The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-02-14
LETTER FROM PORTLAND.
PORTLAND. Feb. 8, Is

| SlShi, WIN " -> r.
vailed so much this winter, is not
healthy. and as the Glow hung clouds
have dropped their garnered fuilness'
in such copious showers for the last
twenty-tonr hours, we all feel better.
You can tell newcomer on his first
remark about the weather. Meet
him of a cold, frosty morning and he
will be ssfe- to say something about
the splendid weather, while the gen
uine web-ioot will draw up his coat a
little closer about his neck, and NUT
ter something about the cold, and
sigh for rain.
THE DEATH PENALTY.
Portland is all agog with excite
nent Oh this subject. Friday was
the day set for the execution of John
son and Brown, but Gov. Thayer
respited them until March the 2lst.
Il was generally supposed, at first,
that this was but a prelude to COM
mutation to imprisonment for life,
and as such was almost universally
condemned by the better class Of
community. But it is now under
stood tha: at the time Gov. Thayer
gave this respite, he wrote letters to
be shown to the condemned men, in
which he assured then, he could not
do anything more for them. That
the time, between the affirmation OF
the Judgment in the Supreme Court
ami the day for their execution was
so short, that he granted this respite
only fer the purpose OF allowing them
time TO prepare for their doom. That
their crime had been a hcinous one;
:Fev had been fairly tried, and the
law must now take its course. And
as Tie Governors motives and rea-
sons are being understood his course
is approved very generally. But this
people are very thoroughly aroused
on this subject. No execution has
taken place for twenty years. Men
have been murdered in cold blood,
time and again, and yet the mur-
derers have escaped. And today
there is not one of the many murder
crs who have been sent from this
place 10 the Oregon penitentiary tor
life, for murders for which they ought
to have been hung, now i'll prison
except one sent a month ago. Muir
ders are increasing. Life is not safe.
An innocent boy is shot down on the
streets, il broad daylight, by robbers
escaping with their booty, leaving the
victim of their robbery weltering in
his own blood. Shortly before this,
a man is found murdered, when the
only cause is the paltry sum OF fifteen
dollars. In another case China
boy is brutally murdered because he
has made some tlsoughtless remark
about Joss not being anything but an
ugly piece Of wood. Thas murders
followed in quick succession. And
can you wonder that justice, so often
cheated, so often blinded, is asserting
its power, and the people are demand
ing, with voice, that is uninistaka-
ble in it's meaning, that the law shall
be enforced and its majesty vindicated.
COURTS.
Our Circuit Court closed only two
weeks ago, but meets in regular term
tomorrow. witha long docket. Judge
Bellingcr has hardly had time for a
breathing spell; but thus far has
proved himself equal to every emer-
gency, and is making himself very
popular judge. Hon. J. F. Caples,
as Prosecuting Attorney, has won
for himself golden laure,s, and great
popularity, by his interchangeable efforts
and great success in bringing crimin,
ais TO justice. Mnltnomalr county
alone furnishes business for one Judge,
and will, ere long, have to be consti,
tuted district by itself.
| NEWSPAPERS,
The Bee, under it's new editor, S.
a. Clarke, has very greatly improved.
The Cregonian, however, continues
to be the newspaper of Oregon, and
Ii. w. Scott, the best editor of the
State, albeit some of his personal ar
licles do not increase the value of his
paper, and reduces somewhat of hi,
influence. And here allow me to
congratulate you, Mr. Editor, on the
improvement of the GAZETTE since
you dropped your ''patent" outside.
These are abominatio1s to any news
paper that can avoid them. l hope
you will receive the reward of your
effur.s. 49,
BUSINESS PSoSPRCTS.
| There never has been a time when
The business prospects OF Oregon