A few weeks since we published in Article from
with an editorial ref-
in which we endeavored to embody what
We conceived to be the true Democratic doe
trine en the (abject of popular sovereignty.
Einee that time we hare had expressions of opin
ion front various portion of the State from
Buemben of our own political party, and from
members of opposing orginrrariomi and, al
though the newspapers of the State, aa far as
they have ventured to give expression to their
opinions, seem generally to dissent from the po
sition we assumed, yet we hare the satisfactory
a umii i that the Democratic masses of Ore
gon wi3 unite with us in sustaining and advo
cating the extension of the democratic princi
ple of popular sovereignty, and its application
to the Territories, aa a right to which both the
letter and spirit of oar institutions entitle them,
ewaEy wish the sovereign States of our Con-
For the views which we expressed in the for
mer article upon this subject, we do not claim
the merit of either novelty or originality. Sim
Car Tiews have long been entertained by a large
ad respectable portion of the Democratic par
ty. The first fruit of the principle was the
passage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, which,
ahbongh far from embodying the present broad
eosuli action of the popular sovereignty doctrine,
yet conceded to those Territories a privilege
which they had not before enjoyed; and the la
ter recognition, by the majority of all political
parties, of the right of the people of all the Ter
ritories, to determine for themselves the nature
of the mentations under which they will live,
prepamtoiy to admission into the Union, was
another concession of that principle, though
also to a limited extent. Popular sovereignty in
the Territories was made the main issue in the
campaign of last fall, in the State of Illinois;
and the heartiness and unanimity with which
the Democracy, not of that State alone, but of
the Union, sustained the representatives of that
principle, give evidence of its almost entire ac
ceptance by the Democratic party. That the
doctrine is not a new one, even in Oregon, is
evinced by the hearty response with which the
Democracy of the State greeted its avowal and
advocacy in our columns.
It is not a reasonable objection to its soundness.
that the doctrine is endorsed, to a greater or
leas extent, by sv portion of the republican or
ether opposition parties. Such an objection
only proceeds from artful demagngism, or from
Barrow-minded bigotry, and is unworthy a mo
ment's consideration by any sensible person.
On the contrary, we regard it aa rather testi
mony in its favor, that opposing partisans have
the intelligence to perceive and the indepen
dence to recognize the truth of the principle,
though promulgated by their political adversa
ries. The question which should be asked, in
order to determine the correctness of a princi
ple, is not, whether it is advocated or opposed
by this or that man, or this or that party, but
whether it is founded upon reason and justice.
If it will stand this test, it is established as a
aonnd principle ; and although circumstances
may cause its suppression for a time, in the end
it is certain of triumphant vindication.
But it is not true that the republicans, as a
party, or any considerable portion of them, en
done the doctrine of popular sovereignty, in its
comprehensive sense. As a party the repub
licans oppose this doctrine, except in particular
cases where its practical application is likely to
assist or strengthen their party. The vote in the
U. S. House of Representatives on the bill for
the admission of Oregon may be taken aa a test
of the republican sentiment in this respect ; for
Oregon presented a Constitution having the ex
press sanction of her citizens, and in the adop
tion of which this principle was fairly illustrated.
Out of ninety republicans who voted upon the
admission of Oregon, only fourteen voted for it,
seventy-six voting against it, and many of
them grounding their opposition to it on the ex
tent to which the Oregonians had availed them
selves of the right of popular sovereignty.
An established axiom of our political system
is, that all governments derive their just powers
from the consent of the governed. The gov
ernment of the United States is a limited one,
and has no other powers but such as are dele
gated to it by the Constitution. (See Amend
ments to Constitution. A -t. X. where all powers
BOt delegated to Congress by the Constitution,
are reserved to the States respectively, or to the
people.) Where, then, did Congress get the
power to establish governments for the Territo
ries, and to appoint executive and judicial offi
cers for them I Certainly not from the Con
stitution, for no such power is therein delegat
ed. We bare shown, in the former article, that
the article of the Constitution which gave Con
gress "power to disposeof, and make all needful
rules and regulations respecing the territory
and other property belonging to the United
State," merely conferred the power to dispose of
and regulate the territory, as property soil, or
real estate which Congress holds in trust for the
States, and does not confer the right to govern
that territory as a province or province. It
is held by some that the powers to dispose of
tie territory implies also the power to govern
H; but it should be borne in mind that by the
Xerr. Jk of the Constitution, an powers not dele
gated are reserved to the States or to the peo
ple; and, even were this reservation wanting,
by what strange process of reasoning can the
terms which confer only the power over prop
erty be construed to imply also power over per
sons and their rights ? It is an established rule
of law, that although the rule which is made
tor die greater may sometimes imply the less,
that which is made for the less can in no case
imply or include the greater.
A wiseacre has (or rather imagined that he
has) discovered that the doctrines contained in
our former artie'e upon this subject, are oppos
ed to the principles laid down in Dred Scott de
cision ; and he very sagely concludes, without
any attempt to prove our doctrines incorrect,
that therefore we must be wrong! We are al
ways pleased to see due respect paid to the
powers that be, from the supreme authority in
the land to the lowest county official; but this
fellow would have us degrade our respect into
blind veneration, altogether unbefitting a man
and a Democrat. We do not recognize the in
fallibility of any earthly authority, however
high ; nor will wc admit that we are necessa
rily in the wrong, when we conscientiously dif
fer from even such authority as chief justice
Taney. Bat in this instance there is no such
difference. Judge Taney, speaking'of that por
tion of the Constitution which gives Congress
the power to dispose of the territory, &c
ays j.
It dorm not speak of any territory, nor of
Tin Uot Mii but uses language which, according
to its legitimate moaning, points to a particular
thing. The power is given m relation only to
at,- T, !.. T t tTnitMi Srntoa tllH ia n
.. IMIIJ " .UW - - ...... ...
a territory then in existence, and then known
or claimed as the Territory of the United States.
