, 1855-09-14
Our Present situation.


are at a perfect stand still almost, in all mat
ters wherein we have heretofore advanced
Our business transactions, now, are but the
works of necessity. Our moral improve
ment is no more than the effect of natural
causes, or out side influences; and our polit-
ical progress is nothing, .....
When we inquire into the cause of this
state of affairs, the very inquiry suggests an
answer. 1t is hard times" and the pros
pect ahead, which has caused this result
Within two years past, we have been check
ed in career Of unparalleled prosperity, and
- taught to feel that, to grow rich, we must
labor. Speculative visions of sudden for
tunes, must give way to close calculations of
gradual increase Our strides to wealth
must be gradual. We can no longer :" go
by jumps" rrt.s. lgrgs ,.H
i This change has naturally caused a rest
lessness Of disposition in the minds of our
most energetic citizens, which is much more
readily felt, or imagined, than described. In
this state of mind, all eyes have been sud-
denly turned to rich discoveries of gold in
the Colville country. A fine prospect is
opened, and, on the spur Of the moment,
many Of our best men have gone prospecting.
They have gone out upon mere reports or
rumors. Before they left, the glowing de-
scriptions, and perhaps exaggerated accounts,
we had of the yield of these mines, caused
much anxiety in our midst, to hear the facts.
Now, since our people have been gone sufi-
ciently long to begin to return, and during
all the intervening time, rumors have been
coming in, our anxiety to hear the result of
their explorations, has become intense
Thus, the times and the prospect, have caus-
ed the present motionless state Of affairs
Such causes will produce such effects. But
there is not sufficient cause to produce total
stagnation, and we should all strive to resist
the tendency that way Let us bear in
mind the fact that our territory possesses adj
Vantagea, which will insure our steady on
ward progress, though the reported mines
should prove failure. We have an extent
Of farming country sufficient to supply the
whole Pacific, coast with provisions and a
forest Of timber, extensive enough to furnish
the world With lumber, Our fisheries are
sufficiently bOuntiful to supply the entire con-
tinent with the animal that siRirns; and our
coal fields, when developed d,qwill doubtless
prove Of an extent, capable Of supplying
with fuel the steamers which are to ply be-
tween the eastern and western worlds.
Then let business be done in a steady, per-
lnanent, and legitimate manner. Let trades,
transactions, and Investments be made with
aview Of arriving at a fixed, settled plan Of
doing business, and our pretSnt situation will
soon be changed into q progressive, moving
state. 1--WE win feel the effects Of such a
change throughout our whole social organi-
Eation, for i, a country just being settled,
more than anywhere else, every thing de-
tpends upon the progress made in pccuniary
affairs. We cannot stand still in business,
and progress inmorals ! So in politics
Men win not look to the affairs Of govern
tment, or the Improvement Of their minds,
when they are doing nothing In business!-
Our territory Is an instance 70 verify this
assertion. Our distant and isolated posi-
tion, and insufficient and imperfect organi-
Eation of a territorial government, would,
under almost any other circumstances, cx-
cite rs tOcask a change, and seek improve
I lnent. More particularly should this be
done, when we consider thdt the prospect
is fair-unless the, mines prove rich-for
our remaining under the present organiza-
1itionfor four five, and perhaps for ten years,
. .'l4 There is much room for Improvement in
our condition politically We should be
allowed the privilege of electing our own
officers. The present system Of Official ac-
couutability should be changed, aud the
control Of affairs be placed more directly
in the hands Of our people. The people,
who are to bear the burdens or reap the
benefits Of the conduct of our officers
should alone hold them responsible, or give
them their reward. We ask this upon
principle. and not to disparage the charac-
ter of any officer in our territory for it
must be admitted by all, that from the or
ganizatlon Of our territory TO the present
time, we have been blessed with an active,
energetic, and faithful corps of officers
We do not believe there is one amongst
them who would not heartily approve any
system which would allow the people to
choose their own officers. Besides this,