Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-05-22
LETTER FROM SENATOR BENTON TO
THE PEOPLE OF OREGON.

| WASHINGTON CRY, March, 18i7.
| My Frends-Qor such | may call many Of
you from personal acquaintance, and all of you
rom my thirty years devotion to the interests
OF your country think il right TO make this
communication to you at the present moment,
when The adjournment Of Congress, without
passing the bill for your government and pio-
lection, seems TO have left you in state Of
abandonment by your mother country. But
such is not the case. You are no, abandoned!
nor will you be denied protection for not agree
ing 10 admit slavery, /, . man Of the south,
and stakeholder, tell you this.
The House OF Representatives, as early as
the middle OF January, had passed the bill to
give you Territorial government, and in that
bill had sanctioned and legazed your Provis-
onal Organic Act, one Of the clauses Of which
forever prohibits the existence Of slavery in
Oregon. An amendment from the Senate's
committee, to which this bill was referred, pro-
posed 10 ebrogate tina, prohibition; and in the
delays and vexations to which that amendment
gave rise, the whole bill was laid upon the ,a-
bic and lost for the season. This will be a
great disappointment to you, and real calam-
uyi already five years without law, or legal
institution for the protection Of life, liberty
and property! and now doomed TO wait q year
longer. This is a strange and anomalous con-
dition almost incredible to contemplate, and
mos, critical to endure! a colony Of freemen,
1000 miles from the metropolitan government,
and without laws or government to pr reserve
! them! But do not be alarmed, or desperate,
you will not be outawed for not admitting
| slavery. Your fundamental act against that
institution, copied from the Ordinance of 1897
-(the work Of the great men Of the South, in
the gres. day Of the South, prohibiting slavery
in territory far less northern than yours)-
will no. be abroga,ed! nor is that the intention
OF the prime mover Of the amendment.
Upon the record, the Judiciary Committee of
the Senate is the author Of that amendment!
but not so the fac! That committee is only
midwife to it, Its author is the same mind that
generated the Fire Brand Resolutions" of
which send you a copy, aud of which the
amendmen, is the legitimate derivation. Ore
gou is not The object. The most rabid propa-
gandlst Of slavery can not expect 10 plant it on
the shores of the Pacific in the latitude of Wis.,
cousu and the Lake Of the Woods. home
agitation, for election and disunon purposes is
oil that is intended by thrusting this fire-brand
question into your bill! aud, a, the next session,
when i, is thrust in again, we will scourge il
out! and pass your oil ss it ought to be-
promise you this IN the name Of the South, as
we'll Of the North; and the event will no. de-
celve me. In the mean time, the President
will give you all the protection which existing
laws, and detachments OF the army and navy
can enable hun to extend to you; and. until
congress has time 10 act, your friends must re-
ly upon you to continue 10 govern yourselves,
as you have heretofore done, under the provs-
|. ions Of your own voluntary compact, and with
the justice harmony and moderation which is
due TO your own character and to The honor of
, the American name.
/, | send you by Mr.. Shinely, copy Of the
, bill Of the late session, both as il passed the
| House Of Representatives and as proposed 20
be amended in the Senate, with the Senate's
, vote upon laying it on the table, and copy of
Mr.. CaIhouu's ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS in date
10 the amendment, but, nevertheless, father to
n)-also copy Of your own Provisional Orr
, gsnic Act, as printed by order Of the Senate,
which will put you completely in possession of
, the proceedings of Congress on YOUR Petition
for Territorial Government. and for the pro-
lection and security Of your rights.
e In conclusion. nave 10 assure you that the
! same spirit which has made mo the friend Of
, Oregon for thirty years which led me to de-.
nounce the Joint Occupation treaty the day it
3 was made, and 10 oppose its renewal in 1923,
r and to labor for its sorogaon until it was ter
minsted; the same spirit which led me to re-
t veal the grand destiny Of Oregon, in articles
] written in 1918, and 10 support every measure
for her bs0eht snce--this same spiri; still an
r imates me, and will continue 10 do so while
live; which, hope, vii! be long enough 10 SOC
i an emporium Of Aslatc commerce at the mouth
, of your river, and stream OF Asia,ic trade
}. pouring into the Valley of the Mississippi
. through the channel of Oregon.
=. Your friend and felIow,citizen,
: THOMAS H. BENTON.