It begins its enumeration of powers by that of
disposing, in other words, making sale of the
lands, or raising money from them, which, as
wo have already said, was the main object of
the cession, ana which is accordingly the first
thing provided for hi the article, ft then gives
the power which was neeessarilv associated with
the disposition and sale of the lands that is,
the power of making needful rules and regula
tions respecting tfc territory. And whatever
construction mar ho be given to these words,
every one, we think, must admit that they are
not the words usually employed by statesmen
i ..: mi
ui gii wg supreme power ot icgisiuuoa. . i ney
are certainly very unlike the words used in the
power granted to legislate over territory which
the new Government might afterwards itself
obtain by cession from a State, either for its
scat of Government, or for forts, magazine, ar
senals, dockyards and other needful buildings.
And the same power ot making nccutul rules
respecting the territory is, in precisely the same
language, applied to the other property belong
ing to the Lntted States associating the power
over the territory in this respect with the power
over movable or personal property that is, the
ships, arms, and munitions of war, which then
belonged in common to the State sovereignties.
And again:
" The words needful rules and regulations
would seem, also, to have been cautiously used
for some definite object. They are not the
words usually employed by statesmen, when
they mean to give the powers of sovereignty, or
to establish a Government, or to authorize the
establishment."
The above are, it is true, only detached sen
tences from the opinion of the chief justice we
have not room for more copious extracts but
they abundantly show that judge Taney did not
believe the Constitution to confer any such pow
ers as are now exercised by Congress over the
Territories. To discover what his previse po
sition was upon this point, the enqniring reader
will peruse his opinion, (it hns been extensively
published, and is easily accessible) in extenso.
In this opinion of the chief justice a majority
of the associates " fully concurred." Sir. jus
tice Daniel said further :
" Scarcely anything more illogical or extra va
gnnt can In- imagined than the attempt to de
duce from this provision in the Constitution a
power to destroy or in any way impair the civil
and political rights of the'eitizens of the United
States, and much more so the power to establish
inequalities amongst those citizens by creating
privileges in one class or those citizens, and In
the disfranchisement of other portions or class
es, by degrading them from the position they
previously occupied."
We have therefore the sanction of the Con
stitution, as officially expounded by the su
preme judicial authority of the land, for the
doctrines we hold upon the subject of popular
sovereignty. Those doctrines are fast biking
hold of the public sentiment, and their entire
soundness is maintained by the first statesmen
of the conntry. And no man, be be Democrat
or Republican, from the north or from the
south, can be elected President of these United
States in 1800, who does not endorse them in
their fullest extent. Let aspirants mark the
public sentiment upon this subject, and "make a
note onv
The Jacksox Co. Seat of Government
Vote. The Eugene Press publishes the de
nials of Messrs. X. II. Lane and I. X. Smith
on the above subject, but omits that of Sec re
tary Harding, which explains the nature of the
abstract sent to us by the auditor of Jackson
Co., and referred to by Mr. Lane. It adds the
follow ing, which it asks us to publish ; and we
do so, although it has no claim to such courtesy,
after omitting the explanatory letter of the Sec
retary :
Our information from Col. Chapman and Mr.
Brumley in regard to what I. N. Smith stated
to them, is to this effect : that the Jackson coun
ty returns were received at the Quartermaster's
Department, at Salem, by express, as the Au
ditor of Jackson county stated they were sent ;
they were received with an outside envelop,
directed to the Quartermaster, General Drew,
with the returns inside directed to B. F. Har
ding, Secretary of State ; that Mr. Bush was
present at the time they were received, and
took them into his possession, saying he would
give them to Mr. Harding, who "was not pres
ent; that he (I. X. Smith) was present at the
time they were received, acting as clerk in the
Quartermaster's Department, and saw the re
turns given to Mr. Hush saw Mr. Bush take
them and have them. Of the alwve matter we
have conversed several times with Messrs. Chan
man and Brumlcv, who have assured us it could
he proven that Mr. Smith had stated the above,
by many witnesses beside themselves. The
etatemeut made by Mr. Xat. II. Lane, we re
ceived br Mr. Brumley, and we are informed
bv him that in one point, though not essentially
diffcrent, we had misunderstood him that Mr.
Lane stated that Mr. Bush told him that he
(Bush) had those returns in his office, and not
that Lane had seen them there. Xow, sir, we
want the editor of the Statesman to press for
ward the threatened examination, and inform
us who it is that he has proved in the lie about
his having those returns.
We can't U-H who is "proved in the lie," un
til we see what Messrs. Chapman and Brnmley
hare to say. It may be the editor of the Press.
At any rate, it is sufficient for us to have prov
ed by the gentlemen first given as authority
( Messrs. Lane and Smith) that the Press had
given currency to a "lie" about ts. They.both
aver that they never saw any official returns in
oar hands, or office, and never heard of any.
If Mr. Brumley states that Mr. Lane referred
to a private alslract, and not the official return,
he may lie correct. But if he states that Mr.
Lane said that we had told him that we had, or
ever saw ihe official return, designed for the
Secretary and for canvass, (and we would like
to know if that is what he does mean T) we
have no doubt Mr. Lane will very soon contra
dict him. We never had or saw anything of
the kind, never told any one wc had, and wc
feel the utmost assurance that Mr. Lane never
did. We don't know Mr. Brumley, but we do
know X. H. Lane, and, wc have full confidence
in his veracity. If Mr. Brumley makes an
issue of that kind with him, we think Mr. Lane
wiH himself be beard.
As to the story about onr " taking into pos
session" the returns to "give to Mr. Harding,"
there is not a word of truth in it. We never
saw any" retains from that County but the pri
vate abstract sent us, and thoec published in the
Sentinel; the whole thing is a fabrication.
Messrs. Chapman and Brumley arc charged by
the Press as reporting from Mr. Smith. Mr.
Smith says in his card that he has never seen
in the Statesman office, nor in our hands, or
known us to have in onr possession at any time,
official returns from Jackson county or any
other county." With Mr. Smith, and Messrs.
Chapman and Brumley and the editor of the
Press, we leave the question of veracity, mere
ly remarking that if Messrs. Chapman and
Brumley did tell the Press man what he details
above, we have not the slightest doubt but that
they could have ascertained that it commenced
with a falsehood, had they desired to, by writing
to Mr. Hoffman, the auditor of Jackson Co.
