, 1853-02-19


right of Congress TO dispose Of il, as il has
done, has been denied by some who sc, up
an adverse tile TO it, BE this as il may,
the question should he settled. 1t is for the
interest Of all parties to have it determined.
If the Territory has the right TO apply il
for the establishment Of an University,
some one duly authorized for the purpose
should take possession Of il at once and en-
force the rights of the Territory. More
than two years have elapsed since Congress
made the grant; the income OF the property
for that period if rightly managed would 90
far towards the establishment of a noble
seat Of learning. Instead Of being received
for that purpose it is appropriated mainly
by a single individual To recover it will
be expensive If not difficult. The income
and benefits of the property, princcly as
they are, still continue TO be enjoyed by
those who have no authority under the laws
of Congress or of this Territory to receive
them. No adequate power exists by law
by which the property Or IFS income can be
taken for the purposes of the grant. Far
ther action by the Legislative Assembly is
needed. therefore recommend that such
steps be taken as the great importance of
the subject demands, and as will best sub
serve the interests Of the Territory at large.
would call your attention to the exist
ing laws in relation 10 licensing drinking
houses. If these establishments may be re-
garded as public benefits, the amount cx-
acted for license seems TO me cxorbiiantly
high but if on the contrary they are Justly
considered as unmixed evils, the tax should
be greatly augmented, or by adequate en-
actmcnts they should be prohibited allogcth-
or. This is q subject Of grave import TO
our infant but growing Territory, and well
merits the deliberate consideration of the
Representatives of the people,
recommend the passage Of a law au-
thorizing the appointment Of persons in the
several States and Territories Of the Union
10 take the Acknowledgements of deeds for
property sold within our borders. And
most earnestly renew my former recon-
mendaion to organize the Militia OF the
Territory.
To the Legislative Assembly belongs the
Consideration Of measures which may best
tend to the development of the resources Of
tho Territory Oregon Possesses Within
herself many Of these which with rnlei prise
and industry will most surely render her
wealthy, powerful and prosperous State
She has fertile soil and genial climate
she has waste forests and abundant fisheries,
unlimited water power, and pastures upon
which, even during winter, innumciable
flocks aud herds can subsist with no other
care than the mere hcrding and prairics
which could, with only moderate labor, fur
nish the whole Of our Pacific Territories
with bread. cannot but consider it a mis-
fortune that the search for gold, nov par,
llcularly since increased population and
business has within the last two years af-
forded us the means ofproftabe labor within
our own boundaries, has LED so many OF our
citizens from the more stable, and IN The end
the more remuneratng labors of production.
The experience Of nations has shown that
mining population never beeomcs really or
permanently rich; and il is an undoubted
fact, that the neighboring State Of Cailor-
MIA, with all her productiveness in gold, has
not repaid the capital furnished or expended
from the East. II is no less clear, that the
large amounts Of metal brought into this
Territory from the first fruits of the Cali.
fornia mines have been measurably exhaust.
cd and that while importaions of goods
from abroad arc increasing we bavc pro-
diced but little until recently to send back
in repayment. The consequences must dis
| play themselves in q constant drain on the
proceeds Of this years mining or the nliena-
tion Of our most valuable property, to those
who come in from other states and coun-
tries in payment for their merchandise. 1t
is therefore to he considered what articles
we can supply with most profit 10 Others
Or where we can find or create the best mar.
kei for them. The wheat and other small
grains Of Oregon have become renowned not
only for quality Unsurpassed, but the aver
age quantity produced, even with moderate
labor, greatly exceeds that of other agricu-
iural regions. For flour particularly we
ought always 10 find a market in Califor-
MIA, and that VIC have not been able hitherto
to compete with Chill and other grain pro-
duclng countries is 10 be attributed, in great
measure, 10 the high prices of labor and
/ tiranspoi talon, Lut in some measure also to
the inferior quality of the article itself as
hitherto manufactured. In this latter par
ticular, however, great improvements have
been recently made. The improved mills
and machinery Of the Eastern States should
be introduced here, and care should bo ia.
ken not only in the making but in the pack
ing and preservation and with increased
economy in these particulars, and with rap
idly increasing facilities ol bringing the sta
pie to places OF embarkation and our neigh
borhood to the market, We have a right TO
look for successes from competition with
any country.
The same observations apply in meas
urc TO our manufactured humber The,c