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THE SPECTATOR,
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W. O. T VAULT, BDITOK.
usrtrs
Oregon City; March 1? 146.
THE ORGANIC LAWS.
Tho public have had time to examine the
Organic Law, as published in the first num.
ber of the Spectator. The law is the Con.
stitution cf tho provisional government of
Oregon.
The first article of said compact 19 simply
a declaration of rights, dividing the govern,
ment into three distinct departments the
legislative, executive and judicial; also, pro.
htbiting slavery or involuntary servitude.
The second article defines the powers of
the legislative, executive and judicial dc
payments defining the franchises giving
the form of an oath all officers under the
compact are required to tnke. In substance,
the oath is as follows :
which they now enjoy in peace and tran.
quility ; ho maintained, for tho use of the
whole western country, the free navigation
of the Mississippi, at the hazard of his life,
health and fortune; he gave glory and re
nown to tho arms of his country throughout
the civilized world, and taught the tyrants of
the earth the salutary lesson that, in defenco
of their soil and independence, freemen aro
invincible. Ho was elected president of the
United States in 1628, and inaugurated 4th
March, 1829 ; waged war against the bank
of the United States and all monopolies
also, against a system of internal improve,
ment by the general government was sus
tained by tho people, and upon these issues,
re-elected president of the United States in
1832, and re-inaugurated 4th March, 1838;
and on the 4th of March, 1837, retired to
the sweets of private life, and has now paid
the last debt of nature. Whatever may be
the opinion of others, wc shall not hesitate
to say, in the language of the sage of Mon.
ticello, " honor and gratitudo to him who has
filled the measure of his country's honor."
THE LIQUOR LAW.
Much interest nnDcars to be manifested in
. I'J da mnlyweartbiit-LjvilLsuppoxt ewnOTmtvTFp
the Organic Laws of the provisional govern. , , '. . , . , , . r
ment of Oregon, so far as said Organic Laws that Par,scd th legislature at the last Decern
aro consistent with my duties as a citizen of ber session, as published m the first number
the United States, or a subject of Great Dri-' of tho Spectator, to " prevent the introduc
tain, and faithfully demean myself in office." I tiorif sa(0) an(( distillation of ardent spirits in
Here we have to admit that the oath is not Oregon." We are well satisfied that if ar
only peculiar, but indefinite. It is not an dent spirits could be prohibited from being
oath of allegiance to the provisional govern-1 cither introduced or manufactured in Oregon,
L' ment of Oregon, and it leaves the person who, it would add much to the peace and happi
takes the oath, to exercise his oun judgment
with regard to his duties, as a citizen of the
United States or a subject of Great Britain.
Kj consequently it is indefinite.
"Hence it is that we arc mtormed that tnc
officers, in administering the oath, havo been
in the habit of only administering that part
of tho oath that applied to tho citizen or sub-'
ject, as the case might be.
The thfrd article is the Land Law, defin
ing the manner of making and recording land
claims ; it also points out the manner that
amendments shall be made to the Organic
Law. Amendments to that law arc propo
sed, and will bo submitted to the people at
the June election ; wc will therefore leave
the merits or demerits of said proposed
amendments for tho candidates for the legis
laturc to discuss.
ness of the people, as well as the prosperity
of the country. The first grand object of
all governments should be to establish for
rotary of the territory in support of his asscr.
lions. But notwithstanding this, I deny bin
allegations, both in reference to his matter
of fuct statements as well as tho Inferences
to Ik; drawn from them; and charge him with
knowingly belying the names ho assumes",
Tho writer was evidently a component part
of that honorablo body whoso course of con
duct ho KCcniH so eager to vjndicato ; as his
over-anxiety to place their acts in as favora
ble a light as powiblo before the pubic, by
(wasting of tho many wholesome laws and
patriotic acts made and performed by this
tri.sossioned assembly, will clearly indicate.
Of course, the writer's intentions are entire
ly unselfish, in thus warmly repelling the
charges of injustice proforcd iignitirit that
TEXAH.
(Kr Wo are informed by a respectable .gen
tleman who has just received a lettor from
tho United States, dated Independence, Mis
souri, August 12, 1845, jhat Texas had ac
cepted tho terms of annexation proposed by
the congress of the United States. If the
information bo correct, and we havo no rea
son to doubt it, Texas is now one of the mem
bers of the great confederacy, adding her
lone star to the constellation of the Union.
The time when American citizens will
revel in tho hall of the Montezumns, is not
far distant. Wc have no faith in tho report
that Mexico had declared war against tho , nous(.. Hut if otherwise, 1 fear for the sako
United States on account of .the annexation of the gentlemun's future hopes and long
rT i..- .t.i .....b ri.il.m-n umr inirw.liQt it is now Kk late to recall the
business fiuhtinir the Yankees, when she
entirely failed-in subjugating Texas.
