New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-08-19
From the Platte (No.) Argus Of the I'd.
-..-u.etser from Peter II. Burnct, Esq.

From the Platte NO. Argus OF the ID
.-v.et,er from Peter II. Burnet, Esq.
-. saowipe letter was received yesterday by q
i ii this county, from Mr.. Burnet by the way
n'srs and forwarded by the American Consul.
lvSs,s;ls will be deemed interesting by his old
80 and ncighbors and are indeed of importance
IN Tho take an interest in the affairs of Oregon
FALArINE PLAINS. Oregon. Nov. 4. lsi4.
The crnigrar's now daily arriving. and
- n be here In 4 few weeks at farthest and expect
svc other letters and papers, which am informed
= !, the wsy. have now an opportunity 10 "n,c
80 letter. one Of H. b. Co.s ships the coiumos'
80. vancouver in few days for the Sandwich isan"s
o., country il most beautiful. fertile and wei ~aeieo
Al ne uosi equsble and pleasant climate. onrPepu
soo Is rapidly Increasing. and the country Is naa.n-
-, rrosress in wealth and refinement nav 49,
=. BEFORE population 20 industrious, 500 -
-, A. this know many. very many young men WI"
- he verest veraboDdsin the states, VINO are btre
..secssbe and doing exceedingly WEI. oui up an'
81 rear Osfi) have been most Doon'"u. M y, "a.
r..v tnli su,.py OF wheat for our consumption, Dut
49,. .onan,,v tor exportafion Large numbers OF cat
-. .r rsised here which never fed or sheered.-
S.,r men have from three 70 iour nubeo heao oi CAT
=. sheep can be bad here IN any oesrAD'e nuhDer NJ
w n COMPANY have large flock, and many priyaie
,s;s ,dusls have them.
~ this reaches you perhaps you will have learned
49, ~ have regular government IN most successiu
s.~,.ton in Oregon When nrst reached THIS region
~. vesr ago thought any attempt AZ organization
80, ~ premaiure / bad not however. been here
~ h.sore was convinced that government Of some
80 v.s inevitable IL grew out Of srn. Hsrifatie ne
- Orr Commercial and business transactions were
eszysvxhs Difficulties were daily occurring between
sSxu,s In relation 10 their "caims :" the estates O.
s.sssrd persons daily devOurcd. and helpless or
80 numbered, crimes were committed. and the Das'
~ unvrinciped the reckless and turbulent were h0ufJ
,rvine upon the rights of the honest and peaceaole
.raised population. numerous az we were could nor
90, without government The thing was Impossible
w, therefore organized government OF our OVID.
Ne had no money no means WAS member OF me
t<zs.sfure had most Of the business 10 DO We
s.sd tax bill appointed sn assessor, ana permluen
- man no, 10 pay a tax if he chose so 20 do, but D.
= "A not pay being able we declared him from suing
the courts plaintiff. At the same tiine we passed
IN v protect all bona hde settlers IN Their claims 70 the
a,i al go acres The bill operated ike charm.
x.,,v All the whole population paid without hesitation
e. lec,sd tall East Tennessean Joseph L. Meek. for
=, sheriff he had been IN the mountains with William
subDefie for eight OF ten years, is exceedingly good
sn,ored very popular and brave as julius Caesar.
r. veyv 6fst warrant he had delivered 10 him. is
ed for the apprehension of very quaresome and iur
,s'n, man who resisted Meek with broad axe. but
OK mesentiDg cooked pistol took the fellow Dotens
Los The next. and only case OF serious resistance 10
<isxs was on the part OF Joel Turnhan. of Mo. son
xxss Iurpham Of Clay County. He had assaulted al
.As,dual and warrant was Issued by justice OF the
..r Tumham was himself constable. and John I'd
.nds was depurized 20 arrest him. Turnhsm resisted
~ large butchers knife, bu, Edmonds had pistol
.ab ak barrels well charged He shot Iurnham four
ne the last ball entering above the temple when ne
,rmsdiaiey expired These all the distractions "a
a, administration of justice we have had and in Ed
md case he WAS fully justiabe in killing Turnhan
eep II be had no warrant T. assaulted him first. and
,srued him with great violence to the last
We have now frecouDres, and Two terms Of the Cir
an Court In each county in every year We have but
~ judge who discharges the duty OF probate judge
cbspeelor and what not in Tact we have only "a yet
Circuit Courts and justices Of the peace Our govern
ssut was intended only os provisional TO exist until
rue regular government could be established. We
,op,ed the statute laws Of Iowa. where applicable TO
Cur condition and not modified by our Legislature.
We are now waiting anxiously for the result OF
Pskenhsms mission and if the two Governments have
not se,ed the question between them the moment that
let Is known. there will be one universal movement
rsde regular convention will be held and constitu
bio adopted Republican doub) and an independent
Government put in operation at Necessity VIII
compel US to the step The population Of this county,
ne no doubt DESTROYS live under the Government OF
he United States but il she will do any thing for
u VIC must and will do 1t for ourselves. The people
bre are by delay and their conditan becomes
sery day ntolerable. speak 10 you with great
csadOr for you know me, and know that wihhoio
nothing and disguise nothing. We wei satisfied that
ihe s. Government well great Britain. could not
tbject and would object If we form an independent
Government for ourselves situated Treaties
must be made with the Indians. and many other things
D; importance must Of necessity be done.
Our population about doubles every year, and our bu
ine,s reblcs. We will soon have printing press, and
psper of our own; we can then publish our laws.
The practice of the law has commenced and ] have
everal important suits on hand
have fine claim perhaps among the best IN Ore
on situated IN the centre of Of the most beautiful
,rsries called the Falatne Plains | am in excellent
lesl,h con,ented and happy. Mrs. BIS health has im
,roved and my children are ell well. fat and fine
Your friend, PETER ii. BURNETT