OREGON STATESMAN.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1850.
Antecedents.
The Times, in its elaborate effort at a de
fense of the conduct of onr Delegate in Con
gress relative to the State admission bill,
pots the "antecedents of Q en. Lane, so far
aa he has been acting In relations of trnst
to the people of this Territory," in issue, in
rebuttal of the charge. It was not our
wish or purpose to go beyond this matter
of the non-admission, in commenting upon
it. And we only do so, in following the
Timet. We fancy the anonymous editor of
that paper must be a recent comer to our
Territory, and unacquainted with men here,
or he would hardly hare appealed to the
"antecedents'' with the air of confidence
and triumph which is evinced. We think
our Delegate's prior "antecedents," in rela
tion to Oregon politics and public affairs,
taken as a whole, hare enough to do to
support themselves, without being gam
moned to prop up the admission business.
And we submit that all of them do not tend
to the disproval of the opinion that the
State was not admitted at the last session
of Congress, for the reason that Gen. Lane
had doubts about his election as U. S. Sen
ator. Just prior to the election of 185?, Gen.
Territorial Convention for Delegate in Con
gress, in writing accepted the nomination,
and added, "1 cordially endorse the resolu
tions of this convection, as expressive of
the principles and will of the Democracy of
Oregon." During the canvass which follow
ed, it was charged that Gen. Lane, to the
opponents of the resolutions, privately de
nounced portions cf them in very emphatic
terms. Col. Kelly, iu canvassing last spring,
as a "national" nominee, against Mr. G ro
ver, stated in his public speeches that Gen.
Lane had to him, and to others, dnriog the
canvass of 1857, denounced some of those
resolutions bitterly. And, we believe it is
niitJ Ux he. did than, privately de
aounce them in repeated instances. Iu re
sponse to the convention, and before the
Democratic party, he accepted them "cor
dially? and entire. If Gen. Lane did not
endorse that Democratic platform, he should
have refused the nomination npon it; if he
did endorse it, as he declared to the conven
tion, he should have said endorse, alike to
opponent and supporter. A resolution,
adopted by that convention of 1857, squints
strongly at Gen. Lane's non committal char
acteristics, and tendencies to "keep with I
the hound and, run with the hare," and could
hardly have been considered complimentary I
by him. It was as follows, and was offered
by lion. Delazon Smith:
"Rrstirtd, That in the judgment and expecta
tion of each and every member of this conven
tion, Gen. Lane, who has just received the unan
imous nomination of this convention, will en
dorse and promptly stand upon the platform this
dsj adopted, including- the anti-standard resolu-
tion, and that also declaring the obligation of I
Democrats to snpport the nominees of 1 democrat
ic caucuses and conventions."
That was a most unusual resolution, and
plainly implied a want of confidence that
the nominee wculdypromptIystand upon
tbe platform."
During the canvass last spring, 165S, a
well remembered letter appeared over Gen.
Lane's signature, giving direct endorsement
to the Standard newspaper, in which letter
a disposition to carry water on both should
ers, was most unmistakably evinced. The
aid letter was mostly unmeaning, referred
to ''Greece and Carthage," gave general
evidence of not being the work of Gen.
Lane's pen, and was, at the time of its ap
pearance, alleged by his confidants not to
have been written by him, but probably by
some fledgling academic clerk in his em-
a. IiaIIiap liia f irtuda vorA THt Ap
1 J" . . . . .t . . . . son was an honest man, bnt utterly unonali
wrong Ins conjecture, it ia sufficient that fied fof J
4l a lnA Lapa flan I ena'a eiirnetnra onn 1
... k;- mM; t-.M tw
, A, j, .i.
letter was most industriously used by the
....... ;
opposition daring the canvass, was loudly
, , r , . . , .
read as, and claimed to be, an endorsement
,,..- , - , . ...
nrtha "nitmnali " ni n inmmmnn with I
th mhn w thl W or.rrtnnitiM to ob.
st. ffvw l.Pi;r it w th nmocratie
MnB. .d tioV,t hnndoda of votes. Ad
at the same time, it is a well established
fact that Gen. Lane bad contributed not
less than seven hundred dollars to the Stand
ard. And the Democracy of Oregon last
spring had to conteud, not only agaiust the
-damaging effects of his letter, but against
the influence of hundreds of dollars contrib-
nted by him to the enemy In pursuance of
u.s uits uuv, aim so lar as injury
to the regular Democratic organization and
ticket of Oregon was concerned, be could
just as legitimately and properly have se-
retly contributed to the support of the Or-
4gumn, for it and the Standard were sup-
xwtingone and the same ticket. It will
not have been forgotten by the public that,
as a natnral consequence- of this interest,
this "material aid," and this kind recogni-
lion ana quasi leiiowsbip, the otandaret, ed-
iteffdoring the canvass by Alonzo Leland,
coraiaiiy ana constantly snpportea uen.
Lane, as did every "national" speaker up-
on the -stump, while it and they unrelenting-
ly opposed and vehemently denounced the
Demecratc organization and every other
memrer o. it; wuwc tuc Hue6uon as
which side G en. Lae was ox vas one of
w v wmi..6... .u.
alike claimed him, and both alike asserted
that he was opposed to the other. In plac-
ing himself in, and occupying this equivocal
position, or in suffering himself to be placed
- , f,
t . . V-V . ' 7" : Ue- Oregon of that provision which has half rn-
Lane did not exhibit the right kind of faith joed our courts, and cost the people of Ore
towards the democratic party an the dem- gon thousands of dollars annually. Tbe
ocratic ticket. And, by such appliances as
the above, secnrinir ta himif ,-
t , , . . ..
support of a journal and a party hostile to
the democracy, we aver that Gen. Lane
farthered his own snccr-ss, to tbe injury and
eril of the democratic ticket and the drmn.
cratic party. We treat of a matter fresh in
..
ine recoiiecuon oi me aemocracy oi tne ler-
ruory a matter oi wnicn mere was annng
the last canvass a wide spread complaint.
