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Washington Statesman
Walla Walla, Washington Territory
Friday, December 13, 1861
N. Northrop, R. B. Smith, R. R. Rees, Editors and Proprietors
p. 1, col. 3:
Talleyrand and Arnold
Talleyrand arrived in Havre, hot from Paris. It was the darkest hour of the French Revolution. Pursued by the bloodhounds of the reign of terror, stripped of every vestige of property and power, Talleyrand secured a passage to America, in a ship about to sail. He was a beggar and a wanderer even, in a strange land, he was forced to earn his daily bread by his daily labor. "Is there an American staying in your house?" he asked of the landlord of the hotel. "I am bound to cross the water, and would like a letter to a person of influence in the new world."
The landlord hesitated a moment and then replied: "There is a gentleman up stairs either from America or England, but whether an American or an Englishman I cannot tell." He pointed the way, and Talleyrand, who in his life was a bishop, prince, and prime minister, ascended the stairs. A miserable suppliant at the stranger's door, he knocked and entered. In the far corner of the dimly lighted room sat a man of some fifty years, his arms folded and his head bowed on his breast. From a window directly opposite a flood of light poured upon his forehead. His eyes looked from beneath his downcast brows and gazed upon Talleyrand's face with a peculiar searching expression. His face striking in outline; his mouth and chin indicative of an iron will. His form vigorous, even with the snows of fifty winters — was clad in dark, but rich and distinguished costume.
Talleyrand advanced, stated that he was a fugitive, and under the impression that the gentleman before him was an American, solicited his feeling offices. He poured out his history in eloquent French and broken English. "I am a wanderer, an exile. I am forced to fly to the New World, without a friend or a home. You are an American; give me, then, I beseech you, a letter of yours; that I may be able to earn my bread. I am willing to toil in any manner. The scenes of Paris have filled me with such horror that a life of labor would be a paradise to a career of luxury in France. You will give me a letter to a friend? A gentleman like you, has, doubtless, very many friends."
The stranger arose, and with a look Talleyrand never forgot, retreated toward the door of the next chamber, his eyes looking still from beneath his darkened brow. He spoke as he retreated backward, his voice full of meaning. "I am the only man born in the New World who can raise his hand to God and say, I have not a friend, no, not one, in all America!"
Talleyrand never forgot the overwhelming sadness of the glances which accompanied these words, "Who are you?" he cried, as the strange man retreated towards the next room.
"My name," he replied, with a smile that had more mockery-joy in its convulsive expression, "my name is Benedict Arnold."
He was gone. Talleyrand sank back into a chair, gasping the words, "Arnold the traitor."
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p. 2, col. 1:
The "Good Time" has Come.
The Season of prosperity towards which so many in Oregon and Washington have been long and impatiently looking, has indeed come upon us. California had its years of bewildering excitement and unbounded prosperity. These rich harvest years served to place her in a position of the first rank in an incredibly short period; and though at the present time her golden harvests are not so great as in former years, yet she has become established upon a basis so enduring as to render this decrease no contingency in the way of her advancement. During these years — however unpromising at the time for the future permanence of things — thrift and enterprise followed the exertions of the hardy adventurer throughout the entire catalogue of industrial employment, and into every section of a country profligate in its resources and inducements. In early years, those who visited that State, described it as unfit for everything but the production of gold — a barren waste whose soil was dry and worthless. They predicted its immediate decline when its golden treasures failed. But how vastly different has the reality proved! It is now found that commerce and agriculture and the fine arts, flourish there as successfully as in other countries; and in everything which goes to make a great commonwealth, California occupies today an enviable position. The rapidity of her growth and development must be attributed to hier mineral wealth. These possessions gave her a start, and up to the present time have imparted vigor and strength to every branch of industrial pursuit.
The people of the North Pacific have been in a measure benefited through the prosperity of California. Situated contiguous to us, she has in times gone by furnished us a valuable market for our products. But her own unexpected success in home productions soon robbed us of that important auxiliary, and brought hard times upon us. The farmer, unable to dispose of his products at a remunerating price, met with difficulty in the payment of his store bills, and so retarded the successful progress of business on all hands. Money became extremely scarce, and serious embarrassment threatened all branches of industry, It was evident that Oregon and Washington, however many advantages they naturally possessed in a agricultural and commercial point of view, needed an incentive to their sluggish progress and development. Entertaining confidence in the undeveloped resources of the country and in the prevalence of better times in the future, our people have held on their way and waited patiently for the period of prosperity now dawning upon us. Having witnessed the embarrassments and fortuitous circumstances which have retarded our prosperity during the past several years, we may congratulate the people upon the cheering prospects now opening before us. The present is truly an encouraging period in our history. The hope of a brighter day is no longer merely a picture of the imagination. We have rich and extensive gold fields, which are already poouring their treasures into our marts of business and quickening the pulse of trade and commerce. They promise largely for the future, and may indeed outstrip California in the richness of their yield. We have an almost unlimited country, stretching even to the rocky mountains, which needs but the exertions of the hardy pioneer in well-directed, energetic effort, to make it produce as abundantly as the fertile valleys of Oregon. We have, in short, all the necessary resources for a great country and a great people; and instead of longer paying tribute to California, we may at once advance to an independent position if we but wisely use these advantages.
