, 1860-12-21
me CanIlaI QuesLIOn.

moved nom Olympia to Vancouver, the
Penitentiary from Vancouver to Port
Townsend. and the University located al
Seattle The vote in the House stood II
TO Is; in the Council 5 to 4; Mr. Hubbi
Of Port Townsend giving the casting vote
We believe that the people Of the Terri
tory will agree with rs in the opinion thai
this late act Of basiy legislation, removing
the seat Of government from Olympia tC
Vancouver was unealled for by any geo
graphical or political necessity.
A question so vital to the interests o
our people, should stand only upon its owl
merits, and in The discussion Of the policy
Of the measure, II is our intention to con.
ine ourself within the limits Of strict argu.
ments, impugning the motives Of no mem
Der. prejudiciug our readers against no To-
cality. bnt allowing to every one the same
honest motives lhat we claim to be govern
ed BY in our own course.
Il Is an unfortunate thing for our terri
torial interests, on account Of the local
jealousies the bitter rivalries and estrange-
mens that viii surely result from the per-
petual agitation Of the subject in the future.
The respective locations Of the different
public buildings were long since settled, by
an agreement that was mutual, fair and
satisfactory, and 50 far as the question be-
fore the people now Is concerned, the ex-
preston Of the popular will at the late olec-
ton was aVerse to disturbing the equilibri-
um that now exists.
The fact that The people are ayerse to
This movement while their Representatives
favor It, may appear somewhat singular to
those who are not familiar with the teehui-
caIities Of legislation. but the explanation
is ssimple,
Sometimes, as 10 the present case, bill
proposed is not allowed to stand upon its
own merits. as q separate legislative act,
but is so coupled with other bills BY an
agreement. that the advocates Of all unite
on each measure and thus carry their re-
speciive points. This Is the reason why We
zee the Capitol. the Penitentiary and the
University all shifting positions to one note
Of music, Ike the dancers in a qnadrille. !,
II the plain simple question Of the re-
moFal Of the Capitol had been presented
BY iiseli, the present location would never
have been disturbed.
The votes Of the people. directly giving
their decisions, act through the ballot box
upon measure like the rays Of the sun
through a glass, but an act Of the Legisla-
ture ofientimes misrepresenis their coustit-
nenis. for i is only one part Of some skill
fully woven web Of promises and mutual
accomodations whose secret history never
transpires.
n We regret that the bill was hurried
through 50 swiftly and silently-that all
discussion Of It's defects or merits was for.
biddsn, for bad precedent Is thus estab-
lished IN favor Of unworthy measures,
whose weaknesses would otherwise be ex-
posed Besides that. the most important
act Of the session thus goes before the peO-
pie without an argument, without an adyO-
cation, without even a simple explanation
10 answer their surprise.
The scat Of government should be located
TO suit the convenience Of the people.
Situated midway between the Columbia
River and the Straits Of Faca, south and
north, At an almost equal distance between
the Pacific Ocean and the Cascade Noun.
tains. west and east; at the head Of navi.
CATION Of the waters Of Puget Sound, at
ihe terminus Of the land route from the
Columbia River to VancouVers Island and
the mining districts Of British Columbia,
Olympia possesses q natural convenience as
seontrnl point for the transaction Of cour,
and territorial business that belongs to no
other place in the Territory.
Tho land for the Capitol grounds at
Olympia, has been long since donated, the
title to the site approved by the Attorney
General. a good portion of the apprOpria-
ton Tor building already spent, and the
erection Of the Capitol commenced here
under instructions Of the Federal Govern.
ment. =
This Bill brings rs IN direct conflict with
the Department because it destroys the
valDs Of large portion Of the appropria-
ltion, BY changing the site. The admins
tratiOn, uearied beyond endurance with the
incsHsant and bitter strife arising from this
same question in Oregon, after it had been
located and relocated frequently, vetoed
the removal Of the Capitol again, in order
70 stop the friVOlus and Wastsful expeDdi,
tnre Of the peoples money, to the great re-