Every one engaged in the canvass, from
highest to lowest, felt the heavy weight of
Gen. Lane's equivocal Standard letter, and
saw that, more than all others and all else,
Gen. Lane's disputed position between the
two parties, gave body, hope, spirit and
strength to the "national" opposition, lie
was their principal stock-in trade; every
where they talked about him, and their
praises and pledges of support of Gen. Lane
were as frequent and universal as their de
nunciation of all other democrats. At the
convention, at Eugene, the only affirmative
rcsolutiou they adopted was one laudatory
of Gen. Lane, and in the legislature, in July,
every one of them supported him for the U.
S. Senate. To the conutry was presented the
anomaly of two parties, widely apart, and
most bitterly hostile, supporting one and
the same man. We appeal to the demo
cratic masses of Oregon if these thiugs are
not true? It may not be out of place to say
here that the late conductor of the Standard,
Mr. O'Meara, being a comparative stranger
in Oregon, was perhaps deceived by a selfish
band of ambitious soreheads, who hoped to
use him for their own purposes, and whose
real character and aims be has not unlikely
discovered ere this. During the canvass Gen.
Lane never, to our knowledge, denounced
the "national," or the "national" party di
nvtlyt by hwmt- AfUr tha election,
when the result vas ascertained, Gen. Lane
denounced the defeated "nationals" in very
decided terms! He fore the election, and
while the resntt was in doubt, he was in ex
cellent position to fall upon which ever side
won. If the Washington correspondent of
Forney's Press does not do hint injustice,
this happy characteristic did not forsake him
in some of the recent elections in the States.
The said correspondent writes under date of
"Washington, Xov. 4," as follows: "Gov.
Jo. Lane is here, and by no means sorry for
the defeat of the administration in Indianaf
In 1855, Gen. Lane returned to Oregou
just at the time of the meeting of the Dem
ocratic convention.- He had left the States
where the knownothings had carried every
thing, and surprised everybody by their suc
cesses, even iu places where they were scarce
ly known to exist. In this Territory the
democracy had fiercely fonght them, and the
convention adopted a resolutiou denouncing
them. It will be recollected by the mem
bers of that convention, for we know not a
few of them bitterly complained of it at the
time, that Gen. Lane, in accepting tbe nom
ination, made a noncommittal, palavering
talt, in the course of which he declared he
really did net teliere there teas a knotencthing
" Oregon, and that he had no doubt they
a" r" for lhe impression
made on tbe miuds of many of the members
of the convention, was that Gen. Lane bad
fears that the strength of the knownothings
in Oregon was much greater than the dem
ocrats apprehended, and was unwilling to
oppose them. And, daring the earlier part
of the canvass of that year, it was a stand
ing complaint that Geu. Laue, in his speech
es, aid not meet tbe issue with tbe know-
nothings 1 --
Gen. Lane has, in Oregon, always culti
vated outside supports, and kept hanging
about the democratic organization as his
friends "Lanemen" a class of men who
never voted for any other democrat, and
whose iufluence was actively given to the
disorganization and debauchment of the
democratic party. lie had for all alike,
uoa oiess you," "our good inena," "yon
deserve well of your country .""true principles
of the government," and he never seemed to
care where the votes came from, and who
lost them, if he only got them.
In 1856 Gen. Lane bad Robert Thompson
appointed postal agent for Oregon. Thomp
M conseqnence, have suffered, are suffenng
a"d for three years longer must continue to
.. . .......
suffer, sadly, for want of mail facilities.
, . ,
ben Thompson was appointed, judge O.
r . . . .
J. 1 rati was supposed to be a rival oi uen
Lane; Thompson was a cordial batcr and
hitual denouncer of Tratt. In procuring
his appointment, Gen. Lane not only did
ioIe.ncc to the pnblic sentiment of the conn-
try, but evinced a disregard of its interests.
The wretched condition of onr mails is a
matter which almost every citizen of Ore
gon feels, and from which nearly all suffer.
We candidly believe that by that appoint
ment Gen. Lane inflicted more injury upon
Orecron than all the Congressional service
Le hM rcodered from lg5(. to 1859 wi
compcnsate for
Prior to the election of U. S. Senators,
in July, both Gov. Curry and Delazon Smith
had jQ tQr0f earnest asgnrftnce from Gen.
Lane that Mch WM L-8 preference for hi8
in the u. S. Scoate.
Ja lg56 , law wos passed by Congress by
wllich oar were disorganized, coun-
ties were deprived of grand juries, and the
administratiou of justice most seriously re-
8tricted and embarrassed. Throughout the
Tcrrit0ry these are facts which all have felt
aad witnessed. The law was the bantling of
Humphrey Marshall, who declares that the
Xerritorie8 0gbt to be governed as Great
Britain g0Tcrs her colonics. It is a well
estaUished fact that Gen. Lane as not
awaTtof fa age 0f am having such an
our uniU ht hamtfl u from
,(is Territorytbtit on first being informed
of it he declared that no such law had been
passed. It is our belief that there is not a
county in Oregon which does not contain at
,cas one citizeo wbo d he been Delegate,
would have prevented the application to
lDJnI7 1018 ,aw nas 1D"'Cica npon Oregon,
we believe, more than counterbalances all
IthebenefiU derived from Gen. Lane's Con
ii services, since its enactment
The Superintendent of Indian Affairs for
Oregon and Washington, conieEsedly manag
inir the affairs of his department most ably
od 10 tbe Srea' df ntagTe ?-f the
I people, the government and the Indians:
aitbongh the people of Oregon have nnbound-
i ed confidence in him as said officer, has been
reported to Gen. Lane as not zealously wor
shiping him, and as not preferring him to
all others, and for all time, for public sta
tion. At the late session or Congress a pro
vision was adopted, and not objected to by
our Delegate, as shown by the journals, ap
pointing a commissioner to examine into
about $300,000 of just ludian Department
claims, belonging to hundreds of our citizens.
