i
in
ii
Far Mm Ofafoa Spectator.
KIND WISHES.
TbaJaaaiikatevaBsajaeaJasawtaeJaatoaa
la a kufc fair aailaf away a'er the aae,
Wtaaetatfas' cteaataalrrfraaaty yc&td,
Asa laak ia ate aaajat like mm af gold ;
Warn team sM ska aa tha biaWa wkfc brea
liar baaalM piaidaa Una Mtof to nat :
Batak! taibyfaraofacUimUU toknow,
Kiad vaaaaaia vkk at wbatTar wa go.
Tla aitaaut tewra ia tits fsraava green bower.
Tsahal ia tha aha at aooa tieVa salld boon,
Togalbartaawaa frm Ma laara oavarad tm
Aad twaw k fee bsaaty, a gay diaaea ;
ToHrjr neaaaby taaekasa'a giassy aide
Aad watch tU watte watanal placidly glide,
Botoh! UbfaraMradaligatfalto kaow
Kiad whaaaan wMi as wharrrar wa go.
Bstr fay, Afrit 1647. ' Lotmakio.
.. - . For ? 0wT 8aaeUUrT
Mi. Euros In the Spectator of tho 4th
of February laat, you affirmed many things
respecting the immigrants which wero er
roneous, aad among others, that their delay
3rd. A petition signed by many of tho
members or tho Missouri legislature in both
its branches, in which thoy say "Jkfr. Thorn
ton's devotion to business, studious kakiUand
legat learmng wouM commend the wisdom of
was to be ascribed to "Iktkr own muwunarr
ment." You were pleased to refer to "some
of tha immiranta who hin mank&rl k. v
as your authority for making these state
ments. Having been one of the immigrants,
and knowing that no one of the statements
was consistent with the truth in tho case, I
teit myseit constrained to controvert and dis
prove tbem by the presentation of facts,
which you were not able to meet with op.
posing facta. But it would Kfm from an
article in the last No. of the Spectator, tiiat
although you "have no disposition to allow the
columns of the Spectator to be used merely for
the purpose of personal controversy and in
veeave,1' yet "on the score of strict justice
and impartiality," you felt yourself constraint
id, in the absence of better arguments, "to
admit a violently personal ivrtiele into our col.
vrnns," containing tho epithets "fools" "li.
art," "traitor," 'iassasstn," "liar," "dog,"
"cheat," swindler," together with many oth
crs of a kindred vocabulary.
The general object of the article is to in
jure my private reputation; and its logic
amounts to no more than this: J. Quinn
Thornton is a very bad man. Ergo, Tho
southern route is a very good one; and "none
but liars assert or fools believe otherwise."
It may not, however, be very easy for every
class of mind to see the connection in this
oase, between the sequence and the conse
quence; although it may appear very clear
to you and your learned and erudite con
tributor, whose production is strikingly char
acterized by that elegance, grace, beautv,
and at the same time dignity of style, for
which the pure and chaste literature of Bil
lingsgate is so justly celebrated.
Having recently arrived in tho country,
your choice, and justify your confidence."
i ma u signea oy ma louowing gentlemen,
among many others; to wit: Stcplien Glas
cock from tho senatorial district in which
I lived; and Z. G. Draper, and John Lour.
representatives; and by Gen. Corneilus Gil-
I nam, now residing upon tho Rickrcall.
I 4th. Letters upon tho same subject from
( William Wright, Register of tho land office
i at Palmyra. Mo.: William Rlalcnv. ..,.
John Smith, President of tho Mo. Stato Bank'
St. Louis; aud Sterling Price, Speaker of
tho House of Representatives.
fth. Commission onn from thn Govnm.
I or ot Missouri, and another from tho Gov-
crnor of the Stato of Illinois, tho latter un
der dato of February ftth 184v!.
