, 1859-03-25

then be Delegate at the commencement ol
the next session, emitting him to full pay
and mileage, while the man who shall be
elected will lose nothing; that will, in part,
compensate your people for their disap'
pointment in not going into the Union"
If | had seen this communication in an
opposition paper, ! should have treated it
; with contempt, as a harmless ebullition Of
the feelings Of II partisan, accustomed, with
little or no regard to truth, TO vent his
spleen in indsCriminate abuse Of all who
may choose to differ with him in political
sentiment. But, when n paper, hitherto
regarded as one Of the most prominent, in
luentiul, and orthodox in the Territory,
becomes the vehicle of assault upon me,
and am held up to probation in the same
columns in which my name, short time
ago, was conspicuously displayed as the
.proprictor's choice for the Presidency, it is
time that should say something i'll my de-
fence, lest my silence be construed into an
admission Of the truth OF the charge pre-
ferred-a confession Of inability on my
part, to meet successfully this unexpected
and unprovoked attack from my hidden and
unknown assailant.
In tie observations | shall endeavor to
use as temperate language as possible, con
timing myself to the object | have in view
which is to vindicatc myself not to assail
others The harmony of the Democratic
party shall never be disturbed by me. To
promote that harmony am ready to make
any sacrifice, aud to submit TO any wrong,
except imputations on my honor. Duty 10
myself, my family and friends, demands
that | shall defend my character when as
sailed. In dischargng this duty, shall
not ass1f Others, but content myself with u
plain statement Of facts showing the part
have taken in the movement for the admis-
sion Of Oregon as State. Comment on
these facts shall leave to others. Pre-
senting the record, the whole record of the
part have taken in this movement, ask
that may be judged by all the facts view
ed in connection, and not by the allegation
/ Of particular acts of omission, in the col
umnS of the Statesmda
I During the time of my service as Dele
gate from Oregon, the House of Represen-
tatives by decisive majority voted to au-
thorize the people Of that Territory to form
State Government. This expression of
the House in favor Of that measure was
certainly great point gained towards the
admission Of Oregon as State. How was
such expression secured? Can it be sup
posed that the action Of the House was en-
tirely voluntary, aud that was passive,
silent and indifferent, spectator Of what was
4
yolved upon me much, il not all the respon-
sibility OF the measure, and imposed upon
me, more than upon any other person, the
duty of overcoming by my exertions every
obstacle to its success. Let facts show
how performed that duty.
TheremOteneSS of Oregon from the States
East Of the Rocky Mountains, has been the
principal source of difficulty and embarrass-
ment in the efforts | have made to prepare
the way for her admission into the Union
The people on this side Of the mountains
have had a very imperfect notion of the
resources of the Territory and the capacity
Of the people, in respect to numbers, intel
ligence, and wealth, to sustain a State Gov
ernment. They have heard of the exist
ence Of Indian troubles there, aud they
supposed that the population, instead of
increasing, was being rapidly diminished
| have endeavOred-and the task was not
d light one-to remove the prejudice
against Oregon's admission, arising from
this cause. | have endeavored to show by
the limited statistics at my command, that
after making all due allowance for the de-
structon of life by Indians and the decrease
of immigration, our population for some
years has considerably exceeded that of
either of the States of Florida, Arkansas,
Illinois, or Ohio, when admitted into the
Union. have labored also to convince in
telligent minds Il think with some succesS)
that the superior intelligence, energy, enter
prise and wealth Of the people of Oregon
more than compensated for any alleged de,
ficieucy in numbers. You will be, perhaps,
surprised 10 learu, but it is not the less
true, that one of the greatest difficulties
have encountered in combating the preju-
dices arising from want of knowledge of
our capabilities and resources, has proceed
ed from the willful and persistent msrepre-
sentation and falsehOod Of certain interest
ed and designing persons in Oregon.
had the satisfaction, however, in spite Of
every obstacle and difficulty, of seeing the
House vote by "a decisive majority to au-
thorlze the people of Oregon to form a
State Constitution. This was great point
gained, as before remarked. 1t is easy to
see, III the present state Of parties, the
great Importance of such expression in our
favor Without it we could have had no
assurance of final success.
At the time the admission bill came I'D
in the Senate, Mr.. Douglas was Chairman
of the Committee on Territories, and Me-
tropolis" claims for him all the credit Of
passing the bill through the Senate. will
not say anything derogatory of Mr. Doug
las. As Chairman Of one Of the most i'm
portant Committees Of the Senate he has
shown much ability and of his course to-
wards Oregon during the last session l
have no right to complain. But, | submit
this question to every candid mind Docs