, 1860-08-03
THE CAPITOL.
To tie Editor Of tie Puget Sound Herald:

inst, appeared IN editorial headed The Capi-
tol," in which you ask for light in regard to the
proceedings Of the Capitol Commissioners and
others connected with that worF. As the cir.
eumStanccs under which the Commissioners were
elected BY the Legislature, last winter, are gen.
orally known, and as your article indicates that
they are not fulfilling the clear intentions Of their
constituents, but are going ahead with the work,
not only with an unseemly haste, but in violation
Of public sentiment and the known will Of the
last Legislature, feel called upon, in justice to
myself and those who have acted with me, to
place the whole matter before the public. II is
well known throughout the Territory that bill
for the removal Of the Capitol to Vancouver
passed the popular branch Of the Legislature last
winter BY very large majority, and was lost in
the Council by but one vote that body standing
four for and five against IT, II is also known that,
falling to remove the Capitol, that body elected
commissioners with the express purpose Of post.
pOning the work upon the Capitol until the pop
uar sentiment Of the Territory could be expressed
at another general election, and declared by the
next Legislature.
Is also known that, In order to save public
printer who was odious to majority Of the
people Of the Territory, portion, at least, Of
the Thurston county delegation rejected liberal
compromise, and suffered the election Of Capitol
Commissioners, a majority Of whom were averse
to erecting the CaPitOli thus sacrificing the sub
stantal interests Of their county to the inordnate
desires Of modern ShylOcks. for tho sake Of per
petuating political dynasty which stnks In the
nostrils Of all honest men, and for the last two
years has been rapidly engineering the Demo
cratic party Of this Territory into hopeless
minority. Having betrayed their own commu.
nifty, these political tricksters seek to shft the
odium Of their treason BY compelling me to erect
the new Capitol building In violation Of the trust
repOsed IN me- This compromise was rendered
BY members Of the Legislature to whom the
editor Of the Pioneer and public printer had rem.
dered himself obnoxious BY his wholesale Sian
ders and violent and unwarrantable political
abusei and knowing that they could not effect
both objects, they were willing 10 suffer the
erection Of the Capitol a Olympia for the sake
Of riddIng the Territory Of an evil, and the dem.
Ocratic party Of nuisance. ,.s,@,
This eompromise was rejected By the Thurs
ton delegation; the interests Of the "clique be-
ing desmed paramount 70 those Of The county at
large. lg4h l4 p'a
Capitol Commissioners were chosen bs he
Legislature. and was elected acting Commis-
sioner and FLED my bond. Ny duty was and Is
70 carry out the known wishes of those who
elected me, and was pursuing that line Of pol.
icy when received the s1bioined letter from
acting Gov. McGiri:
ExtcUfIvE OFFicE,
Olympia, July Sd, 1860
Sir; In consequence Of the absence from the
Territory Of His ExculIency Governor 0holson.
the duties Of the Executive have devolVed upon
me. and J have, therefore. respectfully TO inform
you that The money appropriated By Congress
ior the erection Of the Capitol Is now IN my pos
session, and available iof that purpose.
Your bond as acting commissioners having been
approved By Governor Gholso.s, proposals can
now BE- issued and The building proceed awith-
out delay, 10 accordance with che provisions Of
Ihe act Of ihe Legislature passed January 5th,
| have this day addressed The other members
Of the Board on the subject
Ao4 VIII plca1t alAuoWicuto tue receipt Of
ibis communication, and, at your earliest con-
vonisnce, advise me Of your action IN he prem.
lam, 81, very respectfully,
Your obodent servant,
HENkY M McGnL.
Acting Governor Washington Territory.
| Geo. Gallagher, Esq, Acting Capitol ComInis-
sioner, Steilhcoon, Washington Territory.
II The meantime bad written to the other
Commissioners 70 consult with me, and shortly
Afterwards Capt Fowler arrived here from Port
Townssnd, and we proceeded together 70 Olym-
pla and bad eonisrenes with acting Gov. Nc.
GIN. Who very plainly indicated % us that We
must either shoot or give up the gun. I
stated q him The circumstances under which
We were elected. the wishes of The Legislature
in this matter, and my own extreme reluctance,
arising from these causes, 70 taking action unsil
tho meeting Of tho next Legislature.
The Governor informed me plainly that my
allure to act, and that, TOO, without unnecossn.y
delay" would Be considered sufficient cause ior
supeneding me. and that he had the Aiehst q.
gsI auihoriiy IN tAs zsviiory sustaining the L.
eali.y Of this course In order that the public
might understand the facts Of the case, and ius-
dymy course, addressed The Governor the
following note fa aes ~
erEiLAcoon, W. T., July flth, 1850.
His Excelency. Gov. II. ~ McGnl.
SiR: Your favor Of the Sd Of July was re.
ccived on The 9Th, informing me that the Capitol
funds were n your hands and available, etc. In
reply would respectfully iniarm you that have
addressed the other two Commissioners, Messrs.
Fowler and AheTn, on this subject, and have no
qneaisd them % meet me at their earliest conve.
nienee q Olympia, that We may deteFmine upon