made a proposition at all, I did not really wish the place, because I did [not?] believe myself well qualified to discharge the duties of an editor with much credit to myself or profit to others. I was then, as I still am, of opinion that the paper, if well edited would engross the time as well as the tallent of the editor. I could not therefore agree to undertake it for less than a support; yet I would not wish the association to loose by the opperation, (as I learn some of the Directors fear such would be the result). I will therefore make two other propositions, vz, I will serve them for the procedes of the paper after the printer is paid, or I and Mr. Fleming will take the press for the year, and print and publish a paper under the provisions of the constitution of the association, and will pay the Board for the paper and ink that we may use, and repair any damage that may be done the press, or some such arrangement as can be agreed upon between us. I have no farther proposal to make.
As to the prospectus, allow me to say with all due respect, that there is something so humiliating in the idea of being a Candidate and electioneering for the office of editor of a newspaper, that I cannot bring myself to it without a greater strugle against my feelings than I am able to make at present.
If I have any tallent for usefulness, it is always at the service of my friends, but it is not in market, to be bid off for dollars & cents.
If the Board wish it, as a favour merely, I will draft a prospectus for their paper with pleasure at any time.
Very respectfully your
H. A. G. Lee
Obedient humble servant
After so much preparation the Oregon Spectator first appeared February 5, 1846 , as a semimonthly paper, with T'Vault editor and John Fleming printer at a salary of $1000 a year. It contained the constitution of the Oregon Printing Association with revised and additional articles of compact, signed by W. G. T'Vault, president; J. W. Nesmith, vice president; John P. Brooks, secretary, George Abernethy, treasurer; R. Newell, John H. Couch and John E. Long, directors.
T'Vault greets his public in a long editorial announcing the non-political character of the paper in accordance with the compact; at the same time he does not refrain from stating his own political faith, declaring that "we are now, as we have always been, and ever shall be, a democrat of the Jeffersonian school." The editor continues with an appeal for literary and scientific contributions. He realizes the difficulty of making an interesting newspaper without the ad vantage of exchanges. "It is not to be anticipated that we can amuse or interest the reading portion of the community
