, 1854-04-29
WASHINGTON LEGISLATURE--. FIRST SESSION.
IN COUNCIL.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
=, ..,. Ill 90 1o6I

| ton" He had advocated their rights in
every shape-knowiug as he did that cases
of merit existed from whom we ought not
to Withhold the elective franchise. He re-
GREETED now that he had not gone for a
white bill, wishing by a supplemental
bill similar in its nature to this, except GER
tain cases. This bill met his views, and as
it answered the puposc Of the petition in
using the very language they themselves
had used, he hoped the Council would pass
the bill reported by Mr. Yuntis.
Mr.. Sayward moved to amend so as to
extend the provisions of the act to Half
Breeds who could speak the English or
any civilized tongue" striking out the words
''read and write"
Mr.. Balch hoped the amendment would
not prevail if it does it just defeats exact
ly what the bill contemplates. The bill as
it stands is intended to restrict the class Of
Half-Breed voting to cases of individual
merit alter it as the gentleman suggests
and it is worthless.
Mr. Miles moved further to amend by
striking out as a penalty to judges illegally
admitting Half-BreedS TO vote, the clause
and the votes of said precinct shall not be
counted.
In support of this amendment Mr. Miles
took the floor, and spoke to the whole
question, alleging that many Of the signers
of the petition placed there not knowing
what they were signing, but were induced
to believe they were really making an ap-
plcation for half-breeds to vote.
| Mr. CotIin folInvoI ,,,.;n.. tI,t ,lo so
marks of his colleague had convinced him
how improper it was to allow that class to
vote. Here they were signing petition
seemingly against their own rights, and ex-
cuSed themselves on the ground that they
were so ignorant of our language as to be
deceived and sign petition adverse to that
they wished TO sign.
Mr.. Catlin spoke at length, combating
the whole doctrine of allowing this class to
vote.
Mr.. Sayward was bound to believe that
fraud had been practiced on the half
breeds OF CowlltZ. 1t was hard to believe
that Catholic priest should write such
letter voluntarily in regard to education.-I
1t was not the custom of priests of that de-
nomination to encourage their parishiOners
to send their children to other schools than
those under the care of the church.
The vote was taken ON Mr. Sayward's
amendment by yeas and nays, and was
Ayes-Messrs. Bigelow, Miles, Sayward,
Tappan and Mr.. Pressident-5.
Noes-Messrs Balch, Bradford, Catln,
and Yantis-4.
Mr.. Miles moved to strike out last clause
OF Sec. 2, throwing out vote of precinct
Vote taken by yeas and nays.
Ayes-one Mr.. Miles.
Noes-eight.
Mr.. Balch stated he could not vote for
the bill as amended, and the vote was then
taken by ayes and nays, and was
Ayes-Messrs Bradford, Bigelow, Cat
lin and Yantis.
Noes-Messrs. Balch, Bigelow, Say
ward, Tappan, Mr.. President.
Adjourned till 2P.M
AFTERNOON SESSION. ~
Mr.. Balch moved to reconsider the vote
by which the half-breed restriction bill was
killed. Council by vote of to 4 refused
| to reconsider.
Several acts Of local nature filling va
cancies in county Offices, were taken up
and passed. The Pioneer and Democrat
was made the official paper of the territory
by an act of the Legislature, providing that
till August next, the laws as published in
its columns should be official.
Council then resolved itself into commit
tee of the whole, Mr. Sayward in the Chair
te take up the "bill on Crimes and punish
ments." The remainder of session spent in
discussing and amending it.
Mr.. McConaha moved such amendment
as to give the Governor the power to
change the death penalty to Imprisonment
for life, which amendment was carried
Other. amendments were made of formal
character, and the punishment for murder
in the second degree was fixed at term of
not less than ten nor more than twenty
years. Committee rose, reported back |
said bill and asked leave to sit again.
Adjourned till Monday morning.
MONDAY, April "a, 1854.
In the absence of the President. Mr..
Bigelow was called to the Chair.
Council soon after resolved itself into
committee of the whole, to consider the
bill on crimes and punshments Mr. Tap
pan in the Chair. During the discussion
Of the Jill, Mr.. Sayward moved to amend
the section relative to disnterring the re-
mains of deceased persons, to dispose of for
dissection. He wished specially to allow
the removal of remains by friends of
the deceased when made in respect to
the memory of the departed The bill
did not restrict those legally authorized y
It's true, though it did restrict the wilful
wrong. Mr.. Sayward doubted not the in
tent of the bill was proper but thought the
language would be better if more specific
amendment lost