New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-16
OREGON.
Csuespenaepce Of The y. Y. Tribune.

Your paper comes to hand regularly, and per-
bsps affords as much satisfaction 10 our family
circle these long winter evenings as 70 any other
within its reach.
Winter with Us ia a much less rigorous season
than in the sam latitude East. The past week the
ground has been frozen and, in the bills where
live. covered with snow; but cattle have managed
to browse, and probably few have fed their stock
at sn We generally have some two or three
weeks Of such weather in December and January,
and cold rains are the worst we expect after that.
February it, with many farmers, favorlte month
for putting in grain of all kinds, and generally
is favorable for that purpose. -.
Oregon is 80 isolated in position, and IN point OF
political and commercial influence has 30 little
weight that we scarcely TO be portion OF the
world at large. Emigration across the plains has
almost ceased and we have no reason 10 antlcl-
pate for our country anything more than gradual,
healthy Increase Of population. Manufactures are
unknown among us, and they must be established
10 certain degree before emigTants OF an ordl-
nary class can afford TO come, or the people who
are here can thrive and prosper. All our prOduc-
tons have been and are only lumber and gram.
And the present price Of these is below the ability
Of tie lumbermeD and farmers TO prosper thereby.
Lumber Of course, is shipped only from mills SIT
uated al or near some point of shipment. The con-
slant drain Of specie TO purchase the necessanes
Of life must soon paralyze the country, unless we
commence to manufacture and become greater
producers Fortunately the people are beginning
TO see this and we have every reason to believe
that the future promises to Oregon steady In
crease Of prosperity.
The land Bit in giving GAO acres to old settlers
has by too great prOdgality. hindered the growth
of the country. The population is too scattered
and farms, rather claims, are larger than the
wants Of the people require by at least hall. New
Corners can no longer find claims to settle upon,
and cannot afford to purchase OF the first settlers
This is most serious disadvantage TO the Villa
mette Valley. There are vast tracts OF unOccuped
country which, though far inferior to this valley,
are still valuable. The country east OF the cas-
cades is at present the of Indian warfare, and
until settlers can with safety occupy the lands OF
course will remain unOccuped. 1t is to this
Indian war that | most particularly call your
attention You doubtless have all the particulars,
and know that the troops, after being driven in by
a large body of Indians with considerable loss,
made a requistiOn upon our Governor. In view OF
the emergency il was thought best to call out full
regiment of volunteers and organize them into an
independent cOmmaDd-One consideration being
the impossbility of getting OregOnians to enlist IN
the United States service and under United states
officers. This was done and they were ordered to
cooperate with the troops.
The united forces made fOray into the "a
kina country, and being unable to bring the enc
my TO an engagement, they returned to the Dalles
the regulars il seems, TO house up for the Win
er in comfortable quarters, while the volunteers
prosecuted the war A request was made OF MAJ.
Rains for two howitzers aud men to send to the
Walla-Walla, where large body of Indians we're
known to be in hostile attitude The fuhlment
of this was deferred until the arrival of Gen. Wool
from California. Tie latter in curt terms ex-
presses his inability TO comply, having no author
ty for recognizing the volunteer force or for al
forcing them any facilities; and certain MAJOR
has since declared that when the volunteers rere
starred out the regulars would take the held-and,
indeed, such a result was to be unprecedented.
Not one dollar Of public money has been expended
thus far in the war. The people OF Oregon have
not only gone to the battle field, but have turn-
isbed each man his horse and equipment. From
the people at large have been drawn all the means
TO carry on the war.
1t is said that Gen. Wool is organizing a cam
paen upon scientific principles. or course, 1t
never enters into his arrangements TO send half
fed halfclOthed, and not overly many men, at
that, into an Indian country in Winter; and no
doubt the regular army thought it ridiculous for
men thus circumstanced to 60 of their own tree
will and accord. 1t makes all the difference IN
the world whether men fight for pay or to defend
their homes. Certain it is that our volunteers
have reused the lion from bis lair; have attacked
during a three days battle double their own mum
Der Of savages, and driven them from every posi-
ton with great loss. You may imagine we all re-
joice at the result, and that there is generally
much feeling manifested at the conduct OF the
United States officers.
In conclusion, / will say word about politics.
DemOcracy-at least the pretense OF lt-pred0ml-
mates here beyond all dispute. Delazon Smith,
the lost star Of the Tyler constellation, is Speaker
of the present House. He is their great gun.
Fortunately his antecedents render comment un-
necessary. 10 Lane is the divinity they bow to,
and his name floats at the mast head of two demo-
cratic papers as their nominee for the Presidency,
besides which saw the same announcement on
cigar box in q grocery store down town. be-
lieve there are hundreds who think he is bound TO
be the man. because they consider The Statesman
the controlling organ of the United States, and be-
heve all it saws even though it shows itself lie.
Demagogues rule Oregon, and legislation is often
but democratic farce. If Oregon soon becomes
a State, DO Lot expect that her delegation will
assist in any good work, for promise you that If
locofocoism lss dirty work to do men will be sent
there fit TO DO it. Our salvation lies in our Com
mon Schools, in the probable increase of general
intelligence through the land, and in time TO work
a change. Slavery promises subject for agita'
ton when the State Government comes to be
organized We shall see. Temperance has firm
friends among us, who will ever keep the subject
Of Prohibition a prominent one. In eight or ten
years Oregon will command place among the
States of the Union which We promise ourselves
shall not be an unworthy one. A FARMER.
s--.--
FROM KANSAS.