We have no precise knowledge respecting the
matter, but we are confident that he never en
closed the returns addressed to Mr. Harding in
an envelope to Gen. Drew. The story bears
the mark of a falsehood upon its face.
rrBLic BXBCVTiona,
The object contemplated in the public execu
tion of offenders capitally convicted, is the sal
utary effect supposed to be produced upon the
morals of the community, by the example given
of the just retribution which inevitably ensues
upon the perpetration of crime. It was form
erly believed that, as the penalty attached to
capital offences is intended, not as a reparation
for the evil done, but as a warning, to restrain
from the commission of similar offences, the
end in view could best be attained by making
the punishment as public, and by Investing it
with as many factitious terrors as possible. To
this consideration we owe the high scaffold, the
coffin, the shroud, the black cap, and the va
rious solemnities and ceremonies which accom
pany a publio execution, and which were first
employed, because they were deemed effective
in inspiring the spectators with a wholesome
dread of the consequences of crime, and a due
respect for the authority and majesty of the
law. s
But experience has shown that public execu
tions generally produce a directly opposite effect
to that intended and desired. Those who at
tend them arc generally influenced only by a
morbid curiosity, stimulated by a depraved and
unhealthy morul taste ; and they regard an ex
ecution merely as they would any other extra
ordinary spectacle. They may perhnps expe
rience a thrill of horror when the drop falls.
and the unfortunate victim of offended justice
struggles in his death-agonies ; but the emotion
is but a fleeting one, and rarely gives rise to
salutary reflections upon the inevitable connec
tion between crime and its punishment, and the
certainty with which tho cue fallows the other.
Every other feeling and consideration is swal
lowed up in the novelty of the scene, and in the
gratification of vitiated curiosity, Suck exhi
bitions also tend to blunt the feelings, and to
destroy that tender sensibility to human suffer
ing, and that high estimation of the sacredness
of human life, which belong to all nndepraved
minds. Satisfied of the pernicious and demor
alizing tendencies of such exhibitions, many of
the States have directed that executions within
their respective jurisdictions shall be conducted
privately ; and the result has proved that the
ends of justice are as fully subserved by private
as by public executions, while the demoralizing
influences which ucver fail to attend the latter.
are avoided.
When a verdict of guilty has been found
against an individual tried for a capital crime.
the sentence of the court, w hich condemns him
to suffer the extreme penalty of the law, and
the certainty that that sentence will be rigo
rously carried into effect, are sufficient to be
made public in order to fulfil the purpose con
templated in the law, which is to restrain others
from the commission of like crimes. And the
further exhibition of the culprit's dying agonies
npou the gallows, serves no other purpose than
to stimulate and minister to a perverted and
unnatural taste for the horrible, which had
much better remain ungratified.
Wc trust that the plan of private executions,
which prevails in many of the Atlantic States,
may be adopted here, and that never again in
the State may le seen the exhibition which was
witnessed in this place on the 2nd inst., n hen
gray-haired old men and women, young
mothers, and maidens, and children of tender
years, mingled in the crowd, and jostled each
other round the scaffold, to feast their unheal w
enriosityon the expiring str5B a of the wretch
ed Roe. Sue n exhibition is of itself enough
to condemn public executions, and to render
them intolerably obnoxious to a moral and in
telligent community.
Postage. In the Senate, on the 1st of
March, an amendment offered by Mr. Yulee,
raising the postage on letters for 1,000 miles or
less, from three, to five cents, was added to the
post-oflice bill, by a vote of 29 yeas to 25 nays.
The bill failed through the disagreement of the
House, which was strongly for cheap postage,
and the postage remains at three cents. Of
the Pacific delegation, Lane, of Oregon, voted
for Yulee's amendment, and Broderick, of Cali
fornia, against it. Smith, of Oregon, and Gwin,
of California, were absent, or did not vote.
There has always been a pressure at Washing
ton in favor of making the pst-offiee depart
ment self-snpporting, by raising the rates of
postage. We have ever regarded the scheme
as founded in radical error and wrong. There
in no more reason why the post-office depart
ment should be expected to be self-supporting,
than there is that the Indian, war, or navy de
partment should. Cheap postage is the most
direct benefit which the mass of the American
people derive from the general government;
and it is essentially the peoples measure.
XTfT We have said that it was the custom of
monnVrs of Congress and Placemen at Wash
ington to help one another that when in, it is
themselves against all outrider. In the last
Washington Territory Pioneer and Democrat
is a letter over Gen. Lane's signature, highly
eulogistic of Gov. Stevens, the Delegate from
that Territory, designed to aid that gentleman's
rc-nontinalion. With the praise of Gov. St ?
vens we do not propose tn take issue ; we regard
him as a man of good abilities, a gentleman of
education fitting him for Congress, an indefati
gable worker, and efficient Delegate. But what
we wish to refer to, is this practice of memliers
of Congress endeavoring to keep each other in
office hy certificate. As though their constitu
ents heard and knew nothing alwut their offi
cial standing and acts except what they them
selves supplied them. They had all better let
their record speak for them, and leave newspa
per puffs to patent medicine advertisers.
tV In the U. S. Senate, ou the 22d and 23d
of Feb., Mr. Smith of Oregon, made speech
es upon the Kansas question. We do not find
the full report, but the telegraph says they were
44of some length." The question was intro
duced by Hale, of X. II., and lengthily debat
ed. On the 23d, Mr. Clingnian, of X. C, said :
"The Senate is now in debating society, and
might as well discus the question of Was
t'jrsar or Hannibal the greatest warrior V "
" AVar ox China. The miners in some of the
northern counties in California commenced op
erations against the Chinese, with the intention
of driving them from the mines, and, if possi
ble, from the State.
CP We are indebted to Mr. Geo. II. Jones,
for a package of Eastern and California papers
by the steamer Commodore; also to McCormick,
& Le Vinson's Express, for similar favors, on
the following day. -
XW Gov. McMullen, of Washington Terri
tory, is trying to get a nomination for Congress
from his district in Va. If they take him, they
must be "hard np" for timber.
A "Hm. Grist" op 'em. A Mr. Hawk
ins, wife, and fourteen daughters are reported
among the arrivals in San Francisco by a recent
steamer.
