The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-10-12
AMERICA WAS YOUNG
QUAINT EXTRACTS FROM OUR LAST
CENTURY'S STATE PAPERS.
Congress Dealt at First Hand with
Indians and Kings Recognized
the Bible and the Lottery.


Some years ago congress author
ized III" late Ben Perley Poore, then
clerk of the printing records, to COM
publications of the United States
from Sept. ,, 171f, to March 4, 1881.
Congress is considering the advisa-
bility of bringing this work up to
date The Poore catalogue makes
most formidable volume, 1892 pages,
of which nearly $50 pages are devoted
to the index. AS book of reference
it has an evident value. but one
| would not turn to it naturally for in
| teresting reading to while away an
hour. It contains, however, much
that is amusing and interesting for any
one who wishes to hunt through it's
pages. A great many men find enter
tainment in the seemingly monotonOus
occupation of reading the dictionary.
There is entertainment to be found
entertainment of almost as varied a
character-in Mr.. Poore's catalogue.
| This entertainment is in the contrast
| between the customs and ideas of the
colonial period and those of today.
For example, according to one of the
documents described in the catalogue,
the colonial congress provided that
IcOunterfeiters of continental or state
bills of credit should have their ears
cut off and should be whipped and
fined A dollar "would go further in
those days" as Senator EvartS said,
and it was worth a great deal more
than it is today.
Among the early documents %rinted
by order of congress was a history of
the American Indians, with their
customs, descent from the Jews, &c,
compiled from official sources" by J.
Adair. So began the study of eth
nolOgy under the auspices of the gov
ernment, which is carried on with such
success at the present time by Major
Powell's bureau. In the early days
congress had more direct dealings
with the Indians than it has now.
1t even addressed itself to them direct
There is a record of an address dated
Dec. 16, 1775, in which Capt. White
Eyes, a Delaware chief, is welcomed
to the council fire kindled for all the
United States.
4 In April, 1776, instructions were
issued to sc. Morgan by the com
mittee on Indian affairs, that ''the
Indians were to be treated kindly
and hospitality, inspired with senti
ments of justice and humanity, and
were supposed to introduce the arts OF
civil and social life
: The men who fought the establish
ment of the department of agriculture
a few years ago, on the. ground that
it was unnecessary, will perhaps be
surprised that 100 years ago there was
a clothing department." and thai
congress issued regulations for &
clothier-general, a state clothier, reg
mental clothier, and so on. A 'de
partment of clothing" would excite
derisive laughter now. There was 6
good deal of inquiry and report cr
the subject of clothing for the CONT
.. mental army, and at one TIME Gen
Horatio Gates reported that the cos
of clothing each man was $23.
Congress today would be rather
; surprised at proposition that /
should print an edition of the Bible
Yet such a propos sitiOn was made II
memorial of DR.. Allison, on which
a special committee made repor
> in September, 1777. The report OF
the committee was adverse, chiefly, i
would appear, on the ground of eX
pense The decision was reached
"after conference with the printers.
and the recommendation was made
that instead of advancing money TO-
importing type and printing this Bi
BILE, the committe on commerce shoult
order 10000 Bibles from Holland
, Scotland, or elsewhere. Thus a death
blow was given in committee to th'
first infant industry of America. Ii
1882 congress was asked to approve
,, an American edition of the Bible
!, and William White and George Duf
field, the chaplains of congress, made
a report recommending the work.
At this time, when congress wa
taking so deep an interest in TIL
Bible, it was practising what Mr.
-. Wanamaker succeeded some years ag'
in convincing congress was a very lin
!, moral thing-promoting a lottery. In
committee on war lottery reported II
favor of the issue of 100000 ticket
at $40 each, the prizes to be So,0OO,OO'
in treasury notes, payable IN nv
years with 4 per cent. interest. Ii
, August, 1777, the committee on treas
urv reported a recommendation tina
the drawing be postponed becaus
. the sales had not been large enough
|
sent to the states with the reques
that the governors expedite their sales
. .. The scheme of this government LOT
: : terry was very like that of the Louisl
! ana lottery of a recent day-only one
. half of the money repaid in prizes
and chances, therefore, two to on
against the buyer of the ticket. Con
> gress once authorized the District o
! Columbia to establish IL lottery ''fo
building purposes"
|. The prohibitionists of today woul'
have been Mortified at Il resolution
!. passed by congress in September, III
directing the commissary general 1T
, purchase thirty hogsheads of rum t
,, be distributed among the soldiers. il
compliment for their gallant behayIo
in the late battle of Brandywine.
It was not an inappropriate reward
though, for Brandywine.
The question of clothing the arm.
a seemed to give the continental con
+ gress more trouble than anything else
o for in December, 1777, we find an aI
: peal to the states 10 furnish clothin:
to the soldiers, and in the same mont
the committee on the treasury mad
| .1<,,, .fliy