e &
.
oct-tr- . jEM
t) 'v m
Vaw gn aMaraM eVaBaaBisBBaY
Me. Bditob Ponntt mi through th oot.
umna of the Spectator to make a few remarfca
l.y way of reply to your editorial of thef)fc
July last, under the heaof ''Tresoaaatasfea
Land claims" and mast say I amfNaayH
wiui your taot inanettjMag to back aveome
degree from the retpoaatWllty of the Origi
nal Intentions and obttet or the rneetiana
convened a abort time stoat upon a rumor of
some treapeaa ueena-MsM claim ana: aa
my language in a former article upoa thla
subject folia harshly uooa vour ear. I will
fore'my mind's aye the eha'raoter or J .1,
'mat noted Baa
Of epiourian dJah
proceed to the discussion of principles and
facta. With regard to the sixe of Ihoee
meetiaga we probably differ in our compare,
tire faculties; a meeting of sixty toaefehty
feraoaa convened from several counties soma
would term largo, the largest ever convened
in this Territory, while my numerical ideas
force me to term it a small meeting, when
population, extent of territory and exertions
made to convene a large assembly is taken
in account.
With regard to the committco of twelve
not having been appointed I must refer you
to the published resolution providing for their
appointment, together with the published
resolution dispensing with tho report and
substituting the officers of the meeting in
.their loom,, aim to the resolution postponing
the reading of said report for one hour which
was not published. The other committees
uppcar to have done tho part assigned them.
Was tho twelve appointed or did that com.
mitteo refuse to perform their pnrt in tho
dram and enlist menoftstraw innlcQcl of tho
real blood and inuuclc. Jut thoxc present
at tho last meeting'' better know than hcan
describe the feeling and probing of a few to
Itnd how much the feelings of tho congrcga.
tiou would bear. And sir, were you pres.
t-nl on that occastan you no doubt (after the
expiration of ilio postponed hour during
which came off the great war speech) dis
tinctly heard ejaculated
Twill not do !
A fire brand I
A wist, 0 magic Gods of misty power,
Wltilo we pray "expoafeeto change,"
I heard in whispers lower.
T'is done,
Thu tens arc gono,
Tho units left in power and will
To equal twclvo in all their churgn
Like lisop's bat from lablo drawn,
With half dropped curtains still
Tho play goes on.
That thn people are the law making pow
or hrnol disputed by any ono professing re.
publican principles. That the Creator is su
perior to iiis handy work has been handed
iik from Kdcn's Bower. That thu pcoplo un
dor a purely republican form of government
like our own have the right in accordance
with ihcso principles to alter, amend, new
model, or change their constitution, compact
or rulu of making laws, is not to Iks denied
when ilone according to thu constitutional
provisions entered into by tho formation 0
Mich compact by the people in mans acting
liir tlieiiiKclveiKcvcrully and collectively, in
which tho rights of the minority urn secured
as well as tho rights ot'tho majority or in oth
r words wheru thu rights of ull ure made
equal by virtue of said compile!. Now this
is tho firm unil highest of nil obligations en
tered into by men in thn lornintion ol n
, liHtm Way, (Off TfrdmrnmithAMg 1 17. A; 'ffe itY-' SwttWaMl&lmSEfi &
" 1 liaiiiiiT "1 1 1 at 1 liri'liiTmr J " ""1
raavTaejoynvnt or the riak of east aseloaive . ntfswr, 1M matHeV HWli Ma- "
v
TiLE
tkw the oroviaioaa of their constitution;
Una? the minority or rneir equal rumis, uarjaivnviistra oe
" -. ... v. ........ - ,t. . j .c-ji: j-it
put to lUgM tne uemus 01 ijioeny, maa use
ourtaia oaoe raised the Dragon may be seen
atriviaar for hia victims. Now air, in thai
moe of such facts (for it is upon tho princb
Sea of eternal truth that purely republican
rmeof government exist) oan you sanction!