Tbe consequence is that they have not yet
been paid, and their pnymeiit will most HKeiy
be delayed a full year.
The land laws were, at the Inst session ol
Congress, nominally extended east of the
Cascades; but practically they were not;
for not a dollar was appropriated for sur
veys there, or nuvwhere else, in Uregou.
The Commissioner of the General Land
office, from information received from the
service in Oregon, recommended Iu his an
nual report an appropriation for surveys
east of the Cascades; the Legislative As
sembly memorialised Congress for such ap
propriation l the representative iioiu asco
county, in said Assembly, seconded the
prayer of the memorial, in a letter transmii
tinir it to our Delegate. Yet, the long ses
sion passed and no appropriation was made.
Latterly, all Gen. Lane's acts Have unmis
takably pointed to the building up of a
Lant part here, regardless ol everything
else; until by his mouth-pieces some of
them imported as personal adherents it is
shamelessly avowed that the democrat who
does not "swear by Lane," who does not
favor his perpetual coutiuunnre iu office, aiftl
at Washington who darea to prefer any
other democrat, or think that others can
perform more service for, and reflect more
fame upou the State, shall be proscribed.
In pursuance of this spirit, a pitiful system of
proscription lias beeu in some instances al
ready manifested here by parasitical follow
ers. We believe that the successful formation
of any mere personal party will 6ound the
death kuell of the Democratic party. Mau-
worship and the support of principles and
measures are incompatible.
15ut this article has alreadv exceeded our
limits, and we caunot further pursue the
su'ijeet.
There appears iu the last Tims an
article Bigncd "A Democrat," purporting to
be an apology for the conduct of our Dele
gate respecting the non-admission of the
State, and designed to be abusive of us. We
are going to have no controversy with skulk
iog anonymous falsifiers. This one is
pretty certainly a member of the late legis
lature, and one who left that body with an
unenviable reputation; aud never entered it,
or any other body, with any democracy, lie
says:
We all recollect that when a disensston aroe
in th Territory as to the course of certain mili
tia officer in disposinp of the property thnt hnd
come into his hands, Mr. Hush denounced every
Democrat ho did not approve bis conduct as
diaorpsnizcr and an aider and abetter of tbe op
position. Mr. Bush never did anything of the kind.
There is not a word of truth in the above
extract.
The balance of the article consists mostly
in railing at the Statesman because the State
government did not go into active operation
from July lust. That matter is thoroughly
understood by tbe people of Oregon. They
understand thnt it was utterly impossible to
have set the State government in motion;
and they understand too, that it would
have been most foolish, unwise and expen
sive to have attempted the experiment. In
the first place Congress would maintain the
Territorial government at every hazard; in
the next place, every Territorial judge in
Oregon was of the opinion that the State
government could not go into operation un
til admission took place, and would have
set aside every act of any pretended State
government; aud in the third place, all but
one, if not all of the State judges, were of
the same opinion. In the face of al! these
obstructions, would'ut there have been an
interesting time in setting up a bastard
State government here? And would'ut it
have beeu an interesting operation to have
incurred a debt of twenty or thirty thousand
dollars iu au cxperimeut of that character?
A Falsehood. We learn that Dryer iscir
culating the story and has induced some
of his toadies to repeat it that be was as
saulted and beaten by some ten or a dozcu
persous, at the time of his rencontre with
Lasater. Drver and his friends know this
to be false, aud no mau of respectability
will repeat it. Immediately after the fight,
Dryer stated that some one not Mr. La
sater had kicked him as he was getting up,
after his chastisement; and as soon as he
got some one to believe that lie, he proceed
ed to enlarge, (like Falstaff, whom he re
sembles in the characteristics of cowardice,
lying and boastfulncss,) raising a man at a
time, until, before he left here, he bad it that
seven or eight had kicked and beaten him
We presume that in another week tbe as
saulling force will have increased, so as to
iucludc not only all the Democratic members
of the Legislature, but every Democrat who
was within twenty miles, of the scene when
it transpired. It is a wonderful thing Dryer
didn't report that he wasruct by lightning.
The truth is, that the ouly interference was
in behalf of Dryer, who begged pileously to
have his antagonist taken off, and whose
appeal was promptly responded to by Dem
oerals, who restrained Mr. Lasater from in
dieting further chastisement upon his pros
trate foe. The idea of any body assisting
Mr. L. is amusing. He might be tnrncd
into a ten acre field of Dryers and give him
room enough to swing his arms, he'd "clean
the lot."
Mr. G rover's Litter. -In another col
umn will be found letters from Messrs. G ro
ver and Smith. Mr. G rover's letter con
tains some precise information in regard to
the Oregon Indian War Claims, of interest
it is the first real information respecting the
measure we have seen, aud the first that
has been received in Oregon. From the
language aud tone of Mr. G.'a letter, we in
fer he is not entirely confident of the admis
sion of the State, though be expresses
'strong hopes" of it.
We learn that Bro. Deihl tried to
get the use of Dryer at one of bis temper
ance lectures last week. He wanted to ex
Libit him, as an example of the awful effects
of punch on the head !
Faiixres.
Two mercantile firms have re
cently failed in Portland, Oregon.
Tbe Late Session of hs Assembly.