TBS MSB AMD FA I.E. " NATIONAL-
sat" -srEKcip: op on. iibxiiv.
Dr.. A. G. Henry, of Yamhill, one of the
early fathers perhaps the father of the "Na
tional" faction in Oregon, stated some interest
ing fncts connected therewith, in a recent speech
at Lafayette. We quote from it, us follows :
It hi well known, ntoro especially here in
Yamhill county, that I bore a prominent part
in bringing aliout the National organization, be
lieving as 1 did, that the great principles of Re
publicanism were in danger of being lost sight
of, in a party scramble for office and power.
The first step in that direction was taken here
in the spring of 1857, and the vote given at the
June election following, proved conclusively
. !fn , - l , , F ,1.1 . .
mat u mu neiiy nau yieiucu i vue earnest so
licitations of his frieuda and run against Gen.
Lane for Delegate, that ho would have been
elected. It was weU understood that Col. Kel
ly's reason for refusing to run was his convic
tion that Gen. Lane was opposed to the obnox
ious resolutions of the Salem platform, and
would at tho prone time so declare himself. I
believed this and voted for him in Portland, iu
June 1837; and I teas most fully con firmed in
this opinion by a personal interview 1 baa with
Gen'l Lane, the any after the election, when it
was thought he hnd'bcen run very close, if not
actually defeated. On his way through Oregon
City, he expressed himself more strongly to
Col. Kelly than he had done to myself the day
before ; saving, among other things, that I
44 tea the first man to tell him the truth in rela
tion to the public sentiment with regard to those
resolutions."
This interview confirmed Col. Kelly in his
policy of nominal adherence to the Democratic
i i i.i... :
OrgnillZUlloll, ailU lllliuuvu mm iu iirnuii uvui-
esce in mr snirircstion. of havinir an opiwrtu-
nitv afforded Gen. Lane for 44 setting himself
right in the estimation ot bis old mends in i ant
hill, and in other parts of the Territory." It
was agreed, that Ljdiould propose to our friends
in this County, the propriety of sending hiia a
letter ex plaitiitur their reasons for voting nirainst
him. 1 wrote to my friend Judge Olds, urging
him to get up a letter of this sort, in which 1
expressed the confident opinion that Gen. I-nne
would not only thank them for it, but would re
turn such an answer as would effect uallv anni
hilate the "Salem Cliiic," hodr and soul
The letter was written aud signed bv live of
our most respected Democratic citizens, con
eluded in earnest, but nwt respectful lanirusire:
meu who have never in their lives cast other
than a Democratic vote until that election.
Gen. Lane did not reply to the letter, for the
simple reason, that those who lor the time lie-
S,r dwnni.l tin. roiiitriil rif liia nitlitii-jil netmn.
diil not deem it expedient to let him know auy-
liln fttuutt if mni-fi liau tn VMitil I4.
T?iat I do the kind-hearted old gentleman no
injustice in thus placing him in the hands of
keepers, ttie following statement inane iy ins
authorized spokesman and political guardian,
Ethclbcrt C. llibben, most conclusively proves :
The editor of the Times in an editorial writ
ten while Gen. Iine was on tlie eve of leaving
Oregon for Washington, commenting upon the
1 ainliill letter, says 44 Jo this day he (lien.
Lane) has never seen the letter addressed to him
by Messrs. Oids, Kinney Sf Co. The
manifesto arrired in Lane's absence, and teas
taken out by Vapt. JlJoshcr, his son-tn-law,
who disposed of it, f wonder if it wasn't sent
to Mr. Bush? without ever having submitted it
to (Jen. Lane, frcept what uen. L.anc may
hare ascertained from our review of the letter,
it was sent to llibben it seems, he knows
nothing of one word it contains.."
The answer of Gen. Lane to this letter, or
rather the one made for hiin, satisfied even Col
Kelly that all hope of correcting the abuses
complained or, by working inside ol the regu
lar party organization," should be abandoned,
aud active steps were taken to form a Twlto
rial organization on the Yamhill platform, and
for the objects set forth in a series of articles
written uy myseu, anu puimsneu u om
ard. over the" sin-nature of 4rUeinocrat."
Until a short tune revious to the meeting of
the Euren convention, i suppose", uiui an
iH of conciliating the support of Gen. Lane
had been abandoned, although I was at a loss
to account for the sudden an J unexpected trans
fer of the Standard from the editorial control
of Mr. Lelaud, into whose hands it had a short
time previous been placed by an association of
gentlemen tor the express purpose ol prevent
ins its falling into the hands of Mr. O'Meara
who was known to le a pro-slavery man. But
the subsequent action of the Eugene conven
tion solved the mystery. Their endorsement
of Gen. Lane and Mr. Buchanan's Kansas
policr, could not be accounted for on anv other
prillCipie UUl Ull IIItT tMII'llKMUCU lilttl .HI. vr -
Menra had privately shown letters from Gen.
Lane expressing sympathy with their move
ment. This, gentlemen, was my understand
ing of the matter, and consequently I took no
part in the canvass, except so far as to express
my unqualified disapprobation of their action
in'a speech I made in Oregon City. How gen
tlemen composing that convention could screw
up their consciences to the sticking point of
adopting the following resolution, 1 was at a
loss to determine :
Resolved, That we have full confidence in the
ability of our esteemed Delegate in Congress,
Hon. Joseph Lane and that Tic merits the ap
probation of the Democracy of Oregon, for the
untiring zeal and devotion he hns manifested in
his efforts to procure onr admission into the
Union, and secure the payment of our wardebt.
It is not possible that they could have done it,
until (Jen. Lane had, throngh his quondam
friend UM eara, or some ot her source, pledged to
them his countenance and support.
Above we have, among other things, the fact
that Kelly instead of Latcson would have been the
candidate in 1857, if Gen. Lane had stood firm
ly upon the democratic platform. Kelly was
prepared to leave the democratic organization
then, and only desisted under the expectation
that Gen. Lane would publicly repudiate the
democratic platform of that year.
Above, too, we have Geu. Lane's soft stile
upon the democratic platform of 18o7 or the
4Hbnoxious restitutions" contained in it. Below,
we give an extract from Gen. Lane's letter of
acceptance that rear, containing his hard side
upon those very "obuoxious resolutions." Gen.