"6th. A letter from Dr. Richard Eclls, of
liuincy, HI., sixteen days before I started,
and dated April 2nd, 1810. He says "As
you are about io leave us under circumstances
rendering it dynast certain that we shall never
on this side of the. grave enjoy each others so.
ciety; permit mc to say to you that 1 deeply rr.
Srct the loss of your society with us." Again
e says " You will plea.tr accept as a snail me.
menioofmy regard, a volume of Gilnun's Di.
gest.'
7th. A letter from Mr. Thomas Pope of
Quincy Illinois, under date of April ltith,
iow, iwo aays oeiore I cntored upon my
journey, to his brothor in law in this city.
He say 8 "Mr. Thornton will not be a dead
weight in your new republic on the score of
intelligence and morality, but will be of that I
rliutl ifAi irilttrnd In rlri'rll rtrtil mnl-i. i.tl "
8th. Letters to Dr. Marcus Whitman.
Wallawalla.
I may observe, in addition, that Mr.
Wheeler of this city, and tho Messrs Cut
ting on the Clackamus, a short distance be
low, were with mc at tho time of my leav
jog Quincy, 111. where I resided from April
1,1841, to April 18, 194(5. These gentle
men were witnesses of the many highly flat
tering attentions bestowed upon mo; and of
the kind regards expressed by hundreds of
my fellow citizens atsthc time of my enter
ing upon my journey.1'
Here, I believe that I might rest, so fur as
regards the many untruths contained in the
article written over thi name of David Guff,
wno, it is proper to remark, is so exceeding
sary, in order to a suitablo expression of I and married hor.
UfJiiiiuii, iu maun u IIIIIIUgBgBlO Slang BHU
scurrility respecting individual reputation,
or to epithets which havo nothing in com
mon with tho inspiration of tho pages of an
American classic. It is at least certain
that "Michalthe arch angel, when contending
with the devil he disputed about the body of
Moses, durst not brtna against him a railine
accusation, but said the Lord rebuke thee."
Having mado these remarks, I now take
Icavoof a sheet in which you admit "violent,
ly personal articles," "on the score of strict
justice and impartiality:" nor will I permit
any ol my triends to tako any notico ol any
further attack upon my reputation, though
filled withslandor and epithets as scurrilous
asthoarticlo in tho last No. ofthnSpoctator,
which was suthcicntly gross to disgust every
man ot sense and refinement on tho one
hand, and to satisfy the coarsest appetite, and
the most vulgar taste on the other. A nd not
withstanding tho malicious epithets that blot
and blur your columns, and the lier-otcin.
poroi exposed wrong doing winch thev ox-
hibit, it is as easy for mc, being master of tho
facts, to be master of tho issue of the con.
test to which these facts relate, if I chose to
engage in it, as for thane who are tho mas
ters of the urn is to Iks masters of tho author
ity of the state? My reputation, therefore,
is in my own hands, and I have not only the
ubility to repel the untruth, but I have the
courage, also, to despise tho vain rllbrt
and impotent malicn of both those who in
vent, and of those who publish slanders up.
on my reputation. .
I am, as ever, Ati .
J. QUINN THORNTON
Oregon City, May 1, 19 17.
A whorl limn m'lii. iU..
-. . . ...... t u ivii 111.-
son or this man bv a fnrmn ;r.. k.
also ia i love, not with a younger person, but
with tho mother of thn father., now will-, i.
H''uow, 'dy till h tho bloom of life. ,.
ottered himself, and soon the young man and
tho widow wore united in tho boiidsofmat
nmory, so that in consequence of these tu..
connections, a fat hor bruaiuc tho aon.in.lan
or his own sou, and tho wife not only th.
daughter-in-law of hnr own Kon.iii.law, but
still more, the mother-in-law (,f ,cr WI
daughter; while the husband of tho Inttoi
vt the father.iii.law of In own inothcr.iii
law, and father.iii.law to )i ... i,..i....
Singular confusion may arise, if children
should spring from these poculiur marru
ges.
