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About Oregon free press. (Oregon City [Or.]) 1848-1848 | View Entire Issue (May 20, 1848)
for (be march next morning Ibe presiding officer slill refusing to give us our proper number. Vve now came to the determination, at all hazards, to return home, as vve would not command a company laboring under so much unjust treatment. A captain would feel himself awfully disgraceo to command a company under such circumstances, and vve had no reasons to believe that our subsequent treat ment would bo any betteras vve are in the habit of judging men's future conduct by the past. Now vve are at home, and are pleased to learn that our neighbors justify us in returning. We regard our selves as-patriotic as any other men, and are ever ready to defend our country's rights and uonor, as some of us have done, in the 'field, before vve came to Oregon. But vve arc unwilling to be a foot-ball for any set of tyrannical demagogues, who will either gratify their ambition, or court popularity at the expense of justice, Fifteen men of the company came borne : Ibe Captain. ipe isi ana -mi neuienauis, auu twelve privates. VM. J. MARTIN, ELISHA BEDWELL, H. D. MARTIN. FOR THE FREE PRESS. TO THE PEOPLE OF YAMHILL COUNTY. It is important that the public acts of public men should be investigated, pcrticularly the acts of our Representatives when acting in the capacity of Rep resentatives. I hold the doctrine to be both good and true, that when a Representative voles for or against any measure, that that vote is for the public, and more particularly when it is to tax the resident constituents of the representative, or those who may hereafter mi grate to the country. I do not wish to interfere in the election of representatives at the ensuing election, but believe it to be my duty, as well as the duly of every other voter in Yamhill county, to inquire into the votes of our representatives at the last session of the Legis lature; 1 therefore wish, through the columns of the independent "free press," to publish the vote on Ibe bill granting to Levi Scolt the privilege of raising a par ty and conducting the immigrants, the present year, by way of the southern route to Oregon, and then taxing them for that privilege, but, much to the credit of Mr. Scott, he declined accepting the privileges extended in said law. The vole on the final passage of said law, by reference to the journals, stands thus: ayes, Craw ford, Chamberlain, Cox, Hemrree, Nesmith, Rector, Becce, Plemondo, Robinson, and Mr. Speaker 10. Nays, Ford, Rice, Rogers, Hill, Wair, and White G. There is no doubt but, from our present difficulties with Ihe Indians, and our embarrassed situation, and the doubts with regard lo our mother country extend ing her jurisdiction the present year, that vve need those to represent us who will be the most certain to adopt such measures as will be best calculated lo pro mote our interests, preserve our honor, and maintain our character as a people capable of self-government, in doing which, can it be possible that it ever was, or ever will be, necessary lo pass a law taxing those who may wish to migrate to Oregon by way of roads already opened by the perseverance and industry of the immigrants to this country? . It is the duty of every man, in casting his vote, lo do it understandingly; hence it is that as some of the members who voted on Ihe law lo improve the South ern route are again candidates, it cannot he amiss (o let the people investigate their votes while representa tives. A CITIZEN. Telegram under water. The electric telegraph, from Portsmouth, England, lo the Isle of Wight, has been found to succeed admirably, on a trial, with even ope Vvire only, laid down under water. , The following capital toast was given at- a public dinner in Kichmon"d: "Tlic Slates of the Union ! dis tinct like the billow, but one like the sea." OliEfiOW FREE frRESSc Geo. L. Curry, Editor and Proprietor. OREGON CITY, SATURDAY MAY 20, 1848. WRECK OF TnE VANCOUVER Since our last issue we have positive intelligence from the moulh of the river of the total loss of the II. B. Cd.'s bark Vancouver. Perhaps one thousand dol lars worth only of her cargo was saved in a damaged condition, of which, when the salvage money is paid, there will be but a trifling amount left. It will be re membered that Hie Vancouver was from England, with the annual supplies of the company, and although she touched at Victoria and there discharged the greater portion of her cargo, slill there were articles aboard that arc much needed, and the absence of which will be sensibly felt. She also had consignments of goods for various individuals in the community, and we do not know that the company's insurance covers the en tire cargo of the vessel ; the individual losses, there fore, will be more severely felt, perhaps, than all the other. Upon receiptor the first intelligence of the disaster, the "Board of Commissioners on Pilots and Pilotage," instructed the Governor lo commission and despatch Capt. Crosby to investigate the causes of the lamenta ble occurrence, and to render all the assistance in his power to any vessels crossing the bar, as we had a cur rent report last week that there were at least three vessels outside, awaiting opportunity to enter. Tho captain has returned lo Portland, as we are informed, having received sufficient information concerning tho objects or his mission, which made it unnecessary for him to proceed any farttier on his way down. This re port, we presume, will shortly be forthcoming, when. undoubtedly, we shall have all the facts and particu lars. We learn that the officers of the Hudson's Bay Company exculpate our pilot, Mr. Reeve, from all im putation of blame, and commend him for the presence of mind and ability he displayed in his efforts to re trieve the misfoitune. The substance of what we hear, is that the Vancouver was "beating in," "missed slays,'' in naulical parlance, and the wind suddenly veering, before she could be recovered, she struck upon the bar; the anchors were immediately "let go" but did not hold her. Every possible effort was made lo gel her again into the channel. The wind having increased, all sail was put upon her and she was actually forced to within her length of the channel, and would, it is thought, havo reached it, had she not have been "brought up" by striking upon some hard substance in the sands supposed to have been the remains of tho wreck of Ihe U.S. Sell. Shark, as it was in the vicinity of where that vessel was lost. The engulphing sands closed upon the wreck so rapidly, that no vestige of it was visible a few days after. We have heard no es timate of the value of the ship and cargo, but presume, the loss will exceed one hundred thousand dollars. The wreck of the Vancouver may be considered ono of the most unfortunate events that could have befallen this country at this time. Although we sincerely regret the pecuniary loss occasioned by this disaster, still wo must' more deeply deplore the injurious effect it will have upon the interests of the country at large, in again creating another cause for decrying and prejudicing