The Oregonian already had appeared the day before, and Bush knew of it, probably even had seen it.
We are losing ground every day (Bush wrote in the letter). I would give two thousand dollars if those materials were here now. And when I say that I mean it. It would be more than that in our pockets, and greatly advantageous to you. For there is not a press in the country now in favor of you unless it is Whitcomb's Western Star, and if that is, its columns don't evince it. I think that Aspinwall ought to send that press across the isthmus at his own expense, and I have the faintest hope possible that you made him do it when you found that it could not go till November. If you do so, we shall probably get it by the next steamer.
Bush next refers in his letter to the newly established Oregonian, off the press December 4:
The Whig paper at Portland is out in Spectator size, but it is to be enlarged in March if the press his new establishment has coming around arrives here. He has no connection with the one coming to Lownsdale & Co.[1]
The Spectator would not publish those little scraps you sent me. I tell you the Spectator will do nothing to favor you, and I am confident that it will oppose you.[2] . . . I am all impatience to get that press. You don't know how we are losing ground. . . I'll have things ready to go to work (when the press arrives) and get out a number immediately. . . There are some here who will spare no endeavors to get a Democratic paper to supersede it (the Statesman).
They are endeavoring to get someone to start a Democratic paper at Portland on the press that is coming out for the proprietors (of the townsite) . . . I have just received a letter from a Yamhill man who had subscribed (for the Statesman) requesting me to strike his name off as he had got tired of waiting and subscribed for another.
Bush, judged by his letters to his patron, Thurston, was far from optimistic of the future of the projected publication. Perhaps this was his way of keeping Thurston stirred up. December 20, 1850, he wrote from Oregon City:
. . . I hope you will write to your particular friends all about the territory by return of mail, to do all they can for the Statesman. It will start under very unfavorable auspices. . . The country is getting full of papers, and some of them must die.
