The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1872-05-31
The speech Of Attorney General
Williams.


last Friday afternoon at one o'clock,
to hear the distinguished gentleman
whose name heads this article dis
cuss the political issues of the day.
\ large number Of ladies gracetl
the occasion with their presence.
For over two hours the Attorney
General held the vast audience riy-
eted with his mastery logic and
eloquence. Occasional bursts of i'm
voluntary applause indicated the
deep sympathy and strong approval
which was felt by the great major
ity present in the positions and prln-
cip,es set forth and advocated by
the speaker. His effort was largely
devoted to State questions. While
in his treatment of these he was un-
sparing in his criticisms, he was yet
fair and courteous. His object was
not to villity, but to arrive at the
truth. He first spoke Of the Liti-
giant Act. Explained that it was
copied from the California Act Of
the same nature, now repealed. He
argued that this law was an unnec-
essary interference in the affairs Of
the people, and that it was a mon-
opoly. The people under this act
were compelled to patronize certain
Democratic organs selected by the
Governor. TheyfAvere compelled
to pay into the hands of these Or
gans, many Of which would other
wise die for want Of support, double
the price, at least, for their legal
printing that competition would
charge. Ifa Democratic Legisla-
ture could compel the citizens OF
Oregon to patronize a Democratic
newspaper, they could on the same
principle compel them to give their
entire trade to Democratic steam
mills, and every thing else Demo
cratic. lie spoke, in manner just
" indignant, of the high-handed
outrage perpetrated by the last Dem
ocratic Legislature, in refusing to
admit Republicans who had been
legally elected 20 that body, but
substituting Democrats in their
places, and in placing in the hands
Of Grover the appointing of the po-
lice force Of Portland, thus turning
Republicans out and putting Dem
ocrats in. On the subject of inter
nal improvements, he gave q clear
and exhaustive explanation of the
Lock and Canal measure, the swim
dling character Of the contract, and
its monopoly nature. lie showed
the reckless and dishonest spirit
which prompted tie estrangement
ofthe school money, the partisan
dishonesty and reckless extrava-
gance which influenced the Legis-
iature to give the Canal and Lock
improvement to the present con-
tractors for 100000. when the
p. T. Company would have done
the same work for Sl25,0O lie
said this Improvement, in interest
on bonds, ETC., would cost. the State
s25O,0O0; and that the ten per cent.
to be given back to the State, would
never be received, as it would be
exhausted in salaries, etc. If the
object of the Legislature had been
to promote the interests of the State,
why did they grant q charter to
this company for twenty years? ?
Why did they grant them the priv
ilege Of charging fifty cents
per ton for freight when the
average charges Of other com
panies had never exceeded twelve?
Ifthe State can come intopossession
Of the Locks at the expiration Of
twenty years, why not as well on
their completion? Ifit is impru-
dent at one time, SO will it be at
another; and then ifthe State takes
back the improvement at the end
oftwenty years, it will have to pay
the 100000 over again. The
whole scheme was intended to fa-
yor o few individuals. It has been
shown recently, too, that the COM
pany is aOt building The Locks in a
substantial manner. While Dem
4.. 49, ,.,,I "a sn,.od An nonx,oxy