The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-02
EVENTS AT HOME.


EVENTS AT HOME.
OUR OREGON CORE sPoNpEscE.
ASTORIA, OREGON TERRIroRY,j
May IA, 1854.
General Account of Orego,-Rise and Progress Of
the Settlements on the W'akamete-Ihe Hudson's
Bay Company Results Of american Immigration
Delightful Social, Religious, and Political
Harmony among the Early Colonists-Prog,sss
Of american Enterpsise-IHe Rich Agricultural
and Commercial Resources of Oregon-PriVafe
Energy versns the Neglect Of the Government
Cal upon Congress for Lighthouses. Marine
Hospitals, &c.
It may not be uninteresting to many of the read
ers of the HERALD to know something of Oregon.
Though much has been written, there is room for
more.
Oregon is not as it has been-for it has been that
anything and everything from Oregon must be pub
lished, consequently read-wrong differences drawn;
and the results are large emgrations, great loss.
severe suffering, and sad disappointment.
A man being in the country in the spring, or
sees it in all its beauty and glory, and when
his soul is fred, he writes glowing description,
just as it is to him at the time. Another arriving
in the country in the fano house, lost all in get
ting here, finding almost constant rains, hungry.
and otherwise uncomfortable, sets this first man
down as wanton deceiver, falsifer and declares
he will no longer stay in the country than such time
as he can leave Winter finally passes away, spring
opens the rain ceases the birds sing, the flowers in
biossom-you then cannot drive him from the
country.
But the time was when there were but few whites
in the Countrywide emigration comfortably small
and the impression was gotten from some source that
Congress would give liberal grant of land to set
tiers, because it was worth nothing, being so far
away; and the necessary expense in getting here,
counting the loss Of time required in justice that
man be well compensated for such an enterprise
hence every succeeding emigration would be largef,
for the preceding emigfant would leave his friends
to follow the next season. Until now we are in halt
ing distance of State organization. We have been
abundantly prospered, which is the consequent re-
suit OF honest industry.
In reviewing the past we shall see how far the
general government has been just. Say nothing Of
far out OF the way. Unlike other governments it
adopts the old adage, "Out of sight, out Of mind"
An Oregonian, when first arriving in this country il
becomes accmated he is the most easily satisfied man
that can be found; and though he gets not his dues
he is keen to discover what justly belongs to him.
In going. back prior to the settlement Of the
out that every man, woman, and child should
each have his or her quantum Of land. Many came
here under that impression, in consequence of
which our line north to 40 degrees instead If the
Columbia river They now declare that moral justice
requires that it be meted out to them. And while
the country was held in partnership between Eng
land and the United States, the Hudson Bay Com
pany succeeded in carrying the cream from the
country as no American company could compete
with it. Americans were driven from the river,
and the country left to the avarice of the English
and in this situation it was found by the emigrants
wh ho nfrv krh hon NV
came in as the Dutchman's pigs came home" They
came in together one together and by and by two
came home alone." These poverty stricken Ameri-
wheat as they pleased but to settle where the Hud-
son Bay Company dictated, for they must have the
wheat. Yet notwithstanding all this, things passed
on pleasantly for every man was sure Of necessares
while he raised them, and Injuries he never ex-
pected, and adopted the noble sentiment: For
whatever thy condition, Herewith be content"
but what has made this change that exists?
vernment has extended jurisdiction over usg It
may be, in a measure; yet we claim not little
credit ourselves for before Oregon was much known,
and probably less cared for, enterprising men came
from the East trappers and they possessed energy
for at that day nothing else would could get here
and afterwards others settlers and through their
influence here, and among their friends at home
dor they could have no influences IN Congress, no
notice was taken Of their memorials), who emigrated
here; and the consequence was, change was effect
ed, and the country was being improved from the
capital which was brought in, and which was diff
cult to take away, viz.-each man one head and two
hands, some had some few minor artcles-perhaps
horse or gun; and thus commenced the settlement
on the Willamette river, in the Willamette valley,
with some of the discharged servants Of the IIud-
ons Bay Company.
The settlement was favored with advances from
the Hudsons Bay Company, Captain John Court,
of the firm Of Cushing Il Company, and the
Of supplies for those connected with the establish
ment. Every mans hands were hard, his appetite
good, and conscience clear There was one almost
universally established rule, which was, "to do a.
they would be done by They soon found
Labor brought pleasure and gain,
And made them their troubles forget;
They had time to complain,
For labor was better than fret
Here were thrown together persons from all portions
ofthe EARTH almost or quite every man talking in his
own dialect and in thsrespect they were like the Ba
bellies, though in another there was difference
there was no confusion. There was no king in Ore
gon. Every man did that which was right. Every
man-p0or or rich-happy and industrious, possess
ing quiet, having no law, or need Of the article.
Every man had employment sufficient for himself.
bywhich they iudced right, which was Moses, with
Christ's amendments. The Catholic, the Protcs-
tant, with the nonregionist, met and separated
friendly, each seeking the others good There bciAg
no Offices, there were aspirants; there being nO
rum, there was no drunkenness. The servants Of
the II. B. Co. came In the settlement as fast ~
the Americans crossed the mountains IN l8l3,
when the race Was given up, tfOfu S0he cause Dcst
known TO themselves. In 1643 the emigration
located where IL pleased without allowing ANY dc
tation, and has been on the increase, from import
and domestic manufa cture, till we ready TO think
we must be State, for where only q little while
ago there was nothing but forests, the timber has
been changed into tenements, and so many together
that they claim to be young cities, and some small
towns.
The first American enterprise was the building q
small vessel to go after sea otter, but 1t finally went
to California and was sold for cattle. which were
brought to Oregon, and were oil great benefit to the
,fnrx,r IN