The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-07-22

ITO i"Piu S'VVSh Hhu SVoCh uet"ShVi'o "
California have cast the unpretending territory
Of Oregon somewhat into the shade in public
attention but, judging from such facts MS are
contained in the following extract of a letter
dated ut Columbia river, on the 23i OF May,
which is published by the Boston Traveller,
there will ere long be another new State knock
ing at the door Of the Union:
"Oregon is fast becoming a State; its in
crease is as rapid ms is cUnsisent with durability.
The census taken last fall shows the population
to have been 10000, and, allowing 1000 for
that portion of the late emigration not included
in the above, we have $4,000. BY advices from
the frontier, and the constant influx from Cali
70 mia, we may safely calculate upon an increase
Of 10000 during the past year. Thus you see
the time is not far distant when we shall be
knocking at the door of the Union for admission.
And valuable acquisition we shall prove. Ore
gon is not only unsurpassed as an agricultural
region, but she is rich in minerals. Vast beds of
coal of an excellent quality have been discovered
| on the Cowlitz and in Pugets sound. Iron ore
is abundant on the Columbia, and gold, platina,
copper, lead, plumbago, sulphur, and salt are
| among those already found in this but little
known territory. Her hill-sides are clothed with
gigantic timber, and her valleys need only the
plough-share and the seed TO make them ricf
"The commerce of Oregon is rapidly increas
! ing already three lines of ocean steamers con
meet us with our more southery neighbors, anc
sail vessels are fast multiplying. The overland
emigration of the present year will be enabled
TO avoid a very difficult part of their journey by
line of steamboats, that will play above and
/ below the Cascades, being come. ted by rail
road around the Falls. This will obvate the ne
cessity of climbing the precptous and barrer
roa that winds around Mount Hood.
'sThe land bill passed at the last session O
| Congress is far from being satisfactory. Tha
clnnse which makes it necessary to reside upor
the land for four successive years acts very un-
fairly upon the merchants, mechanics, mariners
Tea cheers, &C., who, from the nature of their cal
hags, are obliged to live in towns; so that il
FAD the land is only donated to farmers. This
viii many other parts meets with universal con
del nnaton.
# 'The young ladies' sent ont by Gov. Slade al
teachers have arrived and, notwithstanding thu
bord of five hundred dollars imposed on then
in case Of marriage within year, they hav,
created quite sensation among the unmarried
gentlemen. And as the land bill makes ever,
lady worth three hundred and twenty acres,
taken before December next, You will be quit
safe in believing that Oregon will soon be with
tc<fCutTs, uultSs tHolutT supply u
Immediately. The board oflndian commissioner
will leave on the 2Sth to visit several of the grea
tribes living in the northeast
While we are pleased with the exhibitions o
American enterprise upon the shores of the Pa
cifc, we cannot hut regret that the Wilmot Pro
viso, signed by Southern Democratic President
has shut out Southern men from the CROWN,
territory of Oregon. For our own part, great a
the country is becoming every day in territorial
dimensions We would rather see it cut down I,
the limits of the "Old Thirteen" than advancin,
at the expense of justice to any section, and a
the sacrifice of the mutual confidence and har
moDy of the people. We regret the day wher
the nation entered upon career of "territolia
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT" and if we are not mistaken
some of those who we're the chief advocates o
that policy aIc already disposed to rue the hou
when they "set that ball in notion"