The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-13
PRODUCTIONS AND RESOURCES OF OREGON
SPEECH or mn. McDUFYrE REVIEWED.
To the Editor Of ats Union;

SPEECH or mn. McDUFFK REVIEWED.
To the Editor Of hs linton:
Sin: To an American citizen, who takes a lively
interest ia all that pertains Tn the peace happiness
and permanent prosperity, not only Of a part, but
the whole OF his country, II Is not only morifying
but painful To witness The efforts which arc now
being made by distinguished statesmen, and por-
ton of the press TO underyalue Of the best por-
tons Of our domain; mean the Oregon tarritory-
this portion of our country to which the Executive
has declared our title to be "unquestionabe," and
also thai Great Britain ought not to be allowed to
"colonlze on any portion Of the northwest COAST
and to which the great body Of the people, in ee-
vadng him to the important station he now occu-
pies responded in the Affirmative. They are still
with him; and will not be deferred from maintain
ing their rights to Oregon, up to $40 49, not
withstanding the misconceptions of Mr. MeDufie,
in reference to the value Of thai country. 81. .
The day has gone by when impressions can no
longer be made upon the eitlzens Of this country,
that Oregon Is d 'bsrrsn wastsf even though
they emanate from distinguished senator Of the
United States ....s.na.
"If there be any country in the world (says Mr..
MeDuffie) which has been blasted by God, which is
utterly destitute Of all conceivable attraction, nso-
much as 10 be scarce capable Of sustaining the
life Of human beings, itis this very territory OF Ore
gon." How the honorable senator obtained this
important information in regard to Oregon, ne un,
derstands of COURSE but with all due Difference to
him, but 70 state to the public, il is incorrect. I
let the Willamette valley on the 18th Of last Au-
gust, when the various crops were harvesting, and
they had rewarded the husbaDdnian well for his
honest toil and safely say that the Willamette
valley possesses an excellent soil, being In length
about 800 miles, and an average width of about 50
miles. All the productions Of the middle States
flourish well in this valley. Many farmers last
summer raised from 500 TO | 900 bushels of wheat.
Among them, were Judge N. Ford, on the Kicker
all river; Messrs. Cook and Fletcher, on the Your
Hill river; and Messrs. ID. Hill, W. Pomeroy. J.
Garish, and A. F. Smith, of the Twallatine plains,
and was on one farm-Mr. lie Rock's-when he
was grading his wheat, and he told me he sowed
100 bushels, and was quite sure he would harvest
5000 bushels. Some Of his wheat was the stoutesi
ever saw growing.
Again "No corn can be raised in any part OF an
Oregon" will take the liberty Of informing the
senator, that eat boiled corn, taken from a ten
acre field, owned by Mr.. hlanson Beers before I
left the country situate on the bank Of the VILLA
mette. IL was the eightrowed New York corn
and he told me he thought he would receive 40 bush
els per acre | also saw fine sound corn on The
farm Of Mr.. Delaney, who keeps ferry on the
Willamette, IS miles above Oregon city. He wss
from Missouri, and the corn was the Baden
corn, such as Is raised in Missouri.
But Mr.. Med. says, there is not lone American
settler" north Of the Willamette valley. will refar
him TO Mr. Beever, at the falls on The Columbia
in the middle region and could he have seen his large
stout field Of wheat, raised without irrigation, and
every kind Of garden vegetable, growing in great
uxuriance, he would have been OF different opin-
ion. Dr.. Whitman, also in the middle region, on
the Willamette river, raises large crops Of wheat;
and | saw at his grst-mill, in the fall of 1874 as
large and sound gourd-seed corn, | ever saw in
Missouri or Ohio. And here it may be proper to
remark that Oregon being so great a wheat country
the farmers find it more profitable to raise wheat
than corn, though the latter does well in the
try. The average crop of wheat is thirty bushels
per Peaches, Irish potatoes, and all kinds 81
garden vegetables do well, and are raised in great
abundance. Very many possess large bands OIL
American and California cattle from so to 500 age
owned by several farmers, and several have ten, ard
others twenty-five, Oregon and California borscs
beef sold for q per hundred pork sl2 per hundred
flour IS per barrel; wheat 81 per bushel; potatoes
so cents per bushel; peas 81 so; corn before plant
ing was worth 81 so; oats rs cents. was re-
quested to state in Washington, by several formers
in Oregon, that should Congress see fit to send 900
United States troops across the mountains the en-.
suing for their protection and defence fron,
British aggression, they could sustain that number
by their surplus products, and should rejoice TO
shoot down few Of their wild cattle for their sup
port.
Again. Mr.. McDufie says: "The Willamette
valley is not larger than of the counties in Penn.
syvania, and the whole country on this side of it is
wholly unfit for cultivation" | will only reply to
this statement that the Yeakena river, emptyng into
the Columbia near Fort Wallawalla in the middle
| region, was explored last summer, by Rev. A. r.
Walla, towards its confluence with the Columbia
for distance of $50 miles, and found in its valley
excellent timber, and rich soil; but to the size
of the valleys and streams of Oregon, trust shall
be enabled more fully to inform the public on the
publication of a work on Oregon, part Of which is
now in type, giving a general description Of that
paiuuble portion OF our country, az found it from
my own observation.
"Bst," says Mr.. McDuffie, 81 NAV be pardoned
for doubling the right of Christian people drive
off savages from region fiji only for sapages" The
citizens of Oregon never have for one moment en-
tertaned the idea Of drivng off" the aborgines Of
the country. The Indians have been encouraged to
commence laboring with their hands in cultivang
the soil, and though "ft only for savages," the Ne
perces or Sahaptans the Clear water rIver and
have raised large quantities Of corn (some Of which
sow my return,) wheat, and all kinds of vege-
tables, and have exchanged some of their horses
which they possess IN great numbers, with the
settlers in the Willamette, for cows, and
are fast becoming civilized; and it is ardenty
desired by the people of Oregon that Congress
would not only extend the protecting of our
government over American citizens there, but also
over these Indians, who are making such laudable
endeavors in agriculture and civilization The SEN
ator also says that "Dr White, who is now here as
agent from the settlers in that country, had said a
month ago that great deal of the country, for pur
poses Of agriculture, was not worth fg." | will
correct the honorable gentleman by informing him
that Dr. White is not "an agent for the settlers in
that country"
will notice only one remark more Of the senator,
| and have done. 1t is this: "Sure | am that the
blood of every SENATOR ofevery citizen Of the United
States would rise at once to teper-hea would get up
to the ,oa point instantly if Great Britain should re-
tract her offer of the Columbia and insist coming
| south Of that river"
Sir, already has Great Britain Crossed the Rubi-
con-" Some Of her largest possessions are south
territory one Of the strongest is McKavs, at the
mouth Of the Umpqua river, latitude AGO 30, and
longitude IL 40 west and not only does DR.. Nc.
Laughlin, chief factor Of the Hudson Bay Compe.
ny, hold the entire site of Oregon city, (640 acres
but through that company has other claims in the
Willamette valley; as will be seen by memorial
from Oregon, signed by IS citizens (many of whom
know 10 be men of influence and nrnnerty in the