the proceedinga or trie meetiaga aiiuoea te
aoquieaoing in the opinions of the Orator of
the last evening to wit: that tho process of
amending our constitution in tno manner
therein stipulated was a tedious one thereforp
they in meeting assembled had a right to acjt
11 they saw proper ami maxe sucn owier rcg
ulations and deal in such a manner and with
a certain olaaa of cases as they should seaJ
fit. Although he admits thu not to bo a gen.
era! rule, yet, aaya he, 'cases frequently oc.
cur when easaaatiaitiea become so corrupt
that the imaTwaMau of this principle is neil
ccssary ; when'tbe people are justifiable iii
throwing aside the law and taking justice in
their own hands" and after citcing a number
of cases to prove this position, such as Mor
mons of Missouri, (ramblers at Vicksburc,
horse thieves of Missouri, counterfeiters of
Missouri, dec, ho says of tho case then un
dcr consideration "this is probably one of
these cases where tho full assumption of this
power is necessary." Such language com
ing publicly from one who so recently filled
tho highest station in our judicial department
and who bore so large a part in the founding
of our social system, cannot fail under such
ciaaamataaccs of bavins ita deleterious ef.
feota upoa our republican institutions, at least
it appears to be no very flattering encomium
upoa the virtue and intelligence of this con
munity'by thus supposing It so corrupt that
tho operation of the judicial department
would bo subverted in the adjustment of a
few civil cases of personal rights of small
import and that too without a precedent of
failure in the operations ol the law. 1 am
well aware that tho right of a majority of
citizens to act tn making laws &c for the
community without regard to constitutional
stipulations has been advanced by many
demagogues from the stump in order to pro.
duco sudden effects and accomplish certain
political designs, but I was much surprised
to find tho same doctrine flowing from the
source in question, a doctrine too that redu
cod the independent states of Greeco was
tested on their battle fields and meted with,
their fall. But you aay "emergencies have
occurred in which the aasuption of this pow.
er has been necessary" to wit: "our war of
Independence and tho birth of tho South
American Republics."
Then I must say if revolution iu Oregon
is the object of tho meetings in question, you
are on tho right track for that, though you
differ from our fathers of the Revolution in
this nil important point, that of first trying
ull thn ibrceof constitutional means to mend
wrongs, by which means they united
the trump of war la order to, deter,
m exclaim "when oeaa ae obt
Mi i vour
rial community and-oimriat ohsennuca of heart and hand and the offspring of that un
tho provisions of micIi compact is tho first ' ion nun u glorious independence. But sir,
uitd highest duty that every member of that ! you would more resemble Bolivar of South
4 loveriiiiieut owes to himself uud to his fe.
low citizens: a duty to perform which is es.
teemed mi inestimable privilege by nil true
repuhlitiuiiM ; the strict observance of the
provisions of such constitution gives to that
government its name and character and is tho
e.ssenco of its oxbtence, nor can they bo al
tered by uny party whatever whether major,
it y or minority in uny way except according
to thu constitutional stipulations therein em.
bmliod, they who would do differently cannot
without doing violence to thn rights of tho
lmlunuu of tho citixen.s us well us tn their
own pouce and happi'iieta, forming it sure
prelude to unarohy and confusion, the purty
thut would tako such u step must place them,
selves in the position of an absolute monarch
in relation to tho residue of their fellow citi.
x.cns. Nor does oven a largo majority act.
nig upon this principle frco themselves from
Jhu charge ol despotism ; for by thus viola.
America, who mado a sudden onset under the
pretext of liberty, but after dodging tho
Tyrant Spain he calmly folded himself in
tho rolto of Prime' Dictator of his people.
Our Harrison's address to him oil that occa.
sion explains most distinctly the difference
in thn results of tluxtwo cases. But to re.
turn djrectly to tho plpintyou are afraid some
tiemoii will trespass uSorr a land claim and
he must bo do tor red, the stable door mut bo
locked before tho "horse is stolen," but that
indeed will bo of littlo avail if you should
lock thn horso outsido of tho stable, particu
larly if your laws should make him public
property when found in that condition. I am
Hwuro t'hnt there are a few men in this Tor.
ritory who claim tho privilcgo of holding their
land claims entirely independent of tho re.
quisitiona and taxes Imposed by this govern,
ment a privilege not granted citizens in com
mon and lest they should be molested in its
the rkk
queetiooW by aay one. taey
r ". a - '
sound tn
and even
. i
right to question oar
sooth too "ha ia worth
maherate ua and settle the
right to question your pre!