OtrTho following note and letter was re.
ceived on tho 10th inst., and the favor asked
for, inserted in this day's puper.
Oregon Citv, March 10, 1840.
To the Editor of the Spectator :
Sin Will you do me the favor to publish,
in your columns, the enclosed letter ? from
which your readers will, at once, see mv
I fiut of condemnation winch has long since
been sent forth by the jieople aguinst the most
of its proceedings ; a majority of its movu
bers, including himself, having been weigh
ed in their bulunce, and found wanting.
But to the refutation of tho writer's docu
meiitury evidence against my former char.
ges, as well as his eironrous assertions of
other matters, of which no records exist
but of the truth of which I happn to be bet.
ter informed than this friend to truth and
justice.
1 he writer commences mv ol.'icial career
r - --- - , . -. , r
vino-frtf.Tfin:hTrnn-.,iin nntlm InimlTTTnrninhosrart. by remarking that my flection
lU,WI. llll M'TII ' tW !' .. . .'-
bv commodore Wilkes. "t Ghampocg was n
at Fort George
1 tun, sir, vour ob't serv't,
John Mclaughlin
U. S. Brno PoRroisr, i
Columbia River, Oct. ',', loll. J
HEAR SIR Ueing obliged, rom the late.
extended to each department in short, ccm
manding that to bo done which ought to be
done, and prohibiting that which ought not
to be done, by either of tho departments of
the government. Notwithstanding we view
the government of Oregon as only tempor
ary, brought about for the protection and re-
not followed by mv taking
the oath ami olhciatmg till some time alter.
' Why did he not at the same time give the
! rciimi for this jHstponeiuent of my being
qualified? u reason, perhaps, which is hotter
known to himself than many others, in this
; countrv. Ho saw that at the June session
ness of tho season, to abandon the intention I f !"-- legislature, in 1844, I was appointed
had of using the lanch of the Into U. S. ship j sergoaiit-at-armK lor tho jioum-, but as this
Peacock, for the exploration of the const to , lly never had any Mich officer about them,
tho southward of this river, I havo thought ! bo wr'"'r "',ls certainly acknowledge his
that I could not possibly place ber to a letter J "or in this respect ; for they, unlike their
use than by leaving her for a pilot Iwat for successors, attind.il to their own called-for
communication with vessels off the danger. ; ""l legitimate business in this ns well as
I in con-
money in
petty squabbles, political manwuvreing, and
in worse than useless delates on points of
order, the legitimacy of the speakership, pre.
paring memorials to the people of the United
States, locitting'the "cut of government, and
themselves tho fundamental principles of 0u bar of the river, tind to nlFonl relief by ther nilairs, and were not nvw
government, defining the grant of (towers giving pilots to those that are coming in, and i sinning their time and the peoples' i
guiauon oi us cmzens, umu sucn nine as ncti for lh(j compunVt
the United fatatcs shall extend her jurisdic I wj( now state, in a 'uv words, tflr charge
tion and protection; yet there is as much nc ! I wish the Hon. Hudson's Bay Company
ccssitv, and the laws should be just as bind-' fo assume, viz : That the lanch be kept at
assistance in cuscs of accident.
It was my intention to have spoken to you
on tho subject Imfore I left Vancouver, but
among tho many duties that occupied my at
tcntion. it was forgotten.
I have spoken to Mr. Birnie in relation to i passing laws so imperfect that they can
taking her in charge for that purpose ; but n' '"' enlorced. "Hence" the necessity of
he has referred me to you, as be did not feel , calling public meetings "for the purple of
authorized to assume the responsibility ol , """"mug upon wio grout propriety oi sits
ANDREW JACKSON.
Mr. Waldo informs us that he received a
letter from his brother, dated August 12,
1845, which contained the intelligence, that
our beloved and venerable ex-prcsitlent of
tho United States, Andrew Jackson, died
at his residence, the Hermitage, in June last.
Andrew Jackson was born at Waxsaw, S.
Carolina, March 15, A. D. 1707. His father,
mother, and two brothers, came from Ireland
in 1765. His brothers were killed in the
battles of the revolution for the independence
of tho United States. At 15 years of age he
had no relative living in America; in 1788,
he went to Nashville with Judge McNair
and commenced the practice of law.
Jf jhj not our object to attempt a panegyric
of general Jackson. " History will trans,
mit to generations yet unborn truths, and
speak of Jhis merit.'' He dofefidcd and pre.
itrved the great emporiuarof the whole wes.
tern country against tho veteran troops of
the enemy, by'whom it would have been
sacked, and their dwellings involopcd in
flames over the heads of their beloved fami
lies. He gave peace to tho. defenceless por
tion of thesouth and west, and chastised the
ferocious savage foe, and tho perfidious' in
cendiaricB and felons by whom they were
excited and counselled to the perpetration of
their cruel deeds. He opened additional ter.
ing, and enforced w'th as much .energy ,as if
Oregon had assumed a stand among tho na.
tions of the earth as an independent nation.
