The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-09-06


had fercely rejected all attempts by the whites at
Cancellation. The safety of the border citizens
required decided terms of war or peace. Gen.
Lane chose the latter, with some difficulty he sue
ceeded in assembling four or five hundred warriors
in council. During his interview, one of his COM
panv recognized two horses stolen from him, in
the possession of the Indians, and two pistols
then in the belts of the two chiefs. The Govern
or demanded the restitution of the property, which
restored, he said, would evince their willingness
to treat and preserve peace. The Head Chief or
dered restitution, but the possessors refused. The
Governor then stepped forward and took one of the
stolen pistols from the Indians belt and gave it to
the owner, and about to take the other pistol,
when the Indian who had it, presented his gun and
raised the war hoop Instantly four five hun
derd guns were pointed at Gen. Lane and his
small party.
A single false step would have led to the most
disastrous results, but Gen. Lanes GOODNESS, and
promptness, equal to the crisis He said, l
have come here to make treaty of peace, not to
have fight, and promptly stepping to the side of
the principal chief, with his firm eye fixed on his,
pistol in hand, he told him, if drop of blood of
any of the whites shed, it should be avenged
by the destruction of the entire tribe. This
well-timed move had the desired effect The
Chief told his warriors to their demonstrations
The Governor then advanced among the foremost,
took their arrows from their bows and returned
them to their quivers, and unlocked their guns,
and knocked the printing from their pans
Gen. Lane did not hold the Office of Governor
of Oregon, more than about fifteen months before
he was removed by President Taylor.-He, "whO
had no friends to reward or enemies to punish" as
he declared before he was elected President,
signazed his administration by prescribing his
former companion in arms, who stood by him so
firmly on the field of battle, and contributed so
largely by his gallantry and generaship to win
the battle Of Buena Vista, which placed him in
the Presidential Chair. Whereupon the Legislature
of Oregon passed resolutions expressive of their
high sense of the energy, ability and success,
which characterized his administration as Governor
of Oregon, and superintendent of Indian affairs,
and their sincere regret that the President of the
United States has deprived the Territory Of Oregon
OF the future services of one so emnently useful,
and whose usefulness was enhanced by the
unbounded confidence of the people over whom he
was placed" The people whose representatives
they were, seconded these resolutions by electing
him By an almost unanimous vote, their delegate
to represent them in the Congress of the United
States.
Upon the eve of General Lanes departure from
Oregon to the National Capitol, their delegate
to Congress, the people achhout distinction Of
party, held mass meeting to tender chin public
expression OF opinion in regard to his distinguished
talents and service" Among other things, they
resolved "that friends of Gen. JOS. Lane without
distinction of party, We tender him hearty and
entire appreciation of his acts as Governor of
Oregon Territory" and that from 'the ability,
energy, fidelity, and purity of purpose, which
have characterized all his public acts among US it
is but lifting that We express our appreciation and
admiration of his course" and chat Gen Lane
came to us covered with military glory, and leaves
US, upon the business of the Territory clothed
with our confidence and attachment" That
confidence and attachment the people of Oregon,
have ever since manifested towards him. by
continuing him as their delegate in Congress until
the Territory admitted as one of the States
into the Union last winter when, in obedience to
the unanimous voice of his party, he became one
of the Senators from that State.
All the responsible positions to which Gepcral
Lane has been called, unsolicited 5dnd
unexpected by him, what but few public can
say, and he has filled them with signal ability and
success. Endowed with a strong and practical
mlnd, stored with the most useful knowledge
acquired by extensive reading and accurate
observation, sound, liberal, and conservative in his
views of the policy and principle of our government
he combines personal traits Of character cmincntly
calculated to win the popular heart, with warm,
generous; and manly spirit, with a kind, frank
ana social disposition, with a demeanor so modest
and unpretending that he excites no ones envy,
and he has acquired an influence and popularity
which but few men attain
In Indiana, in the Legislature, and with the
people he was universally popular and one of the
leading of the State, and styled cher favorite
son." On the battle fields of Mexico the soldiers
viewed him invincible, and he was the pride
of the officers of the army In Oregon his name
Is a tower Of strength. In the halls of Congress
his popularity and influence are unsurpassed
indeed, it was chiefly owing to his influence and
exertions that the bill to admit Oregon into the
Union passed the House at the last session.
The passage of that bill was attended by great
excitement 1t was violently opposed by the
ultra men, North and South, the Abotionsts
and Fire Eaters. When the final vote was taken
breathless silence reigned through the Hall and
the crowded galleries, broken only by the emphatic
answers OF yea or nay, as the members answered
to the call of the clerk for their vote; as the vote
was being taken, members were to be SEEM in all
parts of the hall keeping count of the vote and
when Felix X. Zollcotfer, responded to the last
call, parties from all parts of the hail. surrounded
Gen. Lane with their warm and hearty congraula-
lions, which indicated the result and when formally
announced by the speaker from the chair round
after round of applause arose from the members
in the Hall which was caught and repeated by the
crowded galleries OF anxious spectators with waving
of handkerchiefs by the ladies and clapping of
hands by the sterner sex, which showed that che
lives In the hearts of his countrymcn." When
the news OF the passage of the BILL and that seat
In the Senate was thereby secured to Gen'l Lane
spread through the city, there was general