Year: 1865

Previous to another issue ofthe STATESMAN,
New Years Day will have come and gone,
'aua heRce it is proper that we give the usu-
a New Years article The closing Of the
old and the commencement of new year, is
"a fitting moment for reflection, and remem-
'bering, the errsrs Of the past, We should
each, in our respective spheres, resolve to
do better IA the future. New Years day
has ever been regarded as the proper Occa-
sion for good resolves, and we commend the
reader, from this day forth, to resolve to
avoid whatever errors he may have been gull
ty of in the past, and SO live that at the close
Ofl866 he may look back upon 4 year well
spent, and from the record of which he will
have no inclination to blot out q single Incl
dent. With the advent Of the New Year,
there is much to cause the heart of the patri-
OF to rejoice. A year since the nation was
engaged in the throes Of civil war, and there
was too mnch reason to fear that faction
would succeed in dismembering the glorious
Union that bad been handed down to US by
Revolutionary sires. Now, how different
the picture. All over the yea and all over
the land the old flag waves in triumph, and
the sun now rises on Nation reunited and
prepared to enter upon a new career Of glory.
All causes of dissensions removed, from the
extreme North to the far South, from the
land of the rising sun to the going down
thereof, there comes one glad refrain, the
sentiment of which is, "Union and Liberty
-one and inseperabie, now and forever !"
Not stripe has been erased from the old
flag, or a single star stricken from the glo-
rious constellation. The Union has passed
through the baptism of blood, and has come
forth from the fiery ordeal all the stronger
for the trial, and prepared to take a higher
stand among the nations of the earth. Well
may the patriot rejoice


Turning from considerations Of this char
acter, we have reason to congratulate our
readers upon the bright prospects that un-
fold to the view. The past year has been
one of unequaled prosperity for this coun-
try, and the one just opening promises to re-
new the scenes that years since gave to Calls
forna a world wide fame. The new discov-
cries cannot fail to have a favorable effect
upon the future of Wslla Walla Valley.
The miners of Blackfoot, as also the thous-
sands that are soon to be attracted to the
headwaters of the Columbia, must mainly
depend upon this market for their supplies
of breadstufs, and procuring from US the
"staf of life," it will be our own fault if
we fail to make them customers for the sup
plies Of clothing and everything else necesN
Sary to mining population. Heretofore an
incOusiderable trading mart, with another
season we must assume the proportions Of
commercial centre. This is sure to result
from our natural advantages, and the supe-
riority that we enjoy over all other towns
that may compete with us for the rich trade
of the new mining districts. In times past
our merchants were content to play the part
Of tributaries to the Columbia River towns,
but this condition of things no longer OBJ,
tains, and Obeying that great maxim of trade
that enjOins it upon every man to buy from
those who sell cheapest, they now make
their purchases from FIRST hands, and as a
consequence are prepared to defy any aud all
competition that looks to the trade Of the
Northern mines. Everywhere the superi.
Ority of our position is beginning to be un-
derstoOd, and outside of Portland, there is
not town in the Northern country that
gives promise of equal prominence. Gath
eriug these bright omenS for the future, we
conclude by wishing our readers one and all
"A HAPPY New YEAR