, 1860-12-21
n Removal Of the Capitol.

AAOAAVIaA VI NAO NNPNVA'
Fiat jasiitia Tuat cGlum, let justice be
done even though the armament may fall
to ruin, is a maxim that has received the
worlds sanction, for time immemorial. In
the selection, therefore, of an appropriate
place for the location Of the Capitol, justice
10 The ichoIe Territory should have the entire
and the sole preponderance. 1t should de-
termine preference unbiased By any ether
consideration, for it involves everything that
ought to influence choice. We dissent
then, and with much respect, from the
opinion of our Olympia correspondent, as
given in our Extra Of last week. We do
not approve the translation Of the Capitol
from Olympia TO Vancouver, and least SO,
for the reason he advances. We cannot
admit the validity of that reason, for we
know no such principle in discussing the
merits Of that question as compromise. II
Vancouver be geographically better loca-
tion than Olympia, there would be just
pretext for the contemplated change; but
in that respect it offers no advantage which
Olympia has not, whilst the latter place to
our mind is more convenient to the Repre-
sentatives of the entire territory. By the
present resolve of the Legislature, some
two thirds Of both houses will be compelled
TO nearly treble the distance of their re-
spective journies to the Capitol, whilst
those on the other side of the mountains,
who constitute less than one third of the
territorial representation will have theirs
lessened by about one-fourth of what 1t is
at preseut. Geographically, therefore,
Vancouver is not preferable to Olympia,
and in an economical point of view, still less
so.
Let us for a moment grant, without con-
ceding the assumption that the wishes Of
our fellow-citzens beyond, ought to be
gratifed preferentially to the citizens of
Puget Sound, because, forsooth, numerical
ly considered, they may outyote in time
this section of the Territory. By parity
Of augmentation, the Capitol ought to be
transferred thence to the Nez Perces bor-
der, because, (and it is by no means i'm
probable on account of the extensive gold
fields lately discovered) the population in
that region may be augmented by several
thousand more than the Walla Walla coun-
try or the Puget Sound section, or than
both combined. The absurdity Of such on
inference is obvious, and, therefore, the hy-
pothess on which is predicated the present
change is untenable.
Olympia has been long recognized as the
most suitable position for the Capitol, and
large investments have been made there be-
cause of that very fact. The value of
those investments must be greatly deterior-
ated if the Capitol be removed, and we
maintain that an extensive injury Of this
kind done to any town on Puget Sound
will necessarily induce correlatively hurtful
consequences to every town from Olympia
to Cape Flattery.
II the concession Of the Penitentiary to
Port Townsend be intended as doHoeur to
our citizens in this direction, to conciliate
their consent to the action of the legisla-
lture, we doubt il it will produce that effect.
We have too high an estimate Of our fellow
citizens around here to suppose that they
wPuld solicit any advantage to themselves
at the expense of their brothers in Olym-
pia.
Port Townsend has, up to this, stood
alone on her own merits, her own energy,
and her own industry, and despite even the
attempts of Olympia to depreciate her, she
can do so for the future. These charac-
teristics have not injured her in the past,
she can depend on them for the future Of
her progress.
Her growth is not the result Of any arti-
fetal impetus. 1t is slow, it is steady, and
must be necessarily permanent. These
opinions are our own individually: Others
may differ from US; but, until we are con,
vinced of their falsity, we shall hold to
them. The columns of the Register are
open for fair and dispassionate discus
sion Of the question.--POrt IOtOasend Reg
lister, Dec. 10.