Our last issue contained an announcement
of the final adjournment of the Legislative
Assembly, after midnight, Saturday, la-
ken altogether, it was the most profitless
session ever held In Oregon. The Council
disposed of all business before it, iu due or
der, and with the accustomed readiness. In
the House, the principal part of the session
was exhausted iu gab, and wrangle over sec
tional, party, personal aud factious matters
matters iu which the people had no inter
est, and which could not promote the pnb
lic weal. Up to the beginning of a night
session, held on the Saturday prior to the
Saturday of adjournment, we think not more
than eTght or teii bills had been passed by
that branch, though nearly a hundred had
been introduced, aud upwards of twenty re
ceived from the Council. From that time
to the adjournment, one week, they were
rushed through in hot haste, considered,
and unconsidered. On the Inst night of tho
session, thousands of dollars of appropria
tion bills were passed ; tome meritorious bills
were voted down without being considered,
for there was not time for consideration
As an illustration, early in the session a com
mittee was appointed to revise the rond
laws, and before the holidays, they report
ed a long compilation thereof. That report
lay upon upon the tnble, untouched, until
the afternoon of the day of adjournment,
when it wus taken up, rexd by title, and
passed, without examination or discussiou.
In the Council, it went through in the same
manner, and there was time to get it through
in no other. It is tbe law of tho laud, aud
it may prove to be a wise and good one; we
hope it will. But, if it does, no thanks will
be due the Assembly, for we thiuk that
body had very little idea what their commit
tee had reported. t
The most marked feature of the animus
which actuated the House was endeavors
to proscribe and punish the counties of Ma
rion, Linn, aud Polk, aud the democracy
thereof, and perhrrs that of a few other
smaller counties, ;ThU feeling and senti-
tueut was so promiuent that none failed to
perceive it. It constituted really the only
politics of the Home. The same feeling af
fected the Council, but not iu so great a de
gree, lue opposition were actuated by
their old prejudice tf . '-.Salem Cliquey' aud
the immense and troublesome democratic
majorities Linn, Mariou aud Polk roll up,
not to nieutton Coos, Curry and Wasco,
which were likewise under the same ban.
While there were some democrat, who
eviuced tystetuatic unfriendliness to Marion,
Linn and Polk, because the strudy democracy
of those sheet anchor ecunlies, were suspect
ed of not being irrevocably wedded tj Uen.
jane aspirations; and because the represen
tatives and senators from those counties did
uot 6ce fit to, at at expense to the people of ten
or fifteen thousand dJfors, engige iu the
oily of holding i September session, of
State legislature, when there wa3 no
State, and not certain to be any, iu pur
suance of others understanding of the uucou-
idertd and unrSning nkase "take no
step backward ' One of tho "Isational'
members declared a speech in the House,
that the so callet "Lane ram," pursued
'anti Lane democrits" with a malignity and
vindictivene's which the opposition side of
the House had never manifested towards
democrats. The hostility of tho opposition
members to these cest nil counties was uatural
enough, and expected; tbey canuot be sup
posed to regard with favor cotmtics which
have so often defeated their rxpectatious,
and foiled tbeir hopes. lut, it is surpris
ng that democrats, upon differences as to
persons, should entet into a most unjust cru
Eade against their orn brethren, and those
upon whom ouly caa tbey rely in the hour of
adversity. In these unties lies, in the main,
the democratic strength of Oregon ; and in
hem reside more than one-third cf the inhabit
ants of Oregon. Tilia latter fact is worthy
of the consideration of all, republicans, as
well as democrat. J jet us examine the fig
ures:
Tho latest censns returus wo have for Or
egon, show a population iu the entire Tcrri
tory, comprising niateen counties, of 42,-
17. This same census returns an aggre
gate of population for the three counties ol
Polk, Linn, and Marion of 10,074. Those
three counties show a total population of
lG,Gt4, while tbe regaining sixteen couu
tics, return but 20,003. 14,220 constitutes
one-third of the population of Oregon, and
the three proscribed enmities in tho centre,
have 1G,G74, or 2,44B more than ouc-third
of the entire popnlutin of the whole Tcrri
tory.. These are figures from tho record,
and they are worthy of consideration by all
parties. Now, let ui look at the political
complexion
At the election last June, John Whitca
kcr, tbe democratic candidate for Governor,
received 1133 majority in tho entire Terri
tory; and Marion, Linn and Polk gave him
9S5 of that majority, i His majority in Ma
rion county was the lowest on tho ticket
owing to that county being the residence of
his opponent, Gen. IStrnum. If that bad
not been the case, Whitcaker would have
received in these thieo counties not less
than 1,050 majority. I As it was, he obtain
ed 935, and but 153, iu all the balance of
the Territory. Tho democracy of the
counties of Coos, Curry and Umpqno, is
certainly no more friendly to Gen. Lanc'i
ambition than is that of Marion, Linn and
Polk. And had the first named counties
been represented in tke Assembly this win
tcr they would have been just as much the
objects of feeling and proscription as wen
the last, and for .precisely the same reasons
TJmpqua, Coos and Curry gave Whiteakcr
210 majority, which united to that obtained
in the central counties, makes 1195 mnjori
ty, more than he obtained in the Territory
Without the majorities of these counties
democratic Governor would not hare been
elected, and an opposition one would. These
are facts worthy of the consideration of
democrats, disposed to proscribe aud pun
Uh the central counties because, forsooth
ih. .umn,rnnv thereof will exercise the rkht
-
of freemen, and choose whom they like, and
r iect whom thev disapprove. These conn-
1 I
ties, ever reliablo and ever true, constitute
the sheet anchor of the democratic party or
,, ... iii iMo
Oregon. The opposition anderstand this,
and hence their readiuess to proscribe them.
Democrats should as well understand it as
they.
