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About Oregon spectator. (Oregon City, O.T. [i.e. Or.]) 1846-1855 | View Entire Issue (March 19, 1846)
THE PB,CTATOK For the Spectator. Mr. Editor Offa todrounwtancqsovor which wo had no control, the fall and Vintef terms of Ui'e Oregon Institute closed on4he 18th ult. This school has oeen in operation about one year and a half. We began with five pupils during the last term we ave-. raged between 3b and 40. The male de partment has been conducted by Mr. Alan son Hinman. His qualifications, fidelity, and devotedness to his work, richly merits the esteem of his employers. Mrs. Willson has had charge of the femalo department from tho commencement. Tier qualifications for teaching and conducting a scltool, are of tho first order; and in a country like this, where so much depends on the correctness of the principles employed and inculcated in the education of our daughters, and in tho formation of their character, we consider her eminently useful in this department, and hope she may continue. We have alto had an exhibition? not ex actly theatrical, to bo sure ; but it was in teresting to us, as it exhibited our youth, of either sex,, in the laudable and successful Our An Observer op Things. Salem, March 10, 1840.. PUDLLIC MEETING. To the Editor of the Oregon Spectator: Sir I am requested to forward to vo' for publication tho proceedings of a public meet ing, which was held at Salem mills on Satur day tho 14th insi. said meeting being con vened for tho purpose of devising moans to explore and6pen a wagon road from the wa ters of the upper Willamette to Snake river. The meeting was organized by the ap pointment of Hon. J. M. Garrison to the chair, and Jno. B. McClane secretary, when the following items of business wero trans acted: A subscription which had previously been circulated, was presented to,bo meet ing, the aggregate of which amounted to one -s thousand dollars; whereupon, it was Jtesohed, That a committee of si be oho. sen to still farther circulate said subscription. Tho following persons wero selected as said committee, viz: Jno. B. McClane, Thos. Holt, Jas. P. Martin, J. W Boyle, A. C. R. Shaw, And Moees HarrisV V"5 The aforesaid committee were instructed to circulate the subscription as extensively as possible, and to call a meeting of the subV soribers whenever they shall judgo proper; also, to inquire who are willing to go on the expedition, and are competent to go as pilots, and to report the result of their inquiries to. the aforesaid meeting, which is to convene at the call of said committee. J. M. GARRISON, Ch'mn. Jno. B, McCiAne, i&s'jr. For the Spectator. Mr. Editor "Fairly convinced of tho truth of that great-doctrine, that the fall of a spar row is not .unnoticed in thfe large acale of di TineVgovernrnent, Wo are perfectly justified in the conclusion that tho great events of na tions are for thowisdom of their posterity, and that the highest offico of human experi ence is to guide; human conduct, and the guidance ot nations is the providontial pur purpose of history." Can wo then, by pe rusing tho annals of history, in which are recorded tho groat events of nations for our providential instruction, find sufficient evi dence io lead uj to the conclusion thaVOro gon ought to declare her independence? This subject is one of great moment to this peo ple, and one which seems to bo engaging considerable attention ; and hero wo should not overlook a very groat error which is gen e rally relied on, and promulgated among us as a very great reason why Oregon should take that important stop, and attempt to assume a name among tho nations of tho earth, is, that the Unitod States will not lay out and expend her revenue in fortifying our sea board, and' in improving our rivers, and ox tend to us her protection, without, in some way, raising an equivalent by levying taxes, placing restrictions upon our imports, and limitations upon our trado and commerce, which will meet tho expenditures of the ter ritory upon the resources of the home gov ernment. Now, this is an entire mistntc n..M... r nanfiil Irnnurloilan I Inr vniind K . . - -s-- -,Lanorror.wJiichJias.crcpt into-this-county for men and maidens were seen rawing, underrtt Qf & kfowod of her msti. sianaingiy, umuug mc uuum.uu iuuo examples of Pike and Daboll, where they appeared quite at case. As to tho " fair sex," we have nothing to say of their grace ful forms, or elastic step; but wo received a very favorable opinion of their intellectual attainments, while we followed them with heart-felt pleasure through seven periods of history, with the events of which they ap peared perfectly familiar. In their gram mar, rhetoric, and philosophy, they discover, ed acuteness far beyond their years and op portunities, And then, to hear our little flax, en haire&f&rls.telliug us more about the geografcfcfp.4Jie heavens and tho earth than! s1jpiKj old folks ever expected o know, set me to thinking, whero will fhst things end ? Shall they be encouraged or not ? If encouraged, what will be the influ enco on community, and tho results to our infant country? Respectfully submitted by tuttons, and a more familmr acquaintance with tho principles of that government. Tho United States has a national prido in these matters, and does not stoop to become a government of mere dollars und cents, but steps up upon tho great platform of the prin ciples of human rights, and takes a broad view of tho universe, teaching the great doc trines of self -government, and capacity of man to maintain it. The United States has al ways extended a fostering care over her pio necrs, entiroly defraying tho expense of tho territorial government, merely dictating the form, allowing