The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-05
COMMUNICATED
OREGON.

MEssRs EDITORS The New York Times of "Wednesday
last contains correspondence purporng TO have emana-
ted from contributor at Oregon City, and the sig
nature of ~ Omega" have no means of determining
whether this correspondence is genuine or not During
my residence in Oregon, aud whilst editor of public
Journal published at Portland, observed among my
States exchanges publications of this charac
ter we'll knew to have been written in Oregon
but manufactured for the exgency this side of the
sthmus and Astounding i'm the most silly and absurd in
ventons and misrepresentation. This now under my no.
tce whether manufactured for the occasion, as am con
dent it has been really genuine possibly it may be-
contains quite much of and msrepresenta-
ton as any bogus correspondence could be expected
hold with any pretenson to plusbility any claims
whatever upon the popular creduty 1t is very certain
that no citizen Oregon Of the slightest character and
responsibility would fancy proposition to append his
real name communication of the character of this
to which allude.
In the very message Of the governor of Oregon TO
which omega refers occurs the following passage 81
am not that there has been any change in public
opinion since the emphatic declaration at the polls in
favor of a State organization 1t is criminally untrue
that party drl in any manner influenced the people
Oregon in determining for themselves the question of
assuming State organization. The issue was raised
discussed and determined without the remoest aid from
mere partisan influences Every public journal published
no prominent influential member of either party OPP
posed it.
omega represents that the legislative assembly,
pecting intelligence OF their admission State, are
negecting and emitting the usual legislation and yet
he AYERS that public opinion is not in favor of the
change.
is il not Supremacy absurd to suppose that intel
gent prudent and sagacous people like those of Ore
gon would upon the most elaborate investigation de-
Iiberatey determine question OF such grave import
ance that of assuming the duties and responsibilities
of State government, and then, without any imagin-
able reason OF cause that decision, and the
public sentiment yield it's preference to system OF gov
eminent they cannot but despise No people have
yet examped such act of consummate folly and they
are to be pitied who deem the people of Oregon ca
pable of an act so unworthy intelligent community
My Of knowing the public sentiment Of the peo
pie of Oregon certainly equal TO those Of any resident
Of Oregon City capable of the Omega correspondence
left the shores of Oregon but fortnight previous TO the
date of the letter of omega " and if the public sent
ment of Oregon in reference TO her State organization
has undergone any change whatever since the people
voted as four to one favor OF State organization the
change must have occurred within the brief space of
single fortnight
Omega of course must needs figure upon the fever
sh question of population and that he literally and
generously estimates at As 900 inhabitants Now it so
happens that in 1855, when the last census was taken
and that but imperfectly the returns showed popula
ton of 49, 700 inhabitants Since then Portland, Oregon
City Dalles Corvallis, Eugene, Salem, and jacksonville
have more than quadruped their populations and the
whole country has varied corresponding increase of
population and at this hour g omegas' estimate is
only about one half Of the sober reality Colonel Mans
field Inspector General United States army the
Pacific coast writing 10 friend in this city by the last
man, says = have been inspecting in the department
OF Oregon and have just closed my duties there. That
country settling up beautifully Portland Is four timex
as large as il was in 1854 when last here, and
the farms in the willamette valley magnificent and
beautiful sc.
But why should replication be made TO rnisrepresenta
lions 80 gang and gross that upon their face they bear
the Impress OF Inconsistency and absurdty to extent
beyond either credenee respect Fhe population ~
Oregon is substantially sufficient to enttle her
Der of the lower branch Of Congress- and there is
can be no good substantial why she should not
be admitted into the Union-and that without any
cessary delay.
Already IL well known that people upon the Pacific
side entertain impression that here in Congress their
Interests a. last neglected that feeling OF ndifer
ecs Is their welfare exists here and nat much o. lheig
future prosperity depends upo change ~ public senif
meni IN reference to them on this side ltis neither