LAXDAHD
ernment, ia
obtain the
" and for
lv (a tn m.
" Tk I aanaera.
air iaoa-
lamed from the ruksa of equality aad justice
aa embodied ia our oooatitMioa aad lawa-4-
Your objection thea to Urn aemrtioaof tkia
right.by some appears to be their poverty.
do n man nappencio oe snort 01 iaaoa ne
must submit to the operation of mob law un
til he can raise cash that will measure hia
dignity to that rule that will entitle him to a
hearing for his legal and just rights. How-
evr well such a doctrine may., appear to
comport with our republican institutions, I
must coafeaa it is entirely new to me; proba
bly sir yosj eta give1 me some further IcWgat
upon this point, thouch should I exchange my
spectacles far those of golden fringe, I no
doubt would bo able to see tho propriety and
utility ot sucn a system in all its dignified
advantages.
S G. W. BELL.
.Oregon Citv, Aug. 9th 1847.
i
Cheriaf steartlaaearte,
Let science, literature, music, flowers, all
thing that tend to cultivate the intellect or
humuiiso the heart, be open to 'Tom, Dick,
and Harry ;' and thus in proceee of time,
they will become Mr. Thomas, Richard aad
Henry. In all these things the refined should
think of what they can impart, not what
they can receive As for the vicious, thaw I
I excite in me more of oompaaaioo than of dfjM
V IIV -I-I.A MAte ------ Mr BaAAatfa mlrm
knows whether I should not have been aa they
are, with tho same neglected childhood, the
same vicious examples, the aame.ovcrpowcr
ins temptation of misery and want, if they
will but pay to virtue theoutward'homageof
decorum, uod lormdtbat I should wish to ex.
olude them from the healthful breeze and the
snaueu promonauc. lvreicnea enougu ro
they in their utter degradation; nor is eoci
ciy so guiiuess oi tneir rata as to jusiuyany
of its members in unpityine scorn.
And this reminds mo that in this vast em
porium of poverty and crime there are. mor.
ally speaking, some flowery nooks and 'sun
ny spots of greenery.' I uJid to aay I knew
not where were the ten righteous men' save
the city ; but I have found them iw.
LSince then tho Washington Temperauce So
ciety has been organised, and active in good
works. Apart from tho physical purity, the
triumph of soul over sense implied in absti-
nenco fro1 stimulating liquors, these socio,
tics bavt fculiarly interested mo, beoauso
they are based on the law ol love. The
pure is inlaid in the holy, liko a pearl set in
fine gold. Hero is no 'fifteen-gallon-law,'
no attendance upon tho lobbies of legislatures,
none of tho bustlo or maiicauvroa of politi
cal party ; measures as useless in the moral
world as machines to forco water above its
lovel are in tho physical world. Serenoly
above all these stands this new genius of
temperance her trust in Heaven, her hold
on tho human heart. To tho fallen and tho
perishins she throws a silken cord, and sent
ly draws him within tho golden circle of hu
man brotherhood, bhe has learned that per
suasion is mightier than coercion ; that the
voice of encouragement finds an echo in the
heart, deeper, far deeper, than the thunder
oi reproot.
1 ho blessinir of tho acrishins, and of the
merciful God who uurrth lor them, will rest
uoii tho Washington Temperance Society.
A short time since, one of Ha-mcaibers found
un old acquaintance Ivinir asleep in a dirty
alley, scarcely covered with .filthy rags pin
ned and tied together. Being waked, the
poor fellow exclaimed in piteous tones. 'Oh,
don't take me to tho polioe oasoe please
don't tako mo there.' 'Oh no,' repjied the
missionary of mercy ; 'you shall have shoo
The aim day:l aseod.lrr asaiwaaiii
long, piai-s;. Al aaasaw. MMpssm
wetB'tnprfmM wkh aapres r tats mmm
viO IvHIIaslaMsl '
for aV ill ia I' aajwaf Iil hVlsad Tshaa
. MISBB t m .M'Zm. r-
zssmamBZpas?