tho territory a legislature, chosen from among their own inhabitants, to enact laws and establish such wholesome re gulations as they, in their wisdom, might deem expedient, taking caro that the laws are judiciously and faithfully administered, always providing adequate tribunals to re dress the grievances and sustain the rights of the citizens, dealing out equity und jus tice to the people. This must forever bo ouo of the great ends of every wise and good government, especially in a free government like that of the United States it lies at the very, basis of all its institutions. Without justico being freely, fully and impartially administered, neither our persons, nor our rights, nor our property, can bo protected. And if these, or cither of them, are rcgula ted by no certain laws, and aro subject to no certain principles, and are held by no certain tenure, and are redressed when vio. lated by no certain remedies, government fails of all its value,, and man might as well return to a stato of savage and barbarous in dependence. Every ono familiar with tho history of tho United States, will not doubt for a moment that, to ensure and establish justice, was n very prominent motivo in the establishment ot tho national government. It is truo Oregon has some articles of coin- pact which ullow a legislature, who havo established courts and made provisions to ensure the faithful administration of tho laws; but it is equally truo that tho decis- ions of these courts, in many instances, are disregarded and treated as mere nullifies. They operate merely by moral influence and quisition, and as such, fail ot their design. nd soon will sink into insignificance. These vils, whutover may bo their magnitude, do ot create so universal a distress or so much mplaint as others of a more domestic na. turer-wmoh aro subversion of the first prin ciples of justice. I alludo here to certain calamities inflicted by the conmon cause of legislation, which go to the prostration of all public faith, and all private credit laws made by tho legislature, violating with more or less degrees of aggravation, the sacred, ness of privato contraots-tr-laws compelling the receipt of a depreciated and depreciating treasury script, in payment of debts laws authorizing the delivery of certain kinds of commodity, however unproductive or unde sirable, in payment of debts. In short, by the operation oi -script currency, tender laws, two-thirds laws, contrived with all thedextcrous Ingenuity of. men oppressed by debt, and popular by tho very extent of privato embarrassments, Oregon is almost universally plunged into a ruinous poverty, distrust, debility and indifferent to justice; no that we see, completely demonstrated by our own history, the importance of a more effi cient establishment of justice, under tho au speces of the homo government. Now ex actly, what this course of reasoning would lead us to presume us probable, has boon de monstrated by experience to ho true in re spect to our own little government of Ore gon, during tho short period of its existence, and under circumstances well calculated to teach the people a lesson, and everyday teaching more efTeotuully every intelligent man the necessity of appealing to tho United States, and using every exortion to induco that government to extend lho uegis of her laws over this country ut oiice, that the sot tiers of Oregon might bo reliovod from that state of uncertainty and doubt which, at this moment, must necessarily prevail securing to them a wholesome code of laws, with some probability of their execution promoting the prosperity ol our country, by giving stabili ty to our territorial acts, and confidence to the people, and co-operate with her pioneers in extending the great republic, and in plant ing the Americun eagle upon the shores of the Pacific. Is Oregon in a condition to ensure her sc curity against foreign influence, domestic dissensions and various difficulties! attendant Ib'wcak aiid cllbminatc governinenlsT TlicseV however, are not tho etily evils. In small communities, domestic fuctions may woll be expected to arise. The dan- gcrs to a republican government, from that , source, have been dwelt upon by the advo. j catcs of arbitrary governments with much i exultation, and it must bo confessed that tlic I history of freo governments has furnished but too many examples to apologise for, though not to justify their arguments, urged not only against tho forms of republican gov ernments, but ugainst tho principles of civil liberty. They havo pointed out the brief du ration of-republics, tho factions by which they havo been rent, and the miseries which they have suffered from distracted councils and corruption, in a manner calculated to increaso the solicitude of every well-wisher to Oregon, should she deign to ruise a nu tional ensign, and attempt to bufTet the storms of an independent government." We know but too well that fuctions have been tho spe cial growth of republics. To be sure, if a faction Ikj a minority, tho majority may ap. ly, in some measure, tho procr correctidn, y defeating or checking the violence of the minority, in the regular course of legislation. In small states, however, this is not always easily attainable, from tho difficulty of com bining, in a permanent form, sufficient influ ence fur this purpose ; and, indeed, in the gradual operations of factions, so many com binations aro formed and dissolved so many firivate resentments become embodied in pub. ic measures, and succcssnnd triumph soofien after follow defeat, that tho remnantsof differ ent factions, which have had a brief sway,how. ever hostile to each other, havo an interest to unite in order to put down their rivals. These evils aro felt in