, 1852-12-18
THE COLUM BIAN.
saturday, December is, 1852.
Meeting of the Legislative As
Interests demanding
Legislative action, &C.,


The legislative assembly met at Salem on
Monday, December 9th, and arc now, we
presume, engaged in the edelibera;ion Of such
matters as may have been regularly brought
before that body. Thai the interests Of the
people Of the southern or central portion OF
Oregon territory, will be Faithfully attend
I'd to, ana their rights zealously guarded,
they car rely with the most implicit conf
dence. And wherefore should they not
The Willamette valley possesses supreme
control over the law making power of the
"territory Of Oregon n"-furnishes nearly all
the members Of The legislature, and is we'll
fortified with presses to herald the will and
wishes Of the people to their representa-
iiyes. Their every desire must FIRST be
grstihed--lheir every want must FIRST re-
ceive attention from their delegates and
II THEY procrastinate, or fail in acceeding
10 their inordinatc, and, perchance, extrav-
agant demands-wo! wo! to the unfortun-
ate lawmakers they would find the poIs-
oned shirt of Nessus in the wrath Of the
Willamette press!
As much as We may depricate the agiia-
tion of party politics in northern Oregon
coneeiving, as we do, that such agitation
would be both unnecessary and inexpedient
productive of no good results, but in the
present aspect of affairs, calculated to di>
vide and distract our citizens when harmo-
ny and unanimity is so essential yet, while
we would that the legislative assembly
would act towards our new country unbiass-
ed by political feelings Or party motives, We
would beg leave to remind that honorable
body, that the authority claiming ascendcn-
cy in the legislative department of our Ter
riiory is DEMOCRATIC; that the party which
rejoices in that name, proudly vaunts of en-
tertaining the sentiment Of "equal and ex-
act justice to ALL--special privileges to
NONE "-"equal rights, equal laws and equal
JUSTICE 10 all men "---of whatever sect or
party-religious or political.
Should the legislative assembly at its
present session give practical illustrations
Of the doctrine taught in theory by the par
ty in the majority, northern Oregon will be
content; and during the remainder of the
time which may be allotted to her 10 re-
main in her present dependent condition as
part Of the "territory of Oregon she can
thenceforward look with confidence to the
legislative assembly, assured of receiving a
proportiOnate share Of consideration, which
will the better prepare her for assuming the
prercgativss of independent territorial ex.
istence.
Neither the legislative assembly, nor the
people of southern Oregon can look with in-
difference upon The recent action Of the
people of this part of the country with ref
erence to a separation; and while our citi-
Eens wish to part With their southern neigh
bOrs on terms Of good understanding, they
earnestly ask the cooperation of the legisla-
ture and citizens of the Willamette valley
generally, in furtheraRee Of that object
A division is nevitable-demanded alike
by the northern and extreme southern por.
tons of the territory, and against which,
CENTRAL Oregon can oppose no just or rea-
sOnable objection. A decent respect to the
wants, interests and requirements Of our cit
,izens should dictate the course to be pursu-
ed by the legislature, and the justice and
necessity for speedy consummation Of that
for which we ask, appeals TO the native
sense of right and magnanimity of the peo-
pie Of the Willamette, that they yield not
only a willing and hearty acquiescense in
that which we demand, but that they also
lend US their aid and assistance in its speedy
procurement.
In its memorials to congress then, we car
Aesly ask the legislature to remember nor
then Oregon in its prayers. We trust it
will remind our national Legislature, that
an immediate division of the "territory OF
Oregon" is impeTiously demanded by the
people north Of the Columbia river, with an
object to the formation of a new territory,
with the Columbia river for lis southern and
eastern boundary; that We are deplorably
deficient in mail facilities, and most urgently
require the prompt establishment and con-
tract for route from San francisco to the
head Of Puget Sound that we are at pres
ent provided with less than one hundred
miles of mail route that the rapid increase
Of the commerce on the Sound demands the
erection of light houses at Cape Flauery
nd New Dnnreness fnrih,riih. H.. =.