Lane wrote as follows :
In accepting the nomination, I cordially en
dorse the resolutions of the Convention, as ex
pressive of the principles and will of the democ
racy of Oregon, and while it is to lie regretted
that either any portion of the press or individ
uals claiming to lie advocates of the principles,
or memliers of the democratic party, should
persist in a conrse inevitably leading to the vio
lation of the "cherished usages of the party,"
tlie production of confusion nnd discord, and
overthrow of all party organization indispensa
ble to the mnintamance of onr political princi
ples and measures, it is both the right and duty
of the people, through their delegates in Con
vention, to condenm ami repudiate the same
whenever and wherever it may exist.
This language refers directly and entirely to
what Dr. Henry styles the "obnoxious resolu
tions," and completely nnd "cordially" covers
aud endorses them. The letter of acceptance
was pretty certainly written by Mr. llibben,
who had been at the Convention, witnessed the
will and determination with which those resolu
tions were adopted, noticed the purport and in
tent of the resolution offered by Mr. Smith, en
deavoring to place Gen. Lane on the platform,
and the meaning of the delegates in adopting it
Mr. llibben, just arrived in the country, had
been a spectator of all this, and knew that the
members of that Convention were not going to
be satisfied with an evasive and doubtful posi
tion respecting the "obnoxious resolutions ;" nnd
Gen. Lane's letter of acceptance, quoted above,
comes squarely np to their endorsement.
Dramatic Readings. M'lle Marie Duret's
readings and recitations, given in this place on
Saturday evening last, were attended by a re
spectable audience, and were received with ev
ident satisfaction. Her recitations, particularly,
were very good.
THE WAR DEBT.
The only item we find in the papers by tlils-
arrival concerning our war claims, is the follow
ing from the N. Y. Heralfi Washington Cor
respondence: Tub Washington and Oregon War Debt.
The modest demand of some six ot eight mil
lions of dollars made upon the gpneral govern
ment, to compensate the volunteers of Wash
ington and Oregon Territories for the expenses
incurred by them in making Indiau forays, came
before the House in the tenth week of the ses
sion, in the shape of a resolution directing the
third Auditor of the Treasury to audit these
accounts on a fair given basis (the same as for
the army), and report to next Con press. As
that course might possibly reuuee uie cianiio
from 40 to 80 per ceut., it w as of course oppos
ed by the delegates from those Territories, and
others; but the House, nevertheless, thought
the proposition fair aud proper, and adopted the
resolution.
A letter from Gen. Lane, published in the
last Olympia (W. T.) Pioneer, expresses the
opinion that the next Congress w ill pay the
claims as reported by the 3d Auditor. It is as
follows :
You will sec by the papers that the war debt
has been placed in the hands of the third Audi
tor for adjustment. Next Congress will no
doubt pay aU that may by this second adjust
ment be found due.
This act will take effect as soon as the Gov
ernor receives official notice of our admission,
and issues a proclamation calling the State or
ganization into operation.
The Eugene Press publishes the bill passed
at the July session of the Legislature, with the
above comments. If it ever took effect,
it was when the act passed providing for the
admission of the State. We 'understand the
validity of the bill is a question of doubt with
lawyers or, rather, that it is maintained by
some (and all, for aught we know) of them, that
it is without validity. Judge Boise is holding
his courts under the law of the Territorial As
sembly, passed last winter. Judge Deady, we
understand, w ill do tlie same in his district.
The other two judges wc presume w ill hold
none until after the meeting of the legislature.
Fortlaxd Election. The Democratic
City ticket was chosen by majorities ranging
from 150 to 250. Eight of the nine Council
men chosen, were also upon the democratic
ticket; for that office Shattuck, republican,
lieats McCarver, "national," thirteen votes.
That was the only successful name upon the
opposition ticket. The Standard says :
In the evening, bonfires were lighted about
town, 100 guns were fired, a torch-light proces
sion formed, and the large crowd paraded the
principal streets of the city. After an hour's
marching, they lonnea in mint ol the M etro po
lls Hotel, and were addressed hr Messrs. Kar
rar. Pace, Douthit, and Yansvclc. The speak
ing over, the line formed again, and visits were
paid some of the successful candidates, who
were treated with pleasing serenades by the
band.
The total number of votes polled was C75.
Faith in our Future. One of onr patrons,
who has taken the paper from the beginning,
sent us $"21, to lie passed to his credit as a suh
scrilier. He reasons that money just now is
more essential to the paper's welfare than it
will be after it shall have become older and pos
sessed of more ample pecuniary resources. He
has also great faith in the permanence of tlie
Ativocate, Tor he has now pan! iu advance seven
years. This is an encouraging sign. Bro.
- of
-, is the liberal subscriber al
luded to. Advocate.
It is a striking coincidence that the gentleman
above referred to (we omit the name) took the
Statesman '"from the beginning" until less than
a year ago, w hen it was discontinued "at the
option of the editor," nnd never pt-Jd anything
for it. He owes forty-seven dollars for sub
scription,
Gen. Lane is not striving to build np a per
sonal party in Oregon. He w ill. form no combi
nation w ith any Senatorial candidate in order to
secure his own or any other's election. He is
clear of the accusation preferred iu regard to
our non-admission last year. Standard.
This is a vety happy way of disposing of
"stubborn facts ;" it is not exactly original, bow
ever. . The plea of "not guilty" has before been
resorted to, in cases w here there was no other
defense.
We don't believe the editor of the Standard
feels as confident as he would like to in regard
to his apparently confident assertion that "he
will form no combination," Arc. Has he read
Hibben's officious letter in tlie last limes Does
he think Mr. II speaks without permission and
command ?
A Well-Ixforsied Legislator. In the
Illinois Legislature, last winter, Mr. Bane,
from Adams county, offered a resolution that
Senator Trumbull be instructed to vote for the
admission of Oregon into the Union with her
present Constitution. Mr. Peck, black repub
lican, with a flourish, moved to amend the res
olution, and make it read "provided said con
stitution does not recognize involuntary servi
tude." We have often heard the supposition thrown
out that Mr. Bush, some time in his life, had
held and advocated the abolition doctrine that
Congress, under the provisions of the Constitu
tion, had the power to abolish slavery as it ex
ists under a local State form of government
Eugene Press.
