Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 11.djvu/331

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Documents. 309 no law save that of tyranny, upon the principle that "might makes right," he too' has changed to the respectable and indus- trious "ranchero," and as he looks upon the Stars and Stripes that flutter in the breeze, toils on in the full assurance of pro- tection from the new government, the laws of the United States have there taken the place of the despotic edicts of tyran- nical governors, the right of trial by jury is extended to all, the American flag by Com. Stockton and Capt. Fremont, has been placed upon every town in both California, and where — ? let me ask has our banner ever been planted, that the march of civilization did not speedily follow. That the country on the other side of the Rocky mountains and the great valley of the Mississippi will ere long be connected by rail-road is not the wandering of a chimerical brain, but will as certainly be accomplished as we remain a free and united republic. Let the skeptic go back to* the landing of the Pilgrims on Plymouth Rock, suppose a panoramic view of the vast wilderness on this side the Alleghany mountains were then presented to them, how many would have been found among them who would have believed that such a change could take place. There is almost nothing too great for American industry to achieve, her energies never sleep, and each succeeding anniversary develops something new in literature, the arts and sciences. "No pent up Utica contracts our powers," but the march of improvement is onward and will never cease until the shores of the Pacific and Atlantic are united by rail-road, and that which is now a wilderness and occupied by the savage, will be made to flourish and blossom like the rose. For the benefit of those wishing to emigrate, I will give some information which may be valuable to them in making prepara- tion for their journey across the mountains. The emigrating company that will start from Independence the coming spring, from present appearances, will be large, and all persons should endeavor to rendezvous at this place or vicinity at least by the first of May next, in order to form a thorough organiza- tion and start by the tenth, or at least fifteenth of that month.