man, the political status of that organ having changed.
Free Press. The second paper published in Oregon. George Law Curry resigned his editorial position on the Spectator early in 1848 due to the censorship that was being exercised over his editorials by the Printing Association. He bought type from the Catholic missionaries and had a rude press made. The first issue came out in March, 1848, with the motto—
"Here shall the Press the people's rights maintain,
Unawed by influence, unbribed by gain."
The paper stopped in October because of the rush of the subscribers to the California mines.
Oregon City Enterprise. Started publication on October 27, 1866, with D. C. Ireland as editor and proprietor. Noltner and Slater purchased it in 1869 or '70 and ran it until about 1875.
Spectator. The first paper on the Pacific Coast as well as in Oregon, outdating the first California paper, the Alta Californian, by six months and ten days. It was first issued in Oregon City Thursday, February 5, 1846. The Spectator was sponsored by the Oregon Printing Association organized with W. G. T'Vault as president, J. W. Nesmith, vice-president, John P. Brooks, secretary, George Abernethy, treasurer, Robert Newell, John E. Long, John H. Couch, directors. The plant was secured in New York thru the instrumentality of Governor George Abernethy, the acting treasurer. The Constitution of the Association read in part:
"In order to promote science, temperance, morality, and general intelligence; to establish a printing press; to publish a monthly, semi-monthly or weekly paper in Oregon—the undersigned do hereby associate ourselves together in a body, to be governed by such rules and regulations as shall from time to time be adopted by a majority of the stockholders of this compact in a regularly called and properly notified meeting."