One more consideration, and we have
done. It strikes us aa exceedingly unwise I
ilfinocriit Rviiuiathisinir with their del hoc
for supporters or Uen. I,nne to endeavor to J-.ngmnu ; ami nay.i.g yo ir n....u v. ... i.;"?;
. , j t i i- i be informed thnt New Yorkers have taken kindly
rumsh, and persecute Marlon, Linn and j,,, cf ,ateyi.nr9, d more especially
Polk, to say nothing of other comities, and . .i.nt nart f if which pleases tho nostrils and
racy. Such conduct is illy judged friendship necessary for me to be in New ork city on this
to (Jen Line and can certainlv do that appointed celebrating day, I was not a little aston
10 uen. usiie, ami can ciriuniiy uo luai beholding the masses so thankfully dis-
geiit:emnii no goou. ji me uemocrney oi
these counties are not satisfied with the offi
eial conduct of Gen. Laue, they are not to be
luct of Gen. Laue, they are not to be
bv nroserintion- men are uot ver-
. 3 J i 1 ., , P ,
iii that way. If the democruey of
made so
suailed i:
these COUUties are of the opinion that Other I
democrats have a right to aspure to places
r i: i - -...l .1.- . i I
Vuu"a V " ua', "B""
iu cuuii. iiicui, ii iucj mwnc iu uu
they will not be likely to be "punished" out of
that Opinion. If the democracy of these
counties are impressed with the belief that
.
tuere are otners in tne country wno can rep-
resent them 111 the national councils With
ninrn nliilitv ami o-renter ciieepss. rihI sse fit
10 act lipou that belief, injustice and Op-
1 , ... .,,
prcssion lor luis opiniOUS sane will ueer
cnange mat impression, or stay mat acuuu.
Human nature is not iuflueuced in that way.
As we understaud it, the tendencies or such
. .
agencies are to opposite directions.
I T , ,
Itgr Gen. Laue writes to the Jacksonville
Sentinel "1 am opposed to the principle of
' I
double or constructive mileage." In view of
the fact that Oen. Lane has drawn from the
I
Treasury over twenty thousand dollars, for I
"constructive mileage," his "opposition to
' ' I
tne principle ' niusi certainly oeiong w mat
class easily overcome. " Constructive mile
age" is mileage for constructive travel, or
travel never performed. For the several
years of 1852, 1854, 1S5G, aud 1858, Geu.
Luce drew mileage, amounting to a little over
$5,000 for each of those years, for trovel
from Orejron to Washington. Iu neither
of those
vears did Geu. Lane perform such
,". i i a.-... mm
Ihua, he has drawn over $20,000
ctive milco re," in spite of his "oppo-
. . , ... i
the principle." V e attach no cen-
ravel.
constructive milcoge," in spite of his "oppo-
tio'n to the principle." We attach no cen-
ure to Oen. Line, for drawing constructive
, , , I
mleagP, as above. It was proper eilOUgll,
nd what any other man would have done
. ...
nder the same circumstances. And it is
doubtless what everv Oregon member of
. , . I
Congress Will continue to do. but, after
oiiir it. it is not necessary to write to the I
tlblic press, expressing "opposition to the
. . . ' ' ,r
Tincipie.
(leu. Lane also says some persons tn
Oregon tc.hn claim to be democrats have charg
ed that the failure of actiou npon the bill
for the admission of Oregon was owing to
rav neclect," Ac. This ''who duim to be
etnocrats, is decidedly cool, when we con
sider the fact that lien. Lane has never voted
or a democrat in Oregon, nuless perchance,
he did so in 1S49. Since that time we think
he has never voted.
Divorces. In our list of divorces, last
we k, we inserted the names of Mary Fo
gnrty and William Fogarty. The nuptial
inot in their ca;e was not nntieJ only, we
presutue. lor want ot time, mis retraces
the number of divorces granted to thirty-
wo. Several of the parties divorced have
already married again, and others are look-
ti2 out for partuers more "conjeuial" than
thtir late ones.
We Icaru that several applications for di-
,r..r. orriro.l hero l Mai.,1.. nl-rl.t' mail
j . e
just a litte too late to be acted upon by
.. v ? .r -it i
iue U-gmiawre. xuej ere ... c ui.ui.r-
stnnd, "meritorious cases." The practice of
. i . .; ,i- ,.
the Legislature, in granting divorces, in
man v cases, tin on lue UlOSl ll ivoious erounus,
has the effect to cause many to separate who
might otherwise adjust their differences, and
ivetogcther,at least amicably. Application.
for divorces become more numerous at each
i- r i. t ..vl...,. .,,i
succeeding session of the Legislature; and,
should there be another session of the ler-
ritorinl Legislature, there will uo doubt be
twi.-o tho number of antilicationa that there
. - -
BRmsn Agop.essiox. Recently the
...... w.w-. -.j
Americau steamship Washington, in the
. . m - x- i
uuiuui l-uu u.u, - 6U"
rd and searched bv otScers of the British
, x , .
war steamer Leopard, at the same time that
two U. a. vessus of war were Iviuer in tne
I...-I.. iri,,.r.rfWr ATeTntnsh f tl.IT
ship Koauoke thereupon notified Cnpt.
AlJbam, cf the Leopard, that he would not
submit to a repetition of the insult. A cor
respondence ensued, the result of which was
that the t wo commanders had an interview.
nro-n.iirn.1 n. mutual n.lmiritinn snr-ietv and
e J'
Gnallv Benaratcd ia great trocd humor with
. i .:.t. i. ..i mi.- ir. .i.
tiiiuiaui c uuu nitrii tutu uiuci. xuu tf uau-
ington States has tho following well-merited
dig at the pusillanimity displayed by the
American Flag-officer:
Dolr Aix IF Yoo Pare.' We have the
authority of the l'anauia lleraltl for the statement.
that Commodore Mcintosh declares ha will submit
to no more such visits as the Washington received
from the Leopard. Certainly not. Our Govern
ment is ever caper to chastise the next indignity.
