. l.ran.la.il, moved to nominate D W Pr.;
foreman of the Airsroose offi
egato to have purchased said office for State
Printer, by accUmmation. Adopted. L. HolineZ.
IV .-- -Matlock, and Airgoose,
Adams were appointed a Central Conunitteit