The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-23
-
THE ADMISSION OF OREGON.

MEssRs. EDToRs In your issue of the 2lst instant you
rightly and from true premises urge the passage OF the
pending in the House of Representatives for
the admission of Oregon.
In regard to the question the requisite popula
tion may claim of knowledge not directly with
in your reach and the fate of the to be-
to extent pivoted upon this ISSUE have to ask
space in your columns upon this point For two years
past have been resident of Oregon, and have visited
all the settled portions of the State with the exception of
the two extreme southwestern countless Cass and Curry
and this during the tendency of political contests afford
ing the best possible means of forming correct
judgment of the actual population Of the country More
than year since, in abiding to Hon Deazon Smith S
published estimate of the then population of Oregon,
took the occasion to state that, in my opinion, the
population at that time was considerably in excess
Of his estimate of seventy five eighty thousand
inhabitants. Since then the increase of population
has been steady and unprecedentedly great In the
city of Portland alone within this period the increase
has not been less than from fifty to seventy live
per cent, and since the temporary abatement of the
"Frazerrv fever the population of both Oregon and
Washington has very considerably increased have not
the slightest hesitation in estimating the increase of pop
uation in Oregon from this alone at from
to ten thousand 80 that, with this reasonable approx
nation to the requisite number, Oregon may justly
claim admission under the recently invented test
Of which her people dreamed and of which they
knew nothing until long after the formation and adop
ton OF their constitution True, you have well OBJ
served, here is thus substantial if not formal full
ment of the prescribed condition in the of Oregon
justice of applying to Oregon retroactive post tdco
test as to the requisite number of inhabitants
With all due Difference to that which appears to be
the prevailing popular sentiment in regard to the adns-
sion of States cannot very we'll understand why 1t
is that just the only admissible evidence Of the
pacty and fitness of people to the duties and
responsibilities of State organization is furnished in the
to question to their numerical strength. If
the character disposition and habits of people-ther
unquestonabe capacity successfully to manage and sup
port State governmentare considerations not to be
overslawed by arbitrary test of numerical
strength then the public mind may well be directed to
the stirring, enerprising frugal and thrifty people of
Oregon who in these respects the interiors Of sim
liar number of people elsewhere in the Union The set
tement of the country has been gradual steady and
healthy, the settlers being class of people who to the
fullest extent appreciate the nestimabe blessings of
economical effective and good government. The vio-
latons of law and ORDER the reckless public extravaganza
and the turbulence and confusion which have character
lied of late years other States and Territories utterly
unknown to the history of Oregon She docs not owe
dollar of public Indebtedness there within her
borders solitary public dcaulter Her present condi-
ton her best evidence of the capacity of her people
maintain State government with honor and credit TO
herself and her sister States.
Mr. Grow, in his minority report Directing to the adj
misse of Oregon alleges that 'the only real difference
that existed in the two Oregon and Kansas prior
to the application of either for anission was that Ore
gon had territorial government not unsatisfactory TO
her people, and legislature chosen by her citizens
while the territorial organization of Kansas usurpa
ton, by fraud and force" sc. The fact that the
people of Oregon changed their form of govern
ment in my judgment is a sufficient to the
statement of Mr. Grow that " Oregon had territorial
government not unsatisfactory the people, and the
further fact that they wisely prudeny and became
good citizens chose to manifest their dissatisfaction with
their territorial form of government in peacoabe regu
lar and legitimate manner cannot detract from the sim
certify of their desire to change their form of govern
mcnt 1t Ia strange, indeed, if at this day the public
sentiment of any portion of the American people
longer find expression through legitimate and peaceful
channels but is to be read and credited only in repeated
and atrocious acts of anarchy confusion, and vio-
ence The people of Oregon are dissatisfied with their
territorial form of government The vote in favor of
the desired change was overwhelming may well say
there opposition whatever to the and
that the deed done quietly and in good order, is
much the to the credit of the people who did It.
Urgent and powerful operated upon the minds
of the people of Oregon to induce them to this radical
full and orderly they have made it, their CON
duct in this if for nothing else at least for example,
should commend their claims for admission TO the lib
era and generous consideration of Congress, Within
q few years hence, instead of inhabitants number
cd by thousands and tens of thousands Oregon will boast
its hundreds Of thousands and millions of free people
who, looking back MS If upon yesterday may smile 20
witness the hesitatng and pettifoggng spirit which
forces Oregon to nger in the ante chamber whilst the
effort is being made TO wrong her people upon the sage
hypothesis that the right may have been omitted de-
MED elsewhere and to another people.
e. c. HIBBEN.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 81 1859.