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p. 2, col. 1:
The tide of immigration to Salmon river flows steadily onward. During the week past not less than two hundred and twenty-five pack animals, heavily laden with provisions, have left this city for the mines. The most of these belong to miners, who go out, not for the purpose of speculation, but to take up claims and be ready to commence operations at mining in the spring. If the reports in circulation relative to the richness of the mines are correct, or if the mines are one-half so rich as they are said to be, we may safely calculate that many of these trains will return next season as heavily laden with gold dust as they now are with provisions.
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p. 2, col. 2:
Present Indications
The latest news by telegraph from the east is of the highest importance. Since the dissolving of the Charleston Convention, we have never had a brighter sky in our national affairs. Already some of the seceding States have manifested a desire to return again to their former position in the Federal Union, by holding conventions for the purpose of hearing and obeying the will of the people on that subject. North Carolina is the first to make a move in this direction; and at a convention which met at Hatteras, recently, wherein forty-five counties were represented, resolutions were passed condemning the Secession Ordinance, which was passed at Raleigh on the 20th of last May, and adopting the State Constitution, with the statutes and laws contained in the Revised Code of 1856. This convention elected a Provsional Governor, vesting in him the power of appointing, temporarily, officers to fill all oficial vacancies; also, the authority to call an election for the purpose of electing members of Congress. The convention adjourned to meet again when required by the President of the United States.
Until very recently, there has been no movements of importance by either of the hostile amries now in the field. However, by our latest dispatches from the seat of war, we have news of the taking of Ports Royal and Beufort — two very important forts to whoever may be in possession of them. Port Royal lies between Charleston and Sevannah, and can be easily approached at any season of the year by vessels going to and coming from Europe. It is 800 miles nearer the mouth of the Mississippi river than New York. The Island of Port Royal is about five miles wide by ten long. On one side lies Beufort river; and on the other side lies Broad river, two miles in width and with depth of water sufficient to float the largest sized vessels.
It seems that great dissatisfaction existed among the Confederate troops on receiving the news of the taking of forts Royal and Beufort, and it was almost impossible to keep them from becoming thoroughly demoralized.
In addition to the above named forts, it appears that the Federal troops have captured forts Beauregard and Walker, which are points of no less importance than the former two, as they command the entrance to Port Royal.
General Price is now in winter quarters, in Arkansas; and in Missouri, where so lately the hottest contests were had, hostilities have almost entirely ceased. The Federal troops have nearly all gone down the river to St. Louis. Springfield, so recently the bloody battle field, is said to be evacuated.
We may hope that the next news we receive by Continental telegraph will be of the same character as the last; and that other States have followed the example set them by North Carolina. A few months since, when all was excitement, or rather madness, it seemed as if it were impossible for this glorious Republic to assume its former political position or geographical dimensions; it seemed that the noblest fabric ever ordained by God and constructed by man for man's government, was destined to perish. But now that a little time has intervened, and the good people, the sovereign power, have used it liberally for moments of reflection, we see no good reason why South Carolina might not follow in the wake of her sister State, and yet occupy her former position in the old Confederation of States, and claim their mutual assistance and protection.
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QUARTZ LODE ON SALMON RIVER. — Mr. S. Owens has left at this office, for exhibition, a piece of gold-bearing quartz, obtained from a lode lately discovered on the South fork of the Salmon river. The quartz very much resembles that obtained from the rich lodes near Jacksonville, Oregon, and from the specimen before us, we judge it is equal to them in richness. The precise locality where this quartz was obtained has not been made public, the discoverers preferring to keep the matter to themselves until they have had an opportunity to thoroughly prospect the country.
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Latest News from the Mines.
The late news from Salmon river seems to have given the gold fever to everybody and the "rest of mankind" in this immediate neighborhood. A number of persons from Florence City, have arrived in this place during the week, and all bring the most extravagant reports as to the richness of the mines. The Carriboo diggings are thrown entirely into the shade, and Aladdin's lamp never lighted the way to richer treasures. We give the reports as they come to us, stating at the same time that our informants say the stories are so "big" that they are unwilling to vouch for them — though they have no reason to doubt them — and that they give them to us as they received them in the mines. A report in relation to a rich strike made by Mr. Bridges of Oregon City, seems to come well authenticated: The first day he worked on his claim (near Baboon Gulch) he took out 57 ounces; the second day he took out 157 ounces; the third day, 214 ounces, and the fourth day he took out 200 ounces in two hours. One gentleman informs us that diggings have been found on the bars of the Salmon river which yield from twenty-five cents to two dollars and fifty cents to the pan; and that on the forks of Salmon river diggings have been found where "ounces" won't dexcribe them, and where they say "the gulches are full of gold." This is mere report; andwe would here remind readers that the "big strikes" we hear of do not constitute the rule, but the exception. Yet we have no doubt but the Salmon river mines, so far as prospected, equal those of California, in her palmiest days. One gentleman informs us that there are hundreds of gulches in the vicinity of Florence City and Miller's Creek that have never been prospected, while one of our correspondents writes that in prospecting there they "found many more places where the gold was not than where it was."
The discoverer of Baboon Gulch arrived in ths city yesterday, bringing with him sixty pounds of dust, and Mr. Jacob Weiser, referred to in our first number, is on his way in with a mule loaded with dust. Mr. Weiser sold his claim for ten thousand dollars, and "retires from business" with a large fortune, accumulated in the short space of two months.
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