Co.lDITIU.1 IIP TUB LATK KmIOBANTS" -
We would call the attention of tho author
ities of our government here, to this class ot
our citizens. They havo como horo withowi
any previous correct knowledge of the thn
anon oi mo country, expecting to find th"
greater part of the farming ImfiU unnppro.
priatrd, and that they wosild bo able Moon
after their arrival, to get grants for mioIi
portions m thny might select. In this the
havo been disappointed. They find the
grcRter part of tho country taken up in
largo grants of from :i to UO leagues. Main
of them arc loo poor to buy, even at a cn
low price, uud in order to get land, must x
some distance beyond the present settlements
whero thoy will be exposed to all the dan
gers und difficulties incident to tho frontiers
of u now country, unless thoy will be per
initted to occupy the mission lands, which
are now the public property of the United
States. Wo would therefore suggest to tin
authorities of our district, that written per
mission be given to the late emigrants to set
mi.-.
and occupying, as I do, the important posi
tion of Judge of the Supreme Court of tho
Territory, it may not be improper under the
circumstances, to refer to some papers in my
possession, which will be shown to any gen
tleman who may express a wish toseo them.
1st. A petition sent to the late Thomas
Reynolds, in the latter part of the autumn
of 1940, then Governor of Missouri, pray-
Iv illiterate as notto be able to writ l.i . ma"" arrangements to have it shipped (via.)
own name or cvrn'to read it when written , PftC,fl- "? c ' )'u wupi.
for him. c a 'ium"cr f ladies and gentlemen crew.
When I entered the columns of the Spec il,ov" fr(."" ,hp ti,-v ,n ?IM.',,,, wUh ,,1MI a"(J
tator, I was intluenccd ralclv bv the desire B"y."e nine uius occupieii
For th Oregon Xpcctalnr.
Mn. Editor Having seen in the last No.
oi mo spectator, an abusive artiOIe, the , Up on the minion lands, and occupy the
general object of which seems to have I n 8ion 'ioum-su mil they can make ollur
iU injure uiu rcpumiioii m juogc i nornion, raiigoments. California Star
wc deem it but an act of justice to say that '
we arrived at Quincy Illinois, about tweheof'
the clock Friday tho 17th April, lb4. WV , .- M:xico.-TI,c Washington m
remained there waiting for him to start until gives the following synopsis of certain dc
some time on Saturday. During that timel ,:rCs rccentlv insued by the Mexican (3ov
hiahouso was thronged with persons of mer-ornment, which have boon received at th.
it and intelligence, manifesting the most tlat-! Navy Department :
tering attentions and expressing the kindest ' . A .it.rn, r ,,.... .iu i i
regards. After crossing tho river, ond l-1 MenP "Ln T . ' d?c nn, aiI
ing advised by us to llgh.r,, his load, Mr. 'C,md. Si0f,N "fld f
Thornton unpacked hi, Law Library and ' .?" " .Tn,,,l7" 'n '. ,akn Rrms 'n.''
- m iin-ir riniiiiry wnenever thev Min'i
bo required so to ih, '
-'. A dfcr-e of miic ilate. declaring fr.
r-r one your ili- iuiportatiou intoauv nurt oi
ti... u.,.,1.1 i .. i. .. .. .-
.... (in . u:iu ant- in n, oi inuHKnts. cur
to corront orrnnenns Mntenienlu in .r.l..r tl.m " '" comilllieu IO wave I W 11 Inni llll'll
the public might have the facts upon which. rucwla.v- H wagon b.kp down about I-,'
lo tirerf ontft niinnni i nr ll.n.,.n1v.. I .11.1 , """ " l"u rnimyrn (rtio.) WHICH
- mwmw -B.prs ,WIIH".I v I'l u 111 ' - -
and personal abuse: and
ing for my appointment to tho bench of the '' permiting his sheet to be filled with eni-
Circuit Court; and stating that "Am deport. hts gathered from the vocabulary of a
ment and character as a mant and his legal at. I London fish market, in both, however, I
taimnents, and studious habits as a lawver. am equally mistaken. And as it docs not
qualify him for discharging with usefulness to lie in my way to answer such pieces; and
having neither the talent nor tho tusto lor
throwing epithets at cither an editor or his
contributors; I can only say that I refer
to tho immigrants themselves for the truth'
of my statements.
