, 1856-11-07
For the Pioneer and Democrat.
OLYMPIA, Oct. 81, 1856.
PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT :

/ EDITOR PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT
SH-In your last weekly issue, you have
been led into an error of fact in the state
ment made relative TO the Territorial arms.
{ You set out with the sweeping declara-
tion that the Territorial arms are in a
miserable, useless, aud filthy condition"
A simple statement Of facts will show
that the charge is unfoundcd, and uncaled
for and as the arms remaining on hand
are in my charge, it is proper and right
that | should correct the false impression
sorght to be given to the public in relation
thereto.
On the 23d of December last, the quota
Of arms due the Territory arrived at this
place. These were 1850 mu>kets, 100
rifles and 30 cavalry sabreS.
The country then being involved in an
Indian war requistions were Immediately
made upon the Executive by the County
Commissioners for arms, in order that our
citizens might be prepared for self defence.
Out of 20S0 stand received, over l400
have been issued to the people of the Ter
ritory, and it is for them, and the County
CQmmSsioncrs-to whom, by an act of the
Legislative Assemby-of the Territory, is
delegated the power Of drawing the quota
Of arms for the respective counties-to an
swer the charge, whether or not the arms
in their hands are in q miserable, useless
and 6Hhy condition"
l doubt very much whether our citizens
are so regardless Of their own safety as to-
allow the arms in their possession to be-
come unfit for use.
The balance of the quota Of Territorial
arms are safely stored, and are some 6S5
in number. Six hHndred and six of these
are supposed to be in the most perfect
order, as they have never been unpacked,
but are in the original cases, as forwarded
by the Ordnance Department in America "
to the Executive Of this Territory, and are
held subject to the order of the proper
authorities, whenever they may be needed
The remainder, some so, are arms that
have been through q nine months cam
paign in the present war, and were turned
in by the volunteers on their being muster
ed out Of the service. A portion Of these,
when received, were quite rusty, some locks
we're missing, seyers loose, &c.
You say that the arms should be kept
in a place more secure and accessible" "
They are slowed in the large and substan-
tial block-house on the public square, away
from all other buildings, out of danger Of
FIRE, except by incendiaries, and under lock
and key. Can you indicate any place
" more secure and accessable2"
You remark, also, that many Of them
are scattered about to no purpose watever.
If it be q fact that muskets in the hands
of our citizens, for their protection and self.
defense, are scattered abroad to no pur-
pose whatever" you, of course, will see
your duty plain before you, as our chief
representative in the coming Legislature,
to have the law so changed as to take
away from the County Commissioners such
an undue exercise of power as is now con-
ferred upon them by section Of the Act
10 organize the Militia"
The whole tenor of your article implicitly
charges upon the Executive Of the Terri
tory the fact of having permitted these
arms to pass out of his hands without re-
ceiving the proper vouchers, and to be
scattered promscuously around the coun-
try, not holding any one particularly re-
sponsible for them.
l have respectfully to request that in
justice to myself and others, this communi-
cation be inserted in your next weekly issue
Very respectfully, ....
Your most obedient,
r. NJ WALKER.