Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-09-09
Az iNpEpENpENr GoyERxMrnr.xO p.,

AN iNDEPENDENT GovERNMENT IN ORE
G)N.-A letter from citizen of Greg on
Peter II. Burnett, who appears 10 be
man OF no;e among the settlers, is publish
ed in The Platte Argus of the End inst
ERE this reaches you," SAYS Mr.. Burnett
''perhaps you will have learned that VIZ
have regular government in mos, sue
cessiul operation in Oregon. When
first reached this region, about year ago
| thought any attempt at organization
might be premature. had not, been here
long. before il was conceived that a gov.
eminent Of some kind was inevitable. II
grew out Of stern. invlncble necessity.
Our commercial and business transactions
were considerable. -Difficulties were dai-
ly occurring between individuals in rela-
ton 10 their ''claims,', the estate Of de-
ceased persons were daily devoured, and
helpless orphans plundered; crimes were
committed, aNd the base and unprincipled,
The reckless and turbulent were hourly
trampllng upon the rights of the homes,
and peaceable. A civilized population.
numerous as we were. could not exist
without government. The thing was i'm.
possible. We therefore, organized gov
eminent Of our owr.
The territory is divided into FIVE coun-
ties, in each ofwh:ch there are two terms
of the circuit court annually. There is
but one judge, who discharges the duties
Of probate judge, and chancellor, and all
other judicial duties excep, such as per.
tain 10 justices Of the peace. The statute
laws Of Iowa have been adopted by the
provisional government.
The letter states that the country is
most beautiful, fertile and we'll watered.
The population doubles every year The
crops Of 1874 were abundan:; the settlers
will have wheat for expectation. y news
paper is abou, to be established. "We eau
them" says the letter, 'publish our laws"
The following passage has interest:
"We are now waling most anxiously
for the result Of Packenham's mission, and
il the two governments have not settled
the question between them, the moment
that The fact is known, there will be one
universal movement made A regular
convention will be helt, and consiitut on
adopted Republican no doubr and an IN.
pendent government put in operation al,
once. Necessity will compel US to the
step. The population OF This country are
no doub, DESTROYS TO live under the Gov.
eminent OF the United States, but If she
will never do anything for US, we must,
and will do it for ourselves.-The people
hare are worn out by delay, and their con,
dtion becomes every day more intolerable.
| speak TO you with great candor, for you
know me, and know that withhold moth
ing, ami disguise nothing. We are well
satisfied that the United States Govern
ment as well as Grea, Britain could no.,
object, and would not object, if we form
an independent government for ourselves,
sitiutcd as we are. Treaties mus, be made
with the Ind ans, and many other things
Of importance must Of necessity be d,ne.
There is force and justice in these re
marGs. Whether the writer is correct,
however, in his supposition that Great
Britain would not interfere with the ope-
ra,ions of an independent government in
Oregon is another matter. British sub
jecls would be included, probably, With n
the jurisdiction Of tho proposed govern
ment, and the question of authority would
be raised al once.-The United States
would look with complacency, no doubt.
upon the organization Of an Oregan local
government, because it would be regarded
as mere prelude Tor future annexation
The permanent independence Of Oregon is
out of the question. We must rest ore
extremity of the great Republic on the
Pacific, while the other rcnoses on the
shores Of the Atlantic.