It has often been said that "you must fight
the devilwithfre." It is my purpose howev
er, not to fight him at all. Duvid (tofT's
friends have brought disgrace upon theih.
selves by writing tho article in question ;
and I shall not wipn it oif by giving to them
or theirs tho factitious importances which only
a reply can confer. Nor will I huHor
myself to bo drawn into u contest with ono
whero either victory or defeat must ncccKsa
rily be equally fatal to a decent appearance,
since, in cither case. I must bo bluckened
by soot anil ashes. Nor can I believe tliat
it is necessary thus to contend, it may bo
so where devil warn upon devil; and it is
doubtless true whom kindred npirits meet;
as where ono ruffian encounters another. I
But 1 ennnot bo persuaded that iu a differ-1
enco ot opinion between gentlemen upon
any question affecting a great public inter
est, such as tho onn rr to tho best road by
j r,iiicn ic enter mis vaucy, it 13 at an nccn-
not boliovn that th Knnrfn.nr u-!. ..v,.,- ..,.,. , "oulu vum" A '"W ' M-oniI lla .
to the admission of such productions of ines- n'a'1'' " '' I"' ' return to lnl
timoblc grace and beauty, as adorn tho col-:,"'ra ,1,0 In,rt''us larger Iwxcs and have
umns of the last number of that sheet; nor ,,ew a3",;us ,"d', ' e'g anxious to get
fli.t 1 Unw that ti, i?,i.t. oi.i ..,i... ...... " Indepenilencf! as soon as possible, dnne
circumstances
prostitute the
lowest scurrility
lat the Editor could under onv '" ,n,l''l",",lt!"c,! as soon as jwnsiblc. dn
s, be capable of consenting to "' t'nUtlS'SSKl'KR'
only press in Oregon to the J,OIS,J .VflVvi-
tilt' nnrl hniinl ,.!.... ...! 1I J A Ktll'.S Iv I J II.Ml,
bines, and. if gr neral. everv sneeiesof ur
lik- arms n r ( rnjectiles, without thn pa .
ment of unv in.jKirt duty ; aud declarin.'
that tlw ( i'r . .-nni..iii trill .......I e .1
,,.,1 , , JMIIVIIMIM-, 111 UK-
"III , r,n.,. Tim ...... ...!! r- .1 .- .... 1
, ," i" " '' " ivii-iiimj 10, sum quan
liries u ii n.-iy riquire, ut such prices . -is
may be agreed ,irH)l, with the imMirtrV.s or
holder
the state and satisfaction to the people, the m.
portant duties devolving upon one holding that
office."
This petition is signed by many gentle
mtsn, residing in Palmyra, Mo. and tho neigh
borhood of it. Among these I may mention
S. I). Sooth, the cashier of the bank; John
P. Rutter, clerk of the circuit court; Jordan
J. Montgomery, sheriff of the county; Maj.
Son. D. Wlllock; and John Taylor, Esq.,
who is the fathev of Hiram Taylor, Esq., on
thn Rickroall, end who also is personally
acquainted with mo.
'id. A petition upon the same subject from
thn following brethren of tho bar in tho cir
cuit in which Palmyra (tho place- whom I
resided) is situated; to wit; Samuel Glover,
(rial Wright, William Holmes, David 0.
Tuttle, Richard . Darrah, Alexandor L.
Playback, O. H. Allen, Edwin G. Pratt,
John J. Slossor, B. P. Major, P. A. Know.