Fire companlaa werathosa wkh hadfaa
enaiaea: aad military caBsBjaaiaB) ink I
dy colors and asstetttaBiaagf TawaalatsW
etoae came two hiraauhaa. ooa4aaBMBB the
men who first started a tampewaealsoasaiy
on the WaafcinftoaJaa plan. '. These aix-bv
dividuals were a oepeatetva aaaiabHBaker,
a tailor, a blacksmith, a Irbaelwrltht, aada -ailver-plater.
They, held their mutiaga ia
a carpenter's anopsia Baltimore, bafore.aay
other person took an active part ia the Msaap.
My heart paid tbem rerertnoe aa they peat
cd. It was a beautiful paasaa and but
one thing waa wanting' taamfce. si eompleta;
there should have been oarffe'rawir by gar
landed oxen, IHed wkh wtiaassi and Uttl chil
dren beariaga banner, ea whieh wee kaseri-
bed, wxAasHAmJiewt nstsaei the wo-
men and the ohnawan t forn
to repreeanft. the aseaal kafoaaaee ef
tic life, taeclrcle of W heaastaver ia.
coaiplete., .1. .st Vf-
Bat tn atamtoaHMwafeataasat teanv
mina: amttne m
luMuht taBoa0
VSWCS Pffl
joan tee m
thrmjiinaew
holieat: for like
teraaeraaoe: Clean
aels for pure afleotiena and loAythoagl
Rsvtjnm ,amo Exmnsmmaa or Saw
Faanci In 181i the Brkish Gov.
peaoe,. viaaeriaae and
najna m wmr- taeaaate
j i -
pjpw.' mmmmmmiwmimmm
sSSSShssSt
asto his k this aaiaeWaer
aaneea are leans? vas'
hte.
perfect
tranqml,.apentX66)0W)OOaserlBaf, aoaart
of which waa applied to the saliaelian efthe
national debt. ' t
In 16(4, its expenditures ueeaded 7,
000,000- Inl844,thokUeataatMleHalv
the acoouata have bean cdmalatad, iteaaaea
diture waa reaaoed toXMiti.. ,
In 1810, the interest of the astieaal debt
amounted to XfaVMMM; kknewmsk.
ced to VIAjmj, d foafainVa ea tanv
porary anniiitka, whioh a fussily disap
pearing year by year. , it
Between 1816 and 1841, a haiaaea beiaa
struck between tazea mcwMed,aad dinshi
ished, this power baa abolished an amsaat.et
24,000,000 of taxation, and Jaat year eup
pressed a further aum of 6,000,Qff . Mf '
x no taxes auuiuaea ere inoav, eaneeauij.
which paralyse indujtry.aopBose,
clestothe superiority of British feoin
over that of other nationa." In enVtinathie.
do not imagine that England luaahsuiae'd
"TT I? "?" VSTZSTri '2?X
laming migmy siruniee, worn aassawna
widespread domiaioaa with aa armed'!
She poaaeased in India, in 1810, 99 M
of subjects. Canada revolted ;,Ulaltiyeh
waa suppressed by force; her will waa ana
tested ia the Syrian qtieetion, ber ahipaieai.
ded the waiter. OiiM.reaM thoifoaa
oommoroa in opium; ah expedkkm'after'tae
fashion of Cortes oubdeed the Celestial Emi
pire. Two asaa existed, the eMraaee ef
which wis not nnderthe enmmaad ef lag.
land, the CMaeae Oeeen and the lUd tea.
Aden aadSingaaore have oempleted the abjrust
of forts whioh. bind the cemeuwe ef tfie
world. , W - -A$?t
In 1816, Englaad waa, wkhoMt aaoepttea,'
the atate moat heavily basdaaid by Hfm
weignt oi taxaiiB. EsseN .now, mi
tion to her wealth, leaa taae
Thirty years ane Eadaad at
000. whilst Fraaeaaaeathwtlhe
1844t Bnglaad apeat ,f0Affe,
thea alaasair
aa Ji ajT-1-
A
i
i-.nn'
.AWx&PrAi- -iti! i.