, 1857-01-09
oregon and Washington.


nit. we observe that bill providing for
taking the sense of the people on the for
nation of State government" had passed
the Council unanimously, and is now a law.
The decision of the people as to whether
Oregon is or is not to become State at
on early day, is required to be made at the
regular election, on the first Monday in
June, and delegates to convention to
draft State constitution, are to be elected
at the same time.
We have little hesitation in saying that
this, the fourth time the people of Oregon
have been asked to decide upon taking the
initiative in the formation of State gov
ernment, will be decided in favor Of the
measure and as ample time will be afford
ed during the coming summer and fall for
the delegates elect to meet and form a
State constitution, we can very readily en-
tertain the belief that Oregon will be ad-
mitted to place amongst the stars, as one
of the States Of the Union, during the next
session of Congress
Indications from that quarter warrant
us in saying that the belligerant party
feeling that has SO long been mainly instru-
mental in keeping that Territory out of the
Union, has been pretty cffectualy quieted; ;
and whatever differences may exist on
other subjects, it would seem that all par
ties have abandoned an open hostility on
this question, and merged into one for the
Accomplishment Of this object. Therefore
we cannot see how it can be otherwise
than that the people will decide to adopt
State constitution and apply for admission
into the Union at an early day.
The people of our Territory cannot feel
otherwise than gratifed at the prospect Of
having two Senators in Congress represent
ing State in such close proximity with us.
The terms of good understanding that has
existed between the two Territories ever
since our own was organized, affords US the
convincing assurance that whilst Oregon
would no doubt be fully aud ably repre-
sented in the Councils of the nation as a
State, this Territory would not be entirely
overlooked or forgotten. From the as
>sistancs which Gen. LANE has on all try
ing occasions willingly and cheerfully ex-
tended to our delegates in Congress, and
from the solicitude he has ever eVinced for
the prosperity and happiness Of our people
and Territory, may we not indulge rea-
sonable hope that when our ueighbor is
clothed with the powers of sovereignty,
that the same kindly feeling Of interest
with which we have heretofore been re-
garded by her delegate will be continued
towards US by her Senators and Represen-
tatiYes at the National capitoliA s3
v In arranging and in defining her bounda-
ries as q State, however, there seems to be
aproject on foot, to which we would beg
leave most respectfully, but most earnestly
and, emphatically to protest and however
honest, sincere or well intended may have
been the motives that induced gentlemen
to, make, the proposition, they can rest
assured that neither our Legislature or any
very considerable number Of our citizens
would for moment think of acceding to il.
Letters have recently been received here
from distinguished public men of Oregon,
proposing, in effect, that this Territory
abandon its existence, as such, and that
the boundary of the State of Oregon be
defined in this direction by including oil
the country west of the Cascade mountains
and northward to the British lineAsug-
gesting that the Territory of Washington
be organized out of the region of country
east Of those mountains. In other words,
proposing that we become o part of the
State Of Oregon. 1t is claimed by those
gentlemen, that with the consent of our
Legislature and people, neither Congress
nor the authorities at Washington would
seriously object to the arrangement We
have no means of knowing the amount Of
favor this project meets with in our sister
Territory, but should it be in any way gen.
eral, we may expect that our Legislature
will be officially advised in the premises
prior to adjournment.
We should not be at all surprised but
that many persons residing along and in
the vicinity of the Columbia river, would
be in favor of our remuneration TO Oregon
as q portion of the State. Their interests
are more or less identified with that Terri
tory, and with her people their business
transactions, at least in commercial mat
ters, are at present exclusively confined.
But it should be borne in mind that this
state of things will not-cannot last always
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