Ian, and P. Williams. Theso my brethren
of the bnr, after practicing with them a num.
bur of yean, were pleased to say, "his stu
dious haMts, devotion to business, and equanim
ity of temper, qualify him manerr.ine.ntd:.
arte tor tncjuaiaai station.
Oregon City. May J, 1847.
For the Oregon Spi-i iMnr,
Y.:t liiu., Mav h, 1-.J7.
Mit. Editou An article, iu the last num.
ler of the Spectator traducing tho character '
of Judgo Thornton, suggests tho preprint)
of this communication. I was on tho brink ,
of tho Mississippi river on Saturday 18th ,
April 1S10, with my wagon and team at the!
time of hi departure from tho city of Quin
cy, and I have seldom or perhaps never wit
nessed attentions so marked us were then
". nolli . f t',e same, declaring an r.
'ra.idinary ont.ngent of thirtv thoussind
m n, to lie .-. i.tribi-od by tbr several State
in the follow i:.- proportions :
.Mcsic't. .i.'JOII
Jalboo. .J.opo
Puobla. U.800
Oiianajn:)'. . :i 000
St.f.uisl'i'i"! ; 00
Lnoateciiv.. 1,000
Querrtaro. floo
Onjaca, ',',000
Michoacau.
Vera Cruz,
Durango.
Chihuahua,
Sinaloa.
1,080
1,000
(J0I)
Ml)
TiHO
Aguascalicntes.yHO
:o,ono
It will bo porce'ved that Vne.nf:m .c
enuinoratdl in the obovolist.
'J'his deon e .. .res that citizens who vol.
II II UiCr Will be r.'inirn.l In .......... ....I
shown to him upon that occasion by u great , yours, but rm i: levied or drafted will bo re
numlwr of warmly attached friends. ijuin d to nerve m;; years.
Twelve miles on this side of Palmvra AnniSiiirnf i... -.- 1 . . .
Judge Thornton's wagon was broke,, and i, I lie" le Z l'"!" ."
bocamo necessary tor him.to delay somn da vs ...'...-.u-i .i.. .l. . . K",,,r
in order to have larger axlctrecs ma
assisted him to unload. At this tunr
nn.l M Tnu'ln. nlil frion.lu ifM. .....I M ...
liit 1'iin. Awb w.u ...v..o w iiia irtin. . . .
Thornton and residing iu tho immcdiiUe... ""'"'" 'n u,,s '''"t-issued through
:i.i 1.. 1 r riJ?..,. ...,. :.i. .1 tlm Department ol Sinfo. dmlnrin,, ,i.. -
IICIJJIIUUIIIlV.l Ul lUllllflU, TtVlti llllll IIII'JH . . " -- - f, iiiui mi
accompanying them in un open carriage m , i?n''Pltt nvi '""""'""ry employment, who
part of tho wuy. Judgo Thornton returned , ",,SI,!. rfi UT' Jv,l,l0"t M,ch wrvlcea as mav In
to Palmyra for larger boxes, and 1 reluct-1 "'I"'"'''0' 'hrni during tho war in which
antly drovo on. , V. .",,,,,"" lp ,u Pr"'"t rngagcil, shall le
1 iitciiiu unit v,t i.. . . .
..' i!,l,:,'1,.'' I'7'vidni that theygivo themselves up
, iUr I W,,I,,M tlm:" ",,,n,,,b '""I permitting then.
' 'r-1 to turve 111 mic'i coias they ,nuV dm.
CALVIN W. 1SH.
Sinoulau Mauriaor. A widower nt
Camden who was not very young, becamo
smitten with a young nnd beautiful girl,
III!
dismissed from their enmlnvmAntu n.i
cl.ncd incapable of hcinu emoloved hcronl
tor us military officers ; being liable, more,
over, to tho punishment already provided bv
inw ior Ruon oitenccs as ihey may hav
comnuitca.
may
'
.wJX,-."JT-W1.