It is contended by many, and it may be so,
that the law on ardent spirits is unconstitu.
tional ; but the only legal way to ascertain
that fact is, to refer the matter to the su.
authority ? Great excitement on any sub
jeet is injurious.
tuining the laws of the country.
I acknowledge the receipt of two, drafts on
the treasury for the amount specified in the
appropriations ; but the honoring and pay
ment of those draHs by the treasurer is what
I havo to complain of. The unequal value
of our currency is w' known to nil, and
fort George, under tho special care-of the
agentof the Hon. Hudson's Bay Company, for
the sole purpose of being used in afibrding
relief and aid to ail vessels requiring assifc , when I presented mv orders on the treasury.
tance of any kind, or pilots, for entering the tlrfli- were liquidated in the most depreciated
river, until called for by somo person au-1 funds, when at the same time those bonorn.
thorized by me or the government of tho U. j ble gentlemen were pocketing their per diem
States to receive her. pay out of the par cash of the country. But
In making this request, I am well aware of whether tho treasurer or they areto'bc bla.
prcmo judge. Would it not be more expe. .the desire that the Hon. Hudson'sB. Company mod for this unjust proceeding, I take it not
dient to make an cfibrt to enforce tho law,' and its officers have always shown to dp every on myself to say, but yet would remark that
and let the issue be decided by the proper j!hin.in thcir H".10 aflJni.rc,ic.f j',os, 'the country generally is strongly disposed to
J r ! m mstrpeq. nnrl (no rlnnn tfirrr tnnr nil nt. 1 :it ottunmnn n tlw.it ImiMiw. tw.tn.l in ,.ni
tached to this squadron have evinced for the i cert, and that the legislative proceedings
relief extended to ourselves, individually, were much swayed through this and other
during tho late disaster, und that it will he . mediums, by an intermeddling, selfish and
only placing a suitable boat, lor the use of the
company, by which relief may be afforded
more promptly.
1 therefore have little doubt hut that you
03" The "act to establish courts and pre.
scribe their powers and .duties," as revised
by the reviser of laws, is in part published in
this number of the Spectator. Wo have not
examined the law throughout, but are satis,
ficd, from reading tho first section, that the
revision is incorrect. If "tho supreme, orim.
inal, and county courts, shall bo courts of
record" only, then the estates of deceased
persons are to bo settled by courts not of re.
cord. We aro well satisfied that probate
courts should bo courts of record. They
were in Iowa, and should bo in every gov.
ornment where peoptdtc.
(ttr Many citizens of Clackamas county
are desirous that A. L. Lovejoy, Esq., should
be a candidato for the next legislature. If
he will consent to run, it is our opinion that
somo of the would.be members of the next
legislature, if not located at the head of Salt
River, will be located at Clatsop, the head
ritory to the. rich fad growing .popuUtionJof.wA voter.
all. portentous power in our midst. If this
bo true, however, I blush for tho names of
freemen and American citizens, which thoy
assume to themselves, ami think it will re.
will not object to assume -4ho charge, and I ouiro other patriotic and praiseworthy ucts.
assure you, it will afford me great satisfaction j besides repealing the improper and imperfect
hereafluf to-hear that shoxbas been of any .legislation of another as well asjhcir own
use in having lives or nronert
The lanch will be left with $rBirnie,
with all her fixtures complete. C'
I am, with much retpect, your ob't terW,
CHARLES WIIEg,
Com. Exploring Exp.
John McLacoiiun, Eq.,
Chief Factor II. 0. C, Fort Vancouver.
COMMUNICATION.
Mr. Editor An answer in tho last num.
ber of the Spectator, over the signature of
"A friend to truth and justice," to my state
ment of reasons for resigning the offico of
marshal of Oregon, would appear to a casual
observer a most plausible array of facts In re.
futation of any charges or allusions, contain,
ed in my Btricturcs on the official conduct of
some othor officers of this government. I
say, would appear so, becauso he cites us to
the documents on file in the office of tho no.
uotiy, m order to get themselves poised in
the peoples' scales, and again re-instated in
.the confidence and good graces of thcir con
stitucnts.
In reference to the appropriation in Au.
gust last, of $100 to pay tho marshal, I um
in entire ignorance, not having received ahy
such remuneration, and I fancy it will striko
tho reader of our history, as rather strange
that such an appropriation should havo been
made, when he is informed that tho office
was created for tho first timo in Orogon at
this identical dato.
As to tho whole amount received by my
self and deputy, during the two years and a
half I havo been in offico, I would state it to
have been but little Over 9400, and this in the
uticurrent money before mentioned. The per
oentage and perquisites of my varipui offi.
cos, which " a friend to truth and justice"
JS
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