, 1853-12-31
Public Meeting in Clark County.

precinct, Clark county, Washington Terri |
Sory, held al the school house, near MaXon's |
mils, on tue 4Ih of December, 1858, Mr..
c. c. Stiles was called 10 the chair, and
Joel Knight appointed Secretary.
The object OF the meeting having been
stated by the chaiT, The following gentle
men were appointed delegates TO attend
county convention 10 be holden al Columbia
City on the 2nd day Of January, 1854, for
the purpose of nominating candidates for the
legislature, and sending delegates to The
Territorial convention, whose duty it shall
be to nominate suitable candidate for dele
gale 10 congress: b. F. Tanner, B. L.
Gardner, {. C. Stiles, John Prebsdel, Joel
knight.
1t was then resolved, that the delegates
from Washookls precinct use their endeav-
ors for Columbia Lancaster as delegate foH
congress.
The course OF Gov Slevensy in nelaiion
to Clarke county, then being under cOnsid-
Grafton, it was resolved,
lSt, That unless change is madR in the
voting precincts of Clark county different
from the arrangement made by Gov Sie-
vens, it will be useless TO attsmph holding
an election.
I'd, That there be a committee appointed
to confer with Gov. Stevens on the Droprie-
ty of a change in the voting precincts Of
Clark county, so that the voters Of Lewis
river and Washookle precincts can cast
their votes in their several precincts as
heretofore under the Oregon law, whereas,
under the present arrangement, some two
hundnsd voters are put TO the inconvenience
and expense Of travelling twenty or thirty
miles 10 exercise the privilege of casting
their votes.
Sd, That we believe il 10 be unjust and
impolitc 10 disorganize the two largest pre-
cincts in the county, and that we believe i
to be impossible 10 make return of all the
voles Of Clark county in he time specified
in ths Governors Proclamation, il being
only five days.
The voters of Washooklc precinct would
suggest to.the county convention the pro-
Rrieiy of requesting the postPonement Of
the Territorial oOpYentiOn ill a later day,
as il is net possible for the delegates from
this county Io.reaoh there in time 10 attend
il q. q: STILES, Chm;n.
JOEL KNIOHT, Sec'y.
In answer 10 the first and seoondi resOlu-
sions introduced above, we would remark,
we have no doubt that Gov. STEVENS feels
not only mortified, but chagrinned, that the
information afforded him, on his arrival
here, relative 10 the various precinct
throughout the territory, was not sufficient
10, meet the expectations Of the people in
making q satisfactory distribution Of the
same that il would have afforded him the
utmost pleasure to have recognized, ns legit-
innate, all the precincts established by the
different county commissioners but how
was he 10 obtain information relative there
10 without an almost unPardonable delay in
the issue Of his proclamation ? While the
Governor is willing to acknowledge the
justice Of the cenSure awarded 10 him by
PoEtiOn Of. the people Of Clark, yet in ex
tenuatiOn Of the grievance under which il is
evident they will be subjected to in the
coming. electiOn,. VIC would say, that the
proclamation was, issued the next day after
hiS>aTriNAl hNFr, and was made up after
thorough investigation of all The facts and
evidenee1bsfora him. As to the authority
possessed by The 9Ovsrnorin thS'matter of
changing the places of voting, OrresAablish-
ing new precincts, we would observe that
the organic law is explicit on that subjectI
and before the first election is held, requires
the 0ovesnoF, BY proclamation, 10 give
sixty days noIicR Of the time, place and
maOacr Of coRduetiNg the same. II will
readily be perceived thai uDdArthe law, the
Governor would have no authorityto to eslab-
lish any new precincts without setting aside
the original proclamation and ordering, a
new election, as. lie could now give but
thirty instead oil siiIya days notice Of the !
"time, place aAd maRRST," Sc;
As to the Sd resolution. we would observe
that an evident Misrepresentation has been
entertained by the meeting.as 10 the intent
and meaaing Of the proclamaiionL II was
merely intended that the judges Of election
FhOuld make returns under oath 10, the
clerks, within FIVE days, and not, as has
been inferred, to the Secretary Of tho TER
litOpy, thus ObviAiing that difficulty
ButnFaEing Of political matters, hoNNis
ttbai WOshoOkle rrecineti with the knOwl-
edge thai the Territorial conveniiOn meets
pt 0owlhE landing. oniho 2a Of January,
iScs upon that very day fordhe holding of
a county convcnlionp to nominatey at Co.
I,n,h;o Cdv a ,lsoatae and ley;slatiwa oalN