We have often heard more thfrh "the suppo
sition thrown out" that there was an unscrupu
lous black republican falsifier in Lane county,
aud in the above contemptible insinuation we
have indubitable proof.
New Dress. We this week present the
Statesman to its patrons, and the numerous
class who always beg, borrow, or steal it, print
ed upon new material throughout. Xot know
ing when we should bo able to get our power
press in operation, we concluded to put the new
type upon the hand press for the present. We
think the typographical appearance of our pa
per is not excelled by any printed on the coast.
Extraordinary Session. It will bo seen
that Gov. Whiteaker has called a special ses
sion of the Legislative Assembly, to commence
Monday, May 16th. That is in very good time,
and as early as is practicable. Special elec
tions have also been ordered to fill vacancies in
Linn, Yamhill and Clackamas Counties.
. Pedestrianism Extraordinary. A man
named James Kennovan lately performed, in
San Francisco, the nnparalled feat of walking
four hundred miles in ninety-eight hours and
twenty minutes.
E7Atthe Democratic convention in Coos
county, James Flanagan was unanimously
elected delegate to the State convention, with
power to appoint a substitute.
EP Mr. Campbell advertises to "renew brass
furniture." Dryer had better let him try his
skill upon his face. Can brass soaked in whis
key be "renewed I"
t3T The President has removed judge Le
compte, of Kansas, and appointed John Pettit,
of Indiana.
tW Preparations for the construction of sev
eral brick stores in this place, are in active progress.
OLK DEMOCRATIC rs.HKHTlQS
We have received the proceedings of the
Polk county democratic convention, had last
Saturday, but have not room for them hi full
this week. They will appear entire in our next
J. W. Nesmith, Benj. Hayden, I. t. M.
Butler, L. Heath and H. N. V. nolmes were
chosen delegates to tlie State convention.
The subjoined resolutions were adopted:
Rat!, tUat the democrmcy of PoUt county bare an
biding faith In the prlnclf-k of the democratic party of the
Union; and Oiat - mewiro, and not men," ia their motto.
ir-jM-mA. Tht a-e are In faror of aa economical adminis
tration of our Slate gorernnient, that we wiU repudiate any
and all d-bu contracted by onr lepUUture In exceai of Die
fifty thousand dollars prorided as the maximum in the con
stitution, and that we hae full confluence in tlie honesty and
integrity of our members of the LegislaUre Assembly, and be
liere they will exercise diligence and resist all attempts at
iAarUMnt -the sorernoeut , . .,,.
llamvta. mat we as mboc .-- -r
a personal party for any man, no matter what may be his
present position or itrture prospects. ,
i..ti Ti., o.. r--mumrudatlon to set the State roTem-
meut in operation before we bad the sanction of Congression
al authority , meets wim our a "!" -
Hcoletd, That we are in faror of rotation IB office, and a
strict adherence to Uia doctrine should - e required by toe
democratic parly- . .t .t
lltwUed, That we repudiate the doctrine fbat the ttienl
office in Orvg n belon; to the persons who happen for the
time being to be our representatives In Cod press, and we In
sist that In making appoint mt uts the democratic party nave
the rijrht to be heard by their recommendation, and that the
recipients of office are not nectssarilv bound to an eternal
personal f ally to the representative in Congress who happens
to present their names to the President, for appointment, but
to the parly of which they are members.
Remitted, That we have full confidence in out much esteem
ed and worthy ciltatn. Gen. J. W. Nesmith, and highly en
dorse his coarse as Superintendent of Indian Affair, for the
seal, energy and ability displayed in said office, for which he
has been fully sustained bv the department at Washington.
Eemeed, That we extend the band of fellowship to those
nation democrats who acted against us at the last election
who will unite with us In the support of our principles and
nominations.
RtMntred, That we as member of this convention pledge
ourselves to support the nomination made to day and the
nominations to be made at the democratic State convention
to be held at Salem April 2lh, l-59.
RtmJred, That the delegates from this coonly be and are
hereby Inttructed to ne their influence to secure the nomina
tion of Mr. Grover for Representative to Congress.
Jiesolrtwt, That Ihe proeeeoings of this convention be pub
lished in Tile Oregon Statciman, with a request that other
democratic papers copy.
STATCM
On the 27th of Februaty, In Washington
City, Hon. Daniel E. Sickles, of New York. 31
C'killed Philip Partem Key, United States
Attorney for the District of Columbia, for the
seduction of his wife. Sickles had for some
time been aware of an intimacy between Key
and his wife, but be had unbounded confidence
in the latter, and supposed that the intimacy
tras nothing more thau an innocent flirtation.
But indubitable evidence of the criminality of
the parties having been laid before him, he pro
ceeded to take summary vengeance upon the
seducer, by shooting him. The affair has cre
ated great excitement in Washington City and
elsewhere, on account of the high standing of
the parties, and their extensive connexion.
Sickl les is under arrest, having immediately
given himself np for trial.
Congress adjourned at noon on Friday, 4th
March, having failed to pass a Post Office Ap
propriation ltiil, on account of which omission
Postal affairs will perhaps lie seriously' inter
rupted. It is almost certain that the President
will call an extra session, probably in the month
of June. Until the Thirty-sixth Congress pass-,
es a Port Office Appropriatiation Bill, the con
tractors, route nsrent, and others in the service
of the Department, maet Trait for their pay.
No new routes can be opened, and no existing
routes can be renewed. The Department is
making every effort to overcome these embar
raATnents, and a Cabinet Council has been
called upon the subjtct.
An act was passed, extending the laws and
judicial system of the United States to the State
of Oregon, and providing for the appointment
of a U. S. judge for Oregon. No appointment
is yet made. -
An act granting public lands to the several
States which may provide colleges for the ben
efit of agricultural and mechanic arts, was ve
toed by the President. Also, the resolutions
providing for the deepening of the bar at the
mouth of the Mississippi, and the bill for the
improvement of St. Clair Flats.
The re-issue of the twenty millions treasury
notes was provided for.
