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