The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-09-09
The Legislative Assembiy-Politics-1r Trial AID

Our Oregon Correspondence.
OREGON CITY, June Is, 1850.
The Legislative Assembiy-Politics-T Trial asd
Execution of the Cayssss-Goid. &C., &c.
Popular attention has lattery been strongly at
tracted towards Oregon City, where events of a
deeply interesting character have been transpring;
and so far as they are, or may be, interesting to
your readers, they will be noticed.
The Legislative Assembly convened in special
session in Oregon City, on the 9th of May, on the
call of Governor Lane. This session was called
to provide for some things which had been over
looked by the Assembly at its former session.
Their doings, however, were entirely Of private
nature, and their rehearsal would add nothing to
the interest of this letter. Governor Lane is making
commendable efforts to have the civil affairs of the
Territory in the best possible condition when the
hour of his official departure shall arrive and, in
order that he might effect his object, the Assembly
were asked to alter, amend, or add to some of
their former acts In doing so, they remained to-
gether two weeks, and passed, perhaps, some half
dozen acts, original or supplementary. The men,
bers Of Legislature are men of good sense and
sound integrity, and they have on the whole framed
an excellent code OF laws.
One subject of discussion, though not Of definite
action, deserves passing notice. The idea Of a
in private circles; and the measure is decidedly
popular, the subject was agiated in both branches
of the Assembly, and there is little doubt that the
question Of calling convention TO frame const-
tuition would have been submitted TO the people if
the election had not been near at hand as 10
prevent a full and fair canvass Of the matter. We
shall be feeling for the knocker by the time Cali.
fornia is disposed of. With the actual and rapid
influx Of population, and the many announcements
held out immigrants, there is little doubt that in
less than eighteen months there can be no obec-
aAat Afntas upfl lran NJ
the Union on the ground OF want OF population.
All here feel that the claims of Oregon require
more numerous delegation to Congress. We do
not wish TO kill present talented and popular
delegate, and shall soon be asking to add at least
| two coadjutors on the floor OF the national lie
| gislature.
II may be proper here to remark that the subject
| of party pohtics has been, for few weeks past,
| warmly discussed The meeting OF the Lesisla-
iure brought together the leading democrats Of the
| Territory, and the removal OF Governor Lane
afforded favorable pretext for party rally; 30 a
| democratic meeting or convention was got toge-
Their, for the double purpose, should judge from
their published proceedings, of organizing the party
and adopting some ind gnailon resolutions with
meeting the party was Gully organized by the aP-
poinlmt Mt OF central and local committees, and
the other formalites usual on such occasions. The
/ movement is received coldly by the masses, and
the prospect at present Is, that the party thus form
ed, though undoubtedly the strongest on the ques-
| ton OF principle, will for time be defeated by
]
| party party. Most surely will this be the case
| until purity papers are established, asthe Oregon
Spectator, the only paper now in the Territory, Is
| badly neutral on every subject.
But the subject OfmOst thrilling and intense inte-
rest has been The trial and execution Of five Cayusc
| Indians, who were delivered up 10 Governor Lane
by their nation, the only Survivors OF the muir
| derers ofDr. Whitman and others, at the mission
| ary station on the Walla Walla After much nygo-
tiaiion, and especially after seeing company after
| company efthe nfe regiment coming into the Tern,
tory, the nation determined to purchase peace and
safety by surrendefing the perpetrators OF that hor
rihle massacre into the hands of American justice.
| Being thus given mp by their own people, these
1 hve persons might have been justly executed on
| the testimony OF their own nation They were,
| however, tired in open court FIRST indicted by
grand jury, then araigned before petit jury, and
there, by the surviving females Of the massacre,
who remembered, recognised, and identified them
| every one, were they fairly tried. They were de
Tended by X. Prichett, Esq, Secretary Of the Ter
| riiory, Major X Is. Reynolds and Captain L Clay
| borne, Of the army Everything the zeal Of coun.
| sci and Hudson Bay and Catholic influence could
| do, was done TO save them from the gAllows. The
| Jury, however, pronounced them guilty, and the
| Judge declared they must be hung; aud notwth-
standing the Archbishop OF the Coiholic Church
labored TO the last 10 them, and followed them
| TO the scai,od with his wax doll and crossed
sticks, which the sayages were required repeatedly
| TO kiss, yet all would not do; they were hung by
| the neck until they were dead, dead
Thus ends affair which gave rise TO war
| which cost the nation little short OF two hundred
| thousand dollars, and which most probably grew
out of the attempt Of the Catholics to este bish
mission in the heart Of Tribe already occupied by
Protestant missio naries. From this, rejecting
minds will draw their own conclusions.
| The elections came of throughout the territory
| on the fret Monday Of the present month. Party
lines were not fully drawn IN any except two coun-
ties. In Que Of these (Marion) the organized de-
mocrats carried their ticket throughout, while IN
the other portions Of the territory the no-organiza.
ton party carried all before them. So far as the
political principles Of the successful candidates are
| concerned, the result shows that the wings and
| democrats are about equally represented IN the
| Legislative Assembly. II ought, however, TO be
| borne in mind that the election did not turn on
politics, except in two Instances, persons voting IN
Discriminatory for wing or loco, as they were intu-
enced by personal or local considerations.
The first Of this month may be noted A. the conf
| mence ment of new era In the progress OF oregon
| The United States mail steamer Carolina arrived
| At Portland on the Willamette, on the lst instant
| This steamer is one Of Aspin wall a Co.'S line,
! which are 10 run regularly between this point and
| san Francisco hereafter. This at once converts
months into weeks, so that we now are one week
| from San Francisco, and live six weeks from
New Yofk. And not only are we assured Of the
regular trips Of the mail steamers, Int some two or
| three others will soon commence 70 run regularly
| between this point and San Francisco. Nor is the
| business in any danger OF being overdone. There
| is an immense travel on this coast, and the travel
and commerce on these waters require only the
ssary facilities to cause great and rapid ex-
pansion. Oregon possesses in remarkable de-
gree almost every element OF real greatness and
permanent prosperity, and she awaits only the sp-
pication Of the appropriate means 10 ensure their
DEVELOPMENT Hitherto the steamers have con
fined their operations to the coast below san Fran
CISCO and both trade and travel have been restricted
to the slow and Iksome motions OF sail vessels bu'