186 DOROTHY HULL
Here you see a party which proclaims loud and long that Americans shall not rule America, proposing a disruption. They are endeavoring to create disaffection, anarchy, confusion, and discord among the people urging to rebellion a revolu- tion against their country. What for? The object is plain to those who know and can appreciate the character and aims of the party calling itself the Democratic Party. Are the people of Oregon prepared for this movement on the party chess-board? They will, of course, indorse it, and push on the cause of dis- union! We know not a few who will not take passage, no matter who may attempt to lash or goad them into this in- famous measure."
In September of the same year the Statesman had some farther information to give concerning the Revolutionary scheme. 1 A letter from an anonymous correspondent in San Francisco, reprinted from an exchange, set forth details of the plan:
"I lay before you, in advance of all publicity, a scheme which is now advancing under profound secrecy among a good num- ber of our most respectable and influential citizens. I have no time to comment, but give you the plan, as it has been re- vealed to me, without any injunction of concealment. A new Republic is to be formed, consisting at first of ten states, three to be formed within the present limits of the State of Cali- fornia, three in Oregon Territory, two in Washington Terri- tory, and two from western portions of Utah and New Mexico. The basis is to be a confederated government similar to yours on the Atlantic Side. The great Pacific Railroad is to be abandoned, and every obstacle thrown in the way of its con- struction, while the argument at the hustings is to be made to the people that the government at Washington has refused the road to the people of the Pacific. The question of slavery is to be adjured and disclaimed until the plan is so far executed that there can be no retraction, after which the southern four or five states will adopt slavery. The first convention is to be imposing in numbers, and especially in the distinguished talent
