, 1864-09-02
Sectionalism,

Ine love OF country is as natural as the love
of home. And the man who is destitute of Ell
ther of these is lacking in that without which
he cannot be true man a patriot. 1t is
proper and consistent for every man to love his
own country more than any other-to be zeal
Gus for her welfare and Jealous of her honor
But when this love is narrowed down to the par
ticular spot or section where an individuals lot
happens to be cast it loses its nobility and ceas-
es to be praiseworthy sentiment. True patri-
otism is not sectional bat national. 1t is like
philanthropy in some respects. When the love
of humanity is narrowed down to a few indi-
viduals, it ceases to- be commendable, for "even
the heather" possess philanthropy of this
kind. Et may be so contracted as to become alb
solute sel1shness. The true philanthropist de-
sires the welfare of all his kind and the motto
of the true patriot is, "My Country, my schole
country p This should be especially true in a
country like ours where ever -itigor las an
equal share in the government, and an equal
right to its protection. We think this narrow
sectional spirit one of the worst evils against
which our country has to contend, and one
which no patriot should foster for moment
It is no doubt one of the causes of the present
unhappy condition of our country. Ambitious
and unscrupulous demagogues have inhamed
the people of one section against those of an
other, by gross and criminal Misrepresentation,
until these narrow sectional feelings have ended
in a bloody and relentless war. We have heard
of many instances during the present war where
the people of the South have seemed astonished
to find that the ''Yankee hordes' were not bar
barians but civilized and educated men. They
have been taught to believe that their own Sec
tion possessed all the excellence of the nation,
and that the people of the North and East were
their natural enemies, and have only been con-
vinced to the contrary when the men of the
North came among them victorious conquer
ors. The horrors of the present struggle should
teaeh our people to guard against such blunders
In the future. When the present storm has
passed and we again united, outward
borders should be plainly marked on the map of
our country, bat the lines which separate the
different States should be only nominal the true
character of each should be understood by all,
and every citizen should feel deep; devoted
and patriotic interest in every section of has own
common country. There should be no bcker-
ing rivalries between the different sections of
land consecrated to liberty as ours has been by
the blood and toll of patriots. The American
citizen should feel at home wherever the flag of
his country waves, and have the feelings of
patriot for every foot of soil that comes under
the sway of her salutary laws. He should new
er express wish to see any portion of her do
main '1eft out in the cold," burned up with
fire, OF buried in the ocean, but should regard
all as the natural heritage of freedom-the COM
mon property of a nation that is the foe of ty-
rants and the fostering mother of human lib
erty.
We have been led to these remarks by notic-
ing tendency to this sectional spirit, on a small
scale, in our own State That there should be
some clashing interests between different towns,
as Salem, Albany, Eugene City, Portland and
Dalles, is perhaps unavoidable but that these
petty rivalries should lead to feelings of actual
animosity, is avoidable, provided these discus
sions are conducted in proper spirit. Portland
and Dalles both have right to contend for the
mint but if Dalles succeeds by fair @ means T,r and
les; neither should the Dalles become excited
when Portland is made port of entry. Port
land should not hoot at the mines on the Santi-
am because Salem is to derive the greatest ben
eft from them, and none of these places should
be abased because some of their citizens hap
pen to be 'purse-proud," aristocratic or Sec
tonal Let us remember that we may discuss
our various questions of clashing interest with
fairness and candor, but when our sectional
feeling would lead us further than this, let us
not forget that local interests ld'always be
subordinate to the welfare of the whole country.
Specific CONTRACT LAw.-The Supreme
Court of California have decided that the Spe-
cifc Contract Law of that State is valid. This
law enables the people of the State to make
contracts, stipulating whether payments shall be
made in coin or legal tender notes. Notwith-
standing the decision, it is evident that the law
is inconsistent with the law of Congress, which
makes greenbacks "legal tender for all debts
public and private" Practically, the decision
of the California court nullifes the greenback
law of Congress. Five of the judges decided
that Congress had the power to pass the legal
tender law; yet some of the California pa
perS state that the decision was rendered in such
a vague manner as TO Leave the impression that
the Court, if called upon, would decide against
the validity of the greenbaek law. At present,
the decision is inconsistent and in conflict with
the law of Congress. Either the contract law
or the greenback law is invalid, and we believe
it will ultimately be determined that the green
back law is the invalid one. The Marysville
express" says ttiespecial contract law is of no
use except to- "beati back the swindling green
back law !" but the law is designed we take it,
to protect creditors from individuals who are
wont to pay off their debts contracted in gold
with swindling greenbacks dollar for dollar
True, if there were no greenback law there
would be noneed ofacontract law, but it seems
that there should be some protection to trade
aud business operations, and the contract law
of California secures this protection. Here,
men doing credit business, have to rely exclu-
siYely upon the honesty of their patrons. So
that business transactions in all departments of
trade is necessarily restricted to the narrowest
limits, in consequence of having a greenback
law, and no projections from it.
OPPOSITION STEAMBOAT, LINE.-A correspond
ent of the Oregonian says Messrs. -Donahue
Kohl, of San Francisco, and number of gentle
man in New York, contemplate putting line
of boats on the Columbia river. The Company
is to be styled "The Washington Territory
Transportation Company" and they expect to
have steamers running as far as Fort ColVllle IN
about eighteen months. One boat, the Cas-
eGdes, will commence making regular trips from
Portland to the Dailes the first of this month,
and will bring from San Francisco the frame
and lumber for another vessel which will be put
together above the Cascades,
DrscoSrISUED.-The post Offices at Durkeevilie and
oro Fino. in Idaho Territory have been discontinued