Commodore Mcintosh would bo unworthy of tho
service indeed, if ho were not always prepared to
repel future aggression.
Tho Legislative Assemblv meets again at Sa
wuvuiu,; , lec.s again r-
Monday January Jrd, agreeable to ad-
lem ou
jonrnment. 1 no prospects arc, that the balance
ot the session win no rather interest ng to outsi-
dors. .1 not particularly agreeable to the members.
OrrgOHian, Jan. 1st.
Ba- Tbe close of the session vas rather
"interestino- to outsiders " thoim-h wo fnncv 11,0 committee win report me state Din ai tne
interesting 10 outsiuers, tnougn wo lancy unrliest day thnt rcports frora tno sUding corn
it was not "particularly agreeable" to at mittccs are called for; probably early next week,
least one of the members, who was returned w. 7e stn tbopcah ptUnS 11 hwg.
to his constituents in a slightly damaged
louuiuuii.
i:.:
Over the Plains. Messrs. W. S. .t J.
. Doak, request all persons who intend to
cross the PlaiuS the coming Season to ren-
, .oi .. , , . , ,
dezvous at Salem, on the 1st Saturday or
March, 1859. They are going to cross the
... . , ,,i-i
1 laiUS, and would like compauy.
1
EsTRAYS. An arneudmeut to tbe CStray
law, euacted at the late session of the legisla
ture, will be found on our first page. It
shortens the time for selling the estray after
taking up, and the time in which the owner
can recover after sale.
Overland. Our Saratoga "Occasional"
writes an interesting letter.
t the overlap a.i. """J
From an OccBfcloiial corresponacm.
bahatooa Springs, Pee. 13. 1859.
This Is Sunday, and a disaprreeablo one out of
Jt - . .1... 'rl.o annw ia A flint fleen. and still
U e preot )(iike( Bre cominf( driftinK down the
streets and sweeping round tho corners, like an
invading army ill pursuit of foes. As 1 am not
u,c)inc(ft) ' tilting with tho wintry hordes. 1
find it an excellent opportunity to pay my re-
peets to the flalrtman.
nn firar aniiiiecE Hint crimen iiM.iii.i'i; ' v
first subject that comes looming nn from
; U the departed .Thanksgiving. 1 crimps
b editor, may have a faint recollection of
the past
. .... . - , .flr
tuo ceremonies, noiu oi i ueiuni "j
character, attending this particular day in New
part i
tickles
the palate.
Circumstances making it
.,,,,, itU(iiness was generally suspended ex
centim? that particular branch which never bus-
pemla, or fails, or disappears trom sigiu, uui is
ubiquitous as well as strong very strong indeed.
1 wfer of course, to tho grog business in that
nlo,lt.rn jjH,Jt!. In tho fr,.,art of the day the
pends, or fails, or disappears from sight, hut is
bells rung merrily no, bells are never merry save
when someone's house is on tire nut tiiey pcaicu
solemnly to the devotionally inclined, to come and
be thankful for all the blessings enjoyed by them
the past year. In passing up Uroadway to settle
my own little account at St. 1'aul's, for what I
had received sinco last settlement day, I observed
thftt f tho throngs passing up nd dowj the
street, few individuals entered tho churches and
nmn the drinkin(r saloons, by mere force of
habit, no doubt; not that they preferred brandy
land lairer to homilties. This mistake had how-
e.vc rnn "'J ."riou8 tendency towards evening for
II noticed that many of the thonghtless ones
Experienced considerable difficulty in managing
their legs; these appendages, like some ot our
fire - eating politicians, seemed determined to dis-
.,lTe "? uu'ou listing between themselves and
the vital parts,
ju lbe .venin t pn;,i Wallaek's theater a visit,
where after having b;en intensely squeezed and
relieved of half a dollar. I found all the seats not
already occupied, labeled "taken." Not feeling
disposed to put the loyalty of my legs to the test,
I l. ft for my hotel nithout seeing the play, but
'""'"P 7 -rt.iin of having caught a glimpse of
an extensive elephant as 1 passed the ticket omce.
I doubt, as my Irish friend would say. but that a
cTrtai" ,,;PB"?r ."""P ". into t,he.,w,T,n
place that morning, and got his morals slightly
mixed. If he had not, why should a sober man
sell seats in his theater long after none were to
be bad.
While on the subject of Kew York citv morali-
tv one might find a less fruitful subject for criti
cism with little labor I will mention, en passant,
that the taxes cf that pious place have been aug
mented only eighty-four per cent, in four years.
In Ji-jl, th-v amounted to I.Jll.ti. and this
year -"S,Oil,iyG. Surely, after making all due
allowances for the natural increase in business
aud population, these figures would seem to indi-
cate that theater
of Gothamites ei
pbants to n .d
The overland
semi-weeklv, bet
co Though loc
t managers are not the only class
engaged iu the exhibition of ele-
mirinir world.