Washington, March 5. The Senate met
to-day at 12 o'clock, in Executive session, and
confirmed various appointments by the Presi
dent, as follows: John Hubbard, of Maine, as
Boundary Commissioner ; John Pettit, of In
diana, as Chief Justice of Kansas Territory;
Bartholomew Fuller, of North Carolina, as
Fifth Auditor of the Treasury ; Robert S. Oukl.
District Attorney for the District of Columbia,
in place of Philip Barton Key; M. Vancleave,
U. S. District Attorney for Washington Terri
tory ; Andrew J. Thayer as District Attorney
for Oregon; Robert McLane, of Maryland, as
Minister to Mexico; Joseph Holt, the present
Commissioner of Patents, as Postmaster Gen
eral, in place of Governor Brown, deceased; G.
W. Jones, formerly U- S. Senator from Iowa,
as Minister to Bogota.
James Y.. McDuffie, of Georsria, hns been
appointed by the President Superintendent of
lmuan Aiiairs tor caiitornM.
G. W. Gbolson, of Mississippi, hns been ap
pointed Governor of Washington Territory.
Washisotox, March 8. The Senate to
day in executive session, ratified a number of
treaties with the Indians of Oregon and Wash
ington Territory.
The Cass-Herron treaty with New Granada
was so amended that those who have not pre
sented their claims against that government,
may do so at any time before New Granada
takes final action upon the treaty.
In the Senate, after the executive session.
Vice President Breckinridge presented a me
morial from numerous citizens of Nebraska,
protesting- against the annexation of a portion
of their Territory to that of Kansas.
Postmaster General Brown died at his resi
dence in this city this morning, of a very prev
alent disease, which is variously styled quinsy,
catarrh, and pneumonias. Governor Brown was
a few months ago, apparently the most hale,
hearty and vigorous member of the Cabinet
His age was nearly sixty, bat his habits of phi
losophic sobriety, regularity and good temper.
preserved him in an admirable condition cf
bodv and content of mind.
Toronto, (Canada) March 8. The Colo
nial Parliament, now in session at this place,
passed a resolution to-day petitioning the Pres
ident ' of the United States to recommend to
Congress the passage of an act to incorporate
a company for the purpose of connecting Ame
rica and England by a submarine telegraph via
Greenland, Iceland and Fair I stand.
Vick8BIro, March 7. There was a heavy
rain storm here yesterdy, with a repetition of
the snlphur shower, which we expenerrced a
few days since, leaving the ground covered with
a yellowish powder.
Hostile Meeting. A duel was fought last
evening at tlie Oaks, between Messrs. P. Ca
nonge and E. Hiriot, gentleman connected with
two city papers. Three rounds were fired with
duelling pistols, at ten paces, fAt, fortunately,
neither received any wound. N. O. Bulletin.
New Hampshire Election. The entire
Republican State ticket has been elected in
New Hampshire. The republicans have also
elected the three members of Congress.
Washington, March 5. The Interior De
partment has certified to the State of Iowa,
223,000 acres of land under the Congressional
grant, for the benefit of Railroads in that State.
The Hon. E. A. Hannegan, formerly U. S.
Senator from Indiana, and minister to Prussia,
was found dead in his bed, on the morning of
February 27th, at a hotel in St. Louis, where
he has resided for the last two years.
Washington-, March 2, 1359. In the Sen
ate, Mr. Pugh. of Ohio, moved to take up the
Homestead bill, which was defeated by a vote
of 20 to 2. The California Senators voted to
take up. The Oregon Senators were absent,
or did not vote.
Illinois. Great excitement prevailed at
the Illinois capital. The democratic majority
of the legislature passed an apportionment bill,
which the republican Governor vetoed. His
secretary when he brought in the veto was for
cibly ejected from the floor. A democratic
member snatched the obnoxious document from
the page's hands, and threw it upon the floor.
A republican placed it upon the speaker's desk.
The speaker promptly knocked the document
off, and the democratic member again took the
pnper up and deposited it in his pocket. Fi
nally the republican members (all but three
who it was said remained to move calls of the
House, and protect the journals from being
made a record of incorrect statements,) aban
doned the capital, and left both houses without
a quorum. Aa the Illinois legislature meets but
once lb two years, this unfortunate termi
nation of the session will be very serious in its'
1-fTi.f . 'j.r. ........I.i:,,.. ..II.. .1 .!... . 1. - . V
ject of the apportionment bill was to elect a
democrat to tue U. S. Senate in place of Trum
bull. .
t.BtTEB Fllolt DOIGU COl VTV.
-Roseburo, Oregon, March 21th, 1330.
t r,!IBrSD I5c8H-,:-1 observe by the last num
ber of the Arkansaw Traveler, that the editor
of that sheet takes exceptions to a letter which
I addressed you some weeks ago, relative to tho
state of politics in our conntr. The old gen
tleman seems to be quite warmly enlisted in the
cause of Gen. Lane, considering the position he
occupied a little more than three years ago
Then, he was supposed to be "arinsr'Lane
and "fur" T' Vault; and as Lane's family and
friends couldn't brook opposition to the Gen
eral then any more than they can now, Menhir
who happened to lie eogufzant of one of tho
Col.'s little peccadilloes, resolved to make it tho
instrument of his punishment. So he perw
cutcd him for perjury. The intensity of tho
Colonel's feelings upon his escape from convic
tion was such, that he never found vent for
them until two or three weeks ago, when he in
serted them into the Traveler, in a little para
graph commencing "There air times," &c
While the trial was in progress, it was suggest
ed by a member of the bar, that the indictment
should have been headed "Territory of Oregoif
vs. W. G. T'Vault. Indictment for not sup
porting Jo. Lane. After, the trial, the CoU
mdulged in some animadversion ajrainst his
prosecutor, which resulted in Luitili: feelings
between the parties, which subsisted, I believe-.
until quite recently, when Mosher, thinking tha.
