, 1860-02-24
CoLUNBIA RIVER, Feb. /;

Observations on OriOn'S Farewell Address
CoLUNurA RIyER, Feb. l3, 1860.
Mr.. Enron Having noticed another
communication in your columns from your
celestial contributor, Orion, in which be EN-
deavors 10 convey the enormous idea that
tue Council was in a great degree respon-
sible for the disorderly manner in which
the House adjourned, on Thursday, Feb
Cd, 1860, propose, therefore, if you will
allow me the use of your columns, to ex.
amine the facts in the case, in order to see
whether they will bear him out in his as
sertions. Both bodies convened on Thurs
day at the appointed hour, and the Coun-
Gil, after having gone through with the
regular order of business, adjourned, to
meet again at 2 o'clock p. NJ, not having
received any communication whatever of
an Official character from the House, to
the effect that that body would have but
one session and then adjourn sine die, and
requesting the Council to act in conformity
with such communication. Had any such
communication been received, have no
doubt the adjournment OF both bodies
would have taken place-nt nearly the same
period OF time. Certainly the Council is
not to blame because the House neglected
to communicate with that body, in relation
to au Adjournment; and furthermore, the
Couacil had no right to anticipate that the
House would have quorum at any time,
aud could only be informed Of the want Of
a quorum in the lower House in an official
manner. am also aware that the House
was without quorum nearly all of Thurs
days session after IL o'clock A. NJ, aud
have also reason to believe, from what oc-
CURED after THAT time, that the action of
the Council in adjourning till 2 o'clock r.
M. contributed nothing TO cause such a
state Of things in the House. was pres
ent in the lobby of the House about II
o'clock A. NJ. on the last day of the ses-
sion. at which time fourteen members Of
that body were in their seats, and two 9TH
or members, Messrs Chapman and Short,
were standing outside the bar. During
the time remained in the lobby a call Of
the House was had, and the Sargcant-at-
Arms directed to procure the attendance
Of absent members, whereupon Messrs
Chapman and Short suddenly decamped,
and hid themselves in one of the ante
rooms, aud, as ! am credibly Informed,
locked themselves in, and the able and ELI
cient Sargentat-Arms was unable to storm
their legislative Malakoff. Thus, from a
want of determination and energy in the
proper officers OF the House, Mcssrs. Chap
man and Short were enabled to bid def
ance to the House, and to compel an ad-
journment without quorum, the only in
stance Of the kind believe that has occur
red in our Territory. 1t was, however, an
appropriate close of the laborS Of House
where disorder was the rule, order the ex-
ceptien; where the gagla was applied iu
the cry Of question question !" from the
tbroats of brazen impudehce; where person
alites and yulgarity