, 1865-10-13
Secession, Annexation, or whatP

MESSRS. EDITORS ;-Inere seems TO be quite a
stir and Auttoring in certain quarters in regard
to our status here in the First Judicial District,
W.T.
The October term of our Court has gone by
default, which is calamity indeed and one that
calls for redress.
The question for the people of this District to
solve, is how to obtain that redress.
A communication in the STATESMEN of last
week after homily upon government and the
execution of the laws, and very just rebuke to
His Honor, Judge Wyche proceeds to point out
a remedy for the evils that we labor under and
the delinquencies of Judge Wyche, by annexing
our County to the State of Oregon. I agree
with "K. Q" in tn e premises laid down by him
that these are evils which the people should re-
monstrate against, but the Conclusion to which
he arrives is illogical and false.
The only reason given by K. O. (Kandida:s
for Quongres8) in support Of his conclusion is
that in Oregon we could vote for our Judges ard
Congressman, and that our taxes would mot be
higher. Let us see about this. That it is a
boon highly priced by every freeman to know
that his rulers, lawmakers and executive officers
are such by his suffrage and that of his peers,
and that they are responsible to him and them
for the manner in which they demean themselves
in office, no one of a republican spirit, will de-
ny; but is this the best remedy in our caseJ is
there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician
there? Is the failure of the Court to sit fea-
son for going into Oregon? I say not5 for
Courts sometimes fail to meet in States. But
says K. O., IN Oregon the Judges are elected BY
the people. Granted; and let the Judge be good
bad or Indifferent, the people of Oregon have 70
tolerate him until his term of Office expires un-
less they can impeach Rim. Now, how is it
with us? Our Judges are appointed for us; we
have no voice in the matter, says x. @. Admit
it3 but if said appointed Judge, is incompetent,
or misdemeans himself in office, we have a
short, specific and swift remedy.
A petition setting forth the defects, and MIS-
deeds of the Judge, or the grievances of Tire
people, as the case may be, subscribed by half
as many voters as it would require to elect a
Judge in Oregon, or in this Territory, if you
please, will remove the appointed Judge, and
the same number of signatures appended to a
petition for the appointment of any competent
jurist, will secure him a commission.
Now, how is it about the taxes? have con
versed with persons who ought to know, and
they inform me that the taxes in Oregon are
much higher fIan in Washington Territory, and
among the many Webfoot privilegs, is that of
paying taxes in coin K. O. speaks of the juris-
diction of the County Court in Oregon as an in
ducement to become Oregonians. This is no in
ducement at all, for our Legislature, according
to the Organic Act of this Territory, can at any
time confer similar jurisdiction upon our Pro-
bate Court, and as frequent terms
Courts can be modified taxes auctuate, and
whatever may be the rate of taxes in any local
/ ity at present, or the relative rate compared
with any other locality is no guaranty that the
same rate or the same comparative relation will
exist at any future period, therefore, the present
jurisdiction of Courts, or the present rate of
taxes have no bearing at all to induce the
change.
Sober Thought in matters of this kind will
look farther than to neighborhood matters, that
change with the seasons and circumstances. If
any one at all acquainted with the geography of
the country, will but cast his eye over the map,
and think for a moment, he will come to the
conclusion that position is one of import
ahce, and should not be bartered for the privi-
lege of voting for Congressmen and Judges for
a few years.
We are situated in the centre of large, bead-