Traveler's influence might be useful to the Lass
interest, onened negotiations with a view to si
pacification. I am gratified to say that the re
suit was highly satisfactory. The first inter
view between this note very cordial pah-, is said;
to have been deeply affecting. The meeting
bf David and Jonathan, or of 'the Emperors
Nap. and Aleck, at Tilsit, wasn't a circum
stance. What happy concatenation of ctrenra-..
stances combined to produce this entente cor
dial e, of course J don't know. Do you t :
t .1 a .1 .. r.. .1 !. . 1. 1
1 unserve mat me ve. uuu 1 .ic iruuuio
to dispute tlie facts which I stated in my letter,
but contents himself with a few little para-;
graphs, intended cither to be very fanny or
very serious written in his "usual happy and
oFwrivo arr-Ie " fine of tliem inijrht. nerliana.
..... - - - - - rz 1
be tortured into a denial that ''Burnett prefer-"
t-i-1 T1p:l1v tn Ijinp." last snrinr. So I'll inst
reiterate 'that statement again. Burnett was
for Deady, at that time, in preference to any
body else ; and for that reason, and no other,
it was decreed at the land office at Winchester,
that Burnett should not be elected to the Leg
ielature.and he wasn't.
At tlie same time, an attempt was made to
extend the land office influence into Coos and
Curry counties. By the advice and approval
of the tenants of the land office, a Lane man
was brought out against Tichenor, the regular
democratic nominee, and anti-Lane. This
man, who ?raa merely a tool in the hands of
Lane's friends, and who ran altogether npon
the Lane issne, received just the opposition vote,
and of coarse was not elected. The land oface
influence was not powerful enough to control
the sturdy democracy of the coast.
If Lane's friends "do not succeed in making"
the Democracy of Douglas county shoulder ther
General for life, it will not be for want of untax
ing exertion. The tenants at the land office,
who depend npon Lane for their means of live
lihood, show a lively appreciation of their obli
gations to him ; and one or the other of them is
generally traveling about the conntry, strength
ening the weak and comforting the faithful in
the cause of Jo. Lane. One of their strongest
catches is, to awaken a feeling of county pride,
on the ground that the General is a citizen of
Douglas county; but it is well known that Lane
considers Washington City as his home, and
has no intention of residing in Douglas county,
or anywhere else in Oregon, unless he is oblig
ed to.
The Traveler wishes to know if '-Douglas
pretends to say that Gen'l Lane has no princi
ples, or that he has violated the rules and regu-
lations of the Democratic party !" I admit .
that Gen'l Lane has this advantage over the
editor of the Traveler, that he has some princi
pies, although he has a peculiar way of laying
them very quietly to one side, when they are
likely to prove troublesome, or to make a voto
against him. I do say, however, that he has
most assuredly violated the rules and regula
tions of the Democratic party, in procuring the
appointment of grossly incompetent persons to
responsible offices (of which we have an exam
ple in onr own county), and in countenancing
and encouraging bolters and disorganizers, and
retaining tliem in office, contrary to the express
ed will of the party.
Notwithstanding the combined influence of
the Traveler and the land office, people in these
parts are beginning to do their own thinking.
The sentiment is fast gaining ground that Lane
and his favorites have fattened long enough at
the public crib, and that they onght to give
piace to others. UUliKilAH.
LETTER FBO.U WALLA WALIJI.
Fort Wall. Walla, March 23, 159.
Editor Statesman As there is quite an
excitement in the AYillamette valley abnt this
Walla Walla country, and as many statements
are made from honest convictions, and" many,
no doubt, from design, and as many have spent
time and means in, coming to see the Walla
Walla valley, and as many more contemplate
seeing it the coming summer, allow nve to ap
prise all snch in advance, that when they do see
it, they will see an extensive plain, with"a semi
occasional small stream, that sometimes affords
water and sometimes don't. Some of those do
afford some good land, but tbat same is so small
a portion, when compared to the extensive
range of waste land in the intermediate conntry
between these small streams, that it is imprac
ticable for forming to any reasonable extent.
AeroRS this valley from the 46th parallel N. to
Snake river, the distance is about 55 miles,
the Military trail passing through the very best
portion of the valley, and ia this distance you
pass over eight miles ef as good tanning land as
is on this coast. Say nothing about the entire
absence of good timber for fencing, or building
. prpos:i, or even wood of a respectable qualiry
. r reasonable quantity, I have summed np the
extent of settlements that can be made in this
valley and I have seen it all from the mouth
to tlie source, or as near the source as can bo
got for snow and I make the number of settle
ments loO, all told, ami those in such detached
settlements as to forbid the idea of schools, or
any social influences for civil or religions purpo
ses. The present geographical hmits-ef- fbo
Walla WaBa country are from the 45th pajnliel
to mouth of Snake river, thence up the- main
channel east to the summit of Blue Mountains,
thence south to 46th parallel, thence west to
middle of Columbia, giving an area of some
2,800 square miles, and one hundred and fifty
settlements, pre-emption settlements I dont
mean such pre-emptions as ' has
taken, a farm of some two hundred acres near
Fort Walla Walla, another on Dry Creek of
as many thousand, with another fractional part
on Tnm-a-lum, on which he expects to seed
three hundred acres oats, nor yet pre
emption, embracing already several hundred
acres now in process of cultivation, neither do I
mean such pre-emptions as . - . This
claim is like , and is like the tet-
terworm, spreads all over the valk-y, or a dis
tance of ten miles from the extremes. But I
mean legal pre-emption claims of 1G0 acres
each, which will embrace all the lands suscepti
ble of cultivation lying in bodies sufficiently
large to justify. This gives an insignificant
fraction to the area; the remaining portion is
well adapted to grazing, and nothing else.
iue winter nere uaa oeen com, with occa
sional snow, but not to remain long enough ta
injure stock; spring backward; farmers not
done seeding; stock looks well; beef on foot
12c., in market 2.K25c ; flour is worth $20 50
to get it here, and every one who could, tried
get rich by the flour trade this winter, and glut
ted the market for the next two months.
I wish yon would see Nesmith and talk to him
about the common practice of selling whiskey
to Indians, and giving cultas pot-iaches to
squaws. This is all wrong, decidedly wrong,
and the veiy best way to remedy the matter is,
to say to the Col., just give Cain, Indian Agent
here, instructions to buy aU of Maseev's flour,
and let the oh! fellow come home, get away