The republic., 1851-01-27
From, oresos-

ara
By the Falcon we have received Oreg, DaP''
to the 2lst of November.
Anson Dart, the newly appointed superintendent
of Indian Affairs for Oregon, has entered upon the
duties of his office, and issued proclamation call
ing the attention Of all concerned to the penalties
imposed by acts of Congress for attempts to dis
pose of wines spirituous liquors to the Indians,
or to introduce them into the Indian country.
A meeting had been held at Portland at which
$3.50 were subscribed for the relief of the overland
immigrants, many of whom, il was said, were be-
yoDd the Dailes river in suffering condition.
The Oregon Spectator publishes an important de-
cision by Judge Strong, Of the United States dis
trct court Under an act OF the Legislative Assem-
bly, of Oregon, the proper authorities OF Clark
ty selected one hundred and sixty acres of land as
the site for the county buildings The Judge has
decided that the act of the Legislature is contrary
to the laws of the United States, and all proceed
ings under il are null and void The reasons for
this opinion are: The act Of Congress which the
territorial law founded gives the right of pre-
empton, at the minimum price, for quarter sec
tion of land for county purposes, to each county in
which there lands belonging to the United
States. This is not the fee, but the right 10 pur-
chase, and the quantity is designated as quarter
section legal subdivion. The judge does not
sider one hundred and sixty acres equivalent to-
though it is the amount of quarter section. In
the absence of surveys il could not be told whether
they might not constitute parts of two more
"This court is bound officially take notice that
all the lands within the limits of this territory
as yet unsurveyed and in fact that the Indian title
i'd not yet extipguished to any portion of them
Under the organic act, Congress has expressly re-
served 10 itself the primary disposal of the soil
The legislative assembly, therefore, have no righ
to confer authority upon the judges of probate tc
appropriate public lands in Oregon Territory, for
county or any other purposes unless authorized I,
do so by act Of Congress"
oIn he
paragraph If it shall indeed prove true that Goa
exists in large quantities in the territory, and il
such position to be easily transported to tn,
coast, the discovery is one of immense import
| ance not only to Oregon, but to the commerce o
| the Union It is now toerably well ascertainee
that there is no coal in California while il is equal
ly certain that the day is not far distant when
immense steam marine will be employed on th
| shores Of the Pacific. source of supply Of tina
| indispensable agent in steam navigation, near a
hand, and within own Territory, is som ethins
| greatly To be desired, and we hope that the an
nouncement here made may prove to have veri
| table foundation:
gentleman handed us one day last week
piece Of stone coal, which. in opinion approache
| very nearly, in appearance, the anthracite coal
as found in Pennsylvania. He informed that i
was found in Admiralty Inlet, by Mr.. Hancock
he states further that it exists in vast quantities-
that there is sutiiciency propel all the steamer
that may float on the Pacific, for centuries come
1t has been examined by scientific men at Portland
and has been pronounced coal OF superior quality
In burning it leaves cinder, and makes very lit
tie ashes.
Letters from the Rev. MIR. Roberts, superintend
ent of the Methodist mission, say that the weathe
in Oregon, November Goth, was remarkably fine
The grass in many places was eix inches high
| considerable number Of immigrants had recentl
| arrived from the States, and every steamer frou
California adds to the number.
| Rev Mr.. Hoy and lady, from Newark Seminary
New Jersey, arrived at Salem City, Oregon, Nov
| 5, and entered immediately upon their work in til
Oregon Institute.-N Y Commercial AdUrtiser.