The overland mail is carried. very regularly
semi-weekly, between Pt. Louis and San Francis
co. Though located in the worst possible lati-
tudes, so fur as making it safe and expeditious are
concerned, no accident has as yet befallen it, and
the time made is excellent, when considered that
the route is upwards of 2700 miles long. I was
in hope that the present Congress would estab-
mnii to Oregon direct, but report now has
t that Washington territory is to be the recipient
oi me iavor. ine iiussian possessions suouiu
have been selected for the termiuns .on the prin-
cinle now in full vog-ne with our publicists and
legislative sinners, that the moi
--puiigle down ' the less they take
A great excitement among the
countrr. has been occasioned byth
more iue jicvvie
un
Jews in this
the surreptitious
chnstetnng m Home of a young scion of Isaac,
the anqisiit house of Israel. I he history of tbe
transaction is given as follows : A Jewish farm
lv named Mortara. hired a nurse who was
christian and a good catholic, to take charge of
the temporal we. fare of their son.' lhe nurs,
feeling no doubt a lirtly interest in young Kd
gar's spiritual happiness, determined to do a little
saving from damnation on her own responsibility,
by having him baptised. This washing out oi
the natural stain, raised a rumpus among the
chosen, from liome to the uttermost bounds of
the earth. But the thin? was done the little
Edpar was a cleansed mortal and a Horoan Cath
olic to boot, lor better or for worse, as th ease
will be. Our own Consul was asked to interfere
n behalf of the victim, bat he answered that it
was Hone of his affair to meddle wilh the 1 ope s
government, so long as Americans are as well
treated as other foik. Tbe 1'ope's defence is that
tne jews naTe no n:rlit (by law) to employ inns-
tian servants, and if therefore he interfered at
all, it would be to have the law more strintrently
enforced, which wouldn't msifh mend the matter
as regards ths Mortara 's. The old proverb here
is applicable, '-When you are in Home, do as the
itomans uo.
While ou lhe sprinkling snbiect, I may as well
reIer lu recent occurrence in tuo nvuropauiic
lime, in one of onr State Prisons, and the result
of which, to my mundane comprehension at least,
i wns oi a more serious naiure mau uwwi:u c.
abv a christian. A refractorv convict iu the An-
buru piisou indulged in threatening with violence
tone ! tne Keepers no serious anair at most.
.. ... , . f ,J , . . .,.;.
the shower bath and showered until three oarrcis
fZC
yoke. But further precaution and further refor-
,wBV"TSeo
I merciful than the brutal keepers the transgressor
was lotind to lie dead, naving in ins agony
I rcnrhed ,,- linn1 t'rm ;fs fastening and
slipped from his seat leaving him hanging by his
I neck in the stock. If your Indians can match
,1,1S cruelty, please name the modus operandi
d 1 11 send it to tho State prison inspectors for
a . i f i' vx- . 1 ; r
i toe distance, how far distant no one as vet Knows.
though it is likeiT to come tip at anr moment.
I a ivn un)s since a uuuuai-i u" citui unuicu
a r. .i xMt:i a : r l uA
Susan eave a U. is. cutter tbe slip out ot Mobile
bay, said cutter running conveniently on a sand
i u&uk at tne critical moment, r rum rereui imor-
matIon it ppenrs that tho Erigiish fleet in the
It i ... i -. - i . . . . r
uuit is on the qui vive for just such expeditions
'caraugua, the supposed desUnation of Ue
Susan's cargo. Now the chances are ten to one
that tbey will be captnred on the soil of Nicarau
gna or on the sea, and then the devil will bo to
pay for who on earth can solve the Monroe doc
trine riddle to the satisfaction of all concerned.
Some body will be obliged to back down creep
out surrender, or fight. But I am of the opinion
I that it isn't worth fichtine for with, all the new ira
Vovenients iu depopulating the earth in exis-
I tence. But 1 ui not particular as 1 don t intend
I to do more than militia duty, and hav'nt a red
I cent invested in U. S. stocks. TABLO.
letter from Mr. ttroirer.
Washington Citv, D. C. Dec. J7.1S5S.
Editor Statesman Dear Sir: Congress has
been in session nearly two weeks; you will get
from tbe newspapers all that has been done. -
The Uregon ttato lull nas oeen suojecieu iw
most scrutinizing discussion in the House com
mittee on Territories, in whose hands it rested at
the closo of last session. The committee have
held three meeting on the subject, and Ibis morn
ing came to a determination, by a vote of tive to
four, to report the Senate bill back to tho House
without amendment and with recommendation
that it pass. The five who reported the bill in
committee were democrats; of the four who op-
d j h republicans and one know-
... ..... imlicl.t:OI, of the 8nD.
omoslti ' hich tha meaallro '
. . x on vot0.
pubiicans 'oppose us on the ground that
,':.,; .1 ' iL. ,.i,;t P, t..
I ship and to the right of suffrage.
The committee on military affairs in the IToiiee
I i i - i i -ii i i i
i wno naa in cuarire our war uuiia.ii session o.iu
i. , .,.--: (.. r k-
I Mr. Faulkner, to consider during the recess of
th:8 6cssion of the results of his examination.
Nothing has yet been dotie, further- than the re.
fereuco of the whole subject bv Mr. Faulkner, to
the cffice of tie 3rd Auditor, with instructions
I to ascertain and report to the committee certain
I detailed results from the work of the commission
and their report, the appUcaUon of the estabUshed
I mla Af flifl Wnr I )fnnrtmnt trt tii rpnlta mnA
other matters involved, upon which the commit
tee base their report to the House, lhe 3rd Aud
itor is now employed on this work, and will not
tret throutrh tor ten days or so.
The matter will probably be brought forward
earlv after holidays.
The commissioner of tne general Land Omce
has been urged to send ont the patents to our
land in Oregon. Some have gone. By next mail
a large number will go. And there is promise
that the country will soon be served in this par
ticular. . ' . - ....'
Tho Portland case of I'arrish et al. involving
the right to tbe city front, will ha called up in the
supreme court to-morrow.
A U the important cases of Oreiron land titles
are in coarse of preparation for final decision in
the Department of the Interior.
By next mail I hope to send you much detailed
information, of interest to Oregon.
Oen. Lane and Mr. Smith are both well, and
looking after oar affairs with xeal.
lours most truly, L. F. GKOVER,
letter from Mr. Smllb.
Washington D. C. Doc. 18 1858.
