Oregon Republican. [volume] (Dallas, Or.) 1870-1872, 1870-09-03
The Railroad Question.

tor Nesmith introduced the bill grants
ing lands to aid 10 the construction of
a railroad in Oregon. On the second
day of February, 1866, Mr.. Nesmith
by unanimous consent, introduced Sem
ate Bill No. l23, granting lands to aid
in the construction of railroad and
telegraph line from the Pacific Rail-
road, in California, to Portland or the
navigable waters of the Columbia river
in Oregon.
It seems, then, that Senator Nes>
NTH was willing the road should ter
inmate at any point on the Columbia
or at Portland-whercver it would re
suit in the greatest good to the greatest
number. This bears upon its face the
marks of impartiality and honesty, and
savors strongly of disposition to labor
for the whole people of Oregon, irre>
spective of party or locality. And why
did not this bill pass in that form ?
We give the reason as we have it from
high authority: Simply because Mr..
George H. Williams refused to sur
port the bill unless its terminus was con
fined to the city Of Portland. If Mr.
Williams shall assent to this by his ST.
lence, then we ask the people of the
West Side who has been your friend,
and how much are you indebted to
Williams lie was neither the au-
thor of the bill nor would he consent
that the road should terminate at any
| point but Portland The bill was so
amended and then passed.
But we find another provision in the
| bill, which reads in such harmony with
| our article of last week, under caption
of Senatorial Question: that We give
the substance. 1t is found in the lat
ter clause of the first section of the
bill, and provides that, if the Califor-
MIA company shall reach the State line
before the Oregon Company, that the
said California Company may proceed
on into Oregon until it shall form a
| junction with the road in our State,
and they shall have the right of way
over the lands of the Government aud
the full benefit of the grant ia Oregon.
And, by the provisions Of the bill, the
road must run through the Rogue riv-
er and UmpquA vallies, SO the people
of Southern Oregon can sec by refer
ence to the bill, that all the threats OF
Holiday and Williams amount to moth
! ing but wiEd, for from present indiea
tions, the California Company will com
plete the road in accordance with the
provisions of the bill, as fer north as
the Calapooia Mountain, before Ben
will reach Eugene City. 1t is patent
that the members from Southern Ore
gou will not be compelled, as O'Meara
intima:es, to vote for Williams on that
ground If they are anxious to vote
for Republican, it will suit us exceed
ingly; but we demand they shall vote
for one who has a consistent record.
How long since Mr.. Williams was q
confirmed follower of Stephen A
Douglas !? And now we find him a con-
frmcd' convert to the doctrine OF Fred
Douglas. He seems to be stuck after
the Douglas family, no matter how
great the change of sentiments or col
or. We tell you, people of Oregon
that If the ghost of that great and i'm
mortalized statesman, Stephen A. Doug
las, was permitted, it would return t.
earth and strike down the apostate whC
dare proclaim such damnable poll tiea
heresy as universal suffrage.