Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-10-15
SATURDAY MORNING, OCT. -, 1864.
Notification in Oregon.


BY Mondays OIrgonian we learn that
the Oregon Legislature has passed Specific
Contract Law. This is practical notification,
for its effect will be, until declared unconsti-
tutional by the' Federal courts, to nullify the
law of Congress declaring that Treasury notes
shall be legal tender for all debts that may
be contracted. We had INDUCED the hope
that Oregon would have preserved the rcpn-
tation she had won for her loyal devotion to
the interests of the Government Ivy her large
Union majori;ies, by refusing to follow the
evil example set her by California; but like
her sister State, her supposed pccupiary in
forests proved too strong for her PATRIOTISM
While the beneficial effects of the law will
be merely nominal, 50 far as the pecuniary
interests of her citizens are concerned, its in
Auence will prove very nischievous hereafter
by intoxicating the doctrine that State author
ity is paramount to that of the general Gov
ernment upon all questions that effect their
political or pecuniary interests. Besides this,
such legislation is directly calculated to de-
preciate the currency of the Government, and
as far as the influence of the State can go, it
is against the Government and on the side of
the rebellion, for the moment its currency be-
comes comparatively worthless, and ceases to
answer tho purposes Of gold and silver, the
"sinews of war;" that moment the rebellion
triumphs.
The Government had right to expect bet
ter of its friends in Oregon that if they could
not bring themse gives up to measure of patri-
otism that would induce them to to adopt the
national currency in their business transac-
tions, they would refrain from doing what was
calculated in its very nature to weaken the
confidence Of the people in the ability Of the
Government TO pay all its. liabilities, dollar
for dollar in specie. The very act Of declar-
ing by legislative enactment, that men shall
hereafter pay their debts in specie and not in
Treasury notes. is publishing to the world the
conviction they may hereafter become as worth
less as the old contin, ntal money of the Rev
olution. that had not a dollar of revenue pro-
vided for its redemption, while Treasury notes
have a revenue 1T apart for their payment
which will liquida;e every dollar Of national
indebtedness within the next ten years, with
the interest at six u seven per cent PR an
mum. II would have been Ear more compl-
men,ary to the loyalty Of the Oregon L-ei-la-
fure it, instead Of spending their tine in hunt
ing up excuses and framing aPolosies for
enac'iny Law which their eoa-eieue-s ioli
ihrn ~as unpatrio,ie. had thy de,o,ed i, -
endorsing tLe Governmeis,. and resolving 70
receive at Pas her bOads in paymer, II all
du-s- Thi- Ne had expected from h,r. aftsr
the sxprv>sioa Of <yal;y exhibited BY tn
June el~ciio,. be, ~ have ben disappointed
II -amehO- happens. that the small majority
among u who arc opealy opposed to the Gov
ernment. .Ad who 1T no opportunity pass Tn
improved If d-pr-eisiin- the currency upon
which i, depends for saPporf. have al'no-, in
sariab.y managed TO sway the infsenc- O;
this coas; against the Administration. Every
Ccpp-lhead IN the nation throws Up has cap
and shouts hslleloi-h at the passage Of Speei-
&c Con'rsc, laws, and thy are ever reaiy 10