FRIEND Bi;sh I bava but a moment in which
to say that we have encountered mora opposilioa
in the Mouse to onr admission than 1 bad previ
ously expected. Very many of tbe "Republicans"
oppose our admission beciwtse we prohibit tha
residence of free negroes ; hiti thfe knownothings
opposo us because we allow aliens to vote. Of
course it is none of 'their business; Congress will
not undertake - to make Constitutions for the
States. .
The Com. on Territories in the House, of which
Mr. Steuhcns of Geo. is chairman will report tha
bill for the admission of Oregon on Monday next.
he tilltb iiist. with a recommendation turn it pass-.
t wiU beyond reasonable doubt pass tbe House
by a handsome majority, trom present indica
tions we nball be able to inform you by next maif
that Oregon is one of the sovereign States of this
I'uiori. To the securing of this result Gen. Lane,
Mr.Grover and mvsclf have devoted ourselves
unceasingly ever since our arrival. In the mean
time we do not forget or lose sight of other import
tant Oregon interests.
Last evening lien. J,ane ana myseu asnen. winr
hn President. Sir. Buchanan, every meniner ct
his Cabinet, a large majority of the Senators, and
nfrlr all the citizens aad strangers now in the
city, heartily favor the admission of onr State.'
Dr. (inn), benator irom aiiiorui, wutumkhs
with a will. He is devoted to our interests.
In haste, I am, respectluuy yours,
HE LAZON SMITH,
R-Baptised. The prospective paper, at
Corvallis, first christened Equal lights, has
been renamed Democratic Crisis. Mr, T.
IF. U. Odeneal, "national," b announced
as publisher. so name is given euii.
but it is rumored that Hall, of tbe defunct
Ox, is to edit it, behind the curtain. Th
last name would indicate the mission to bo
to manufacture a new crisis in the democrat
ic party. The softs ana soreheajs nave an
nually had a crisis in our ranks lor tne last
m - 1 1 a 1 a.
seven years. I'opKins tniuss, uowever, mas
the name was changed, because some wicfc-
ed wag, taking advantage of the old name,
circulated a report that it was to be a "Wo
man's rights" organ, and edited by somw
"strong minded" sister.
I'eohibitiox. .The bill iirovidinj for the
submission of the question of a prohibitory
liquor law to a vote of the people, passed
the House with little or no opposition, but
as defeated in the Council. We presume
that, " in pursuance of previous notice,"'
tbe blacks will make this question aa issos
in the next canvass. The following, from
the Concord (N. II. ) Patriot, shows how
the system has worked in other States, aud
how it would probably work here:
The Maine Law. The Boston Transcript
sayst
'Since the Maine Law was passed, hundreda
of new dram shops have been opened here, and
many of tbem are only closed from nudnignt
to sunrise through the year. These nuisances are.
doing immense evil among the foreign popula
tion, and call for an earnest effort for their sup
pression, from every man who has the public in
terest at heart."
The same is true of New Hampshire; since tha
Maine Law was passed, liquor shops have doubled
in number and intemperance has probably in
creased in proportion. No intelligent man, with
ins eyes open, can tail to see ample evidence ot
this in every large place in the State.
Kansas. Tbe following paragraph from
the Springfield (Mass.) Republican,- the
leading New England colored organ, proba
bly contains the republican programme re
specting Kansas and Oregon. . .
The Kansas question will not come up befora
this session of Congress, except in "a proposition
to amend the Oregon hill so as to give Kansas the
same chsiice as that territory. It will be pushed
to test the adhesion of Congress to the disability
of the English bill, and is not unlikely to bo
adopted in the House. A - porlioa of tbe free
state men in Kansas desire to have the Leaven
worth constitntion, so called, pushed ia Congress;
but most of the. republican members are even un
favorable to this. The Leavenworth movement
was killed by the fact that tha convention seemed
more anxious to speculate in town lota than to
get the territory into the Union as a free state.
We understand that a person at-.
tempted to fell a tree on tbe steamer Clinton
as she lay at the bank at some point above
Corvallis. She had steam np and escaped
before the tree was cut through. We can
not imagine why any one could perform such
an act, uuless be had a contract to deliver
wood aboard, without the dimensions being
specified. , '
Expcbucas Convkstjos. "We learn
that tbe blacks have calleoVa Territorial con
vention, to meet at Salem, on the 21st of
April next, the day following the Dem
ocratic convention. We presume the object
of - fne blacks, in holding; their convention
after ours, is that they may pick up some of
our refuse material for Congressman.
Stabbed. Mr. Foster informs ns that a
quarrel between two men on the Mountain
Buck, on her downward trip Thursday even
ing, resulted in tne stabbing of one ia tbe
side. A rib was broken, but the extent of
the injury was not known.
The Treascry. There were ten thousand
dollars in the Territorial treasury, at the
time of the adjournment of the legislature;
out a gooa many thousands have been drawn.
out since that time.
Taxes. The Territorial tax was increased
from one mill to one mill and three-fourths,
by the late Legislature. County Commis
sioners are required by the act to levy that
sum, tbe coming year.
Documents. The report of House Mili
tary committee, and Gen. Harney's letter,
are in the bands of the Door Keeper of that
body, of whom the members can obtain
them.
Curraxt. The sanctum returns thanks to
Dr. Warren for a bottle of choice currant
wine. We tried it first on a black-republican
to make sure that the Dr. had not pi-
zenea it. , -
- Crowded. A couple of columns of edito
rial matter is crowded oak We shall have
more space, when we receive oar new estab
lishment. , T . ;
DccKs-The Statesman is indebted to
John Byrne for an "illegant par" of water
fowls. '' : i :.-; . .; i--,..,
" "Poktlaxd, Jan. 26, 1859. '
AsAHEtBraH, Esq., Dear Sir: Will
yon please to state in your next number that
the publication of tbe Democratic Standard
will be resumed on Wednesday, Feb. 2d
and oblige , Yours respectfully,
: . - ; JAS. O'MEARA