Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-02-11


ness, aud judgment, in imminent peril. He
entered their country with twelve or fifteen
men these Indians had fercely rejected all at
tempts 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 succeeded in as.
sembng four or five hundred warriors in
council. During the interview, one Of his
company recognized two horses stolen from
him, in the possession Of the Indians, and two
pistols then in the belts Of two chiefs. Tho
Governor demanded restitution Of the proper
tv, which restored, he said would evince their
willingness to treat and preserve peace. The
head Chief ordered restitution, but the pos
SCISSOR refused. The Governor then stepped
forward and took one OF the stolen pistols from
the Indians belt and gave it to the owner, and
was about to take the other pistol, when the
Indian who had it, presented his gun, and
raised the war-whoop. Instantly four or five
hundred guns and arrows were pointed at Gen.
Lane and his small party; n single false step
would have led to the most disastrous results,
but Gen. Lanes coolneSs and promptness, was
equal to the crisis. lie Suid, have come
here to make II treaty Of peace, not 10 have a
-Pr4tnttly- Stepping to tue side Of the
principal Chief with his firm eye placed ON
his, pistol in hand, he told him il drop OF
blood OF any Of the whites was shed, it would
be uvCrgpd- by the rutirr dirStrurttUn ut tnr
tribe. This wrIl.timed move had the de>il ed
effect. The Chief told his warriors TO cease
their hostile demonstrations The Governor
then stepped forward among the foremost,
took their arrows from their bows. and return
cd them 10 their quiverS, md uncocked their
guns andknockcd the priming from their pans.
Gen. Lane did not hold the Office of Cover
nor of Oregon more than about fifteen months
before he was removed by President Taylor.
lie, who "had no friends to reward OF enemies
to punish" as he declared before he was elected
President, signnlizing his administration by
prescribing his former comradc in arms, who
stood by him 80 firmly on the field Of battle,
and contributed so largely bv Ills gallantry
and gencralship TO win the battle of Bucna
Vista, which placed him in the Presidential
Chair. Whrrcupon the Legislature Of Oregon
passed resolutions expressive Of their high
sense of the energy, ability and Success which
marked his administration rs Governor OF
Oregon and Superintendent of Indian Affairs,
and their sincere regret that the President
of the United States haS depliyed the Terrific
nv Of Oregon Of the future services of one 50
enhanced by the unboundcd confidence Of the
people over whom lac was placed" The peO.
pie, whose representatives they were, second
cd these resolutions by clecting him by an al.
most unanimous vote. their delegate to repre-.
sent them in the Congress Of the United
States.
Upon the eve of Gen. Lanes departure from
Oregon for the National Capitol, Us their dele
gate to Congress, the people, @ithout distiac.
ton Of party, held u mnsS meeting to tender
"him public expression Of opinion in regard
to his distinguished talents and services. -
Among other things resolved, "that as friends
Of Gen. Joseph Lane, without distinction Of
party we tender him our hearty and entire
appreciation Of his acts as Governor Of Oregon
Territory" and that "the ability, energy,
fidelity and purity of purpose which has char
actcrzrd all his public acts among us; it is
but fitting that we express our appreciation
and admiration of his course" and that Gen.
Lane came to us covered with military glory,
and leaves uS upon the business Of the Terri.
tory, clothed with our confidence and attach.
ment." That confidence and attachment the
people of Oregon have ever since manifested
towards him, by continuing him as their dele.
gate in Congress until the Territory was ad-
nitted as one Of the States into the Union
last winter, when. in obedience to tho unani.
nous voice of his party. lie became one Of the
Senators from that State"
All the responsible positions to which Gen.
Lane haS been called. were unsolicited and an.
expected By him, what but Gew public men can
say, and he has filled then with signal ability
and success. Endowed with a strong and
practicable mind, stored with the most useful
knowledge, acquired by extensive reading and
accurate observation, sound, liberal and con.
servative in his views Of the policy and prin.
ciplcs of our Government, he combines per.
Sonal traits Of character cminently calculated
to win the popular heart, with 4 warm, gcner.
Gus and manly spirit-with kind, frank and
social ldi<PositieH-wit demeanor so modest
and unprctending that he excites no ones en-.
w, he has acquired an influence and populari.
ty which but few men seldom attain. In In.
diana, in the Legislature and with the people
he was universally popular, and one Of the
leading men Of the State and styled, "her IA.
voritc SON" On the battle fields of Mexico
the soldiers viewed him as invinciblc, and he
was the pride Of the officers Of the Amy. III
Oregon his name is q tower of strength In
the Halls of Congress his popularity and in.
iluence is unsurpassed; indeed, it was chiefly
owing to his influence and cXertions 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 S0uth-the Abo
hlioniSts and Fire Eaters. When the final vot,
was taken a brcathlrSs silence rcisncd through
the hall and the crow ded galleries, broken onl,
by the emphatic answer Of yea or nav, ms tn,
fnrmbcrS answered to the call of the Clerk fol
>thcir vote. AS the vote was being taken
members were TO he seen in all parIsto tn,
hall. keeping count Of the vote When Fell,
X. Xollicolirr responded to the last call mem
berS Of all parties, from all parts Of the hall
surrounded Gen. Lane with their warm ant
hearty congratulations, which Indicated tn,
result, and when formally announced bv tn,
Speaker from the Chair, round after round q
applause arose from tho members in the hall
which was caught up and repeated by tn
crowded galleries Of anxious spectators, witt
waving Of hnndkcrchiefs by the Indies, nm,
! clapping of hands by the Sterner sex, whicl
showed that "he lives in the Jhcarts of hi
countrymcn." When the news df the passag
Of the bill, and that a seat in thS,Senatc wa
thereby secured to Gen. Lane, sprkad thrOug
the city, there was a general rejoieiQg by tn
citizens, and the demonstrations of hCNor pai
to Gen. Lane at his lodgings that night wcr
Of the most enthusiastic character. A band G
music serenaded him with the m0Et-vAliRht
ful music, the people assembled IN eF0Sd
the strong men Of the nation were there, u
made congratulatOiy speeches from the portic
Of Browns Hotel, which were received wit
the enthusiastic cheers Of the assembled mass
which made the welkiU ring Gen. Lane