great states, but it has been justly observed that, in small states, they are far more aggravated, bitter, cruel, and permanent. The most suro and effectual means to con trol such effects in our little republic, scorn most clearly to bo, to cling to the United States. Tho authority of the homo govern ment will have a natural tendency to sup press nuch combinations by diminishing tp chanccsof ultimate success, and mitigate, if it docs not wholly disarm, tho predominant faction. Ono of tho surest means of peace is said to be, by being always prepared for war ; but a still surer means is tho power to repel, with effect, every aggression. Tho homo government commands an Immense re venue, a wider range of military power, of naval armaments and productivo industry. Sho is more independent in her employments T-in her capacities and her influences. In tho present stato of tho world, a few great powers possess tho command of com merce, both on land and at sea. In war they trample upon the rights of noutrals, who are feoble, for their weakness furnish an oxcuso both for servility and disclaim. In peace they control tho pursuits of tho rest of the world, and force their trado into every chan nel by the activity of their enterprise their extensive navigation and their flourishing manufactures. They little regard the com- plaintsof8mull,wcak,aiidscmi-annuatodgov. ernmeuls,aud use them only us instrument to annoy or check tho enterprise of each other. Such states arc not formidable iu peaco or in war. To secure thoir rights and muintain their independence, thoy must be como formidable and speak with the forco of numbers, as well as tho eloquence of truth. Tho navy or army which would bo dcsiru-l to lw kept up in u small stato, would bo a grievous public burthen, und exhaust the whole resources of tho stale. But a navy or army for all the purposes of tho homo de fence or protection upon the ocean, is within the compass of tho resources of tho homo government, without uuy serious exaction. Thus wo see that the homo government hits more effectuul iiicuus, more cxtonsivo jurisdiction, to promote tho general welfare lliun can possibly be anticipated to full to Our lot, as independent Oregon. And it muy Iks well remarked, that it will generally bo directed by u more enlightened policy u more comprehensive wisdom iu the applica tion of its means und its powers to their ap propriato ends. Hitherto our experience bus demonstrated the entire safety slid success of tho several territories subject to tho homo government. Eueh f her territories has grown in power, in vigor of operation, in commanding influence, in wealth, revenue, population, commerce, ugriculture, und gen eral efficiency. No one will venture to presume that tho home' government has at- fiempTod by tuxes, 'luiTiTuiions uirtrfcWft tious, in uuy way, to secure to her the ex penditures expended iu uiding, keeping up and protecting her territories ; but on the contrary, that government has nourished and protected her iufunt settlements by furnish ing every means defraying tho exeiise of' the territorial government appropriating money for tho pu rjio.su of erecting public buildings opening and clearing rivers lay. ing out und constructing roads; in short, mi. deling every assistance, until they become sufficiently populritd.tuJ)o incorporated in to the Union, und become entitled to nil tin privileges and immunities of the older states. Ought not then the government of our.birth to Income more deeply nu object of regunl und reverence, of attachment und pride.' Most certainly she ought, bccuiihu that gov ernment should Ite deenwdtn be tfic parmtal guardian of our public and privato rights, und the natural ally of Oregon, in the ad ministration of juMice and the promotion ol tho general prosperity. " it should bo be loved, not for its ower, but for its benifi cence ; not because it commands, but Ih cuuse it protects ; not because it controls, but because it sustains the common interest, und tho common liberties, und tho common rights of the people." A Friend to Oregon. Oregon City, March 14, 1840. " Whero pleasure is eagerly pursued, the greatest virtues will lose their xiwer." HERMITAGE TOMB. The editor of tho Detroit Freo Press, who recently made an excursion to the residence of general Jackson, thus describes the family vault: " One of the most interesting scenes about the Hermitage, and one eminently charac teristic of its distinguished occupant, is tho monument erected by Gen. Jackson in his garden to the memory of his deceased wife. The wIkiIo, from lop to base, is built of mar ble. First, there is a vault of circular form, twelvo or fifteen feet in diameter. In the cen tre stands a pedestal of .square hewn marble, six or eight feet high, and tho wholo is sur mounted aad sheltered by a marble roof. In the vault, on one able of tho pedestal, aro tho remains of his wife, covered with a marblo slab, on which is engraved a sublimo descrip tion of her worth and virtues. On the other side is a place prepared for his own remains, which is also covered with a marble slab, and on which there is yet no inscription." THE OREGON SPECTATOR Is published semi-monthly, at Oregon Gity, Orejroa. Territory, by Joint Fuuuno, for tlw Oregon Priming AiMciaQon. Taw FIto doUan in advance if net paid until) tho expiration of three months, six dollar, and if not paid at the expiration of aix month, tho director re serve the right to diacoatiaue. ID Advertisements Inserted at one dollar and fifty cento per quare of eurtoenillneoor lea, for the am insertion, and aeventy-tvc cents for eaoh wsaequeat iaeerllon. A liberal deduction to yearly adrtrtleera. UTAH kind of JOB WORK handtoately execu ted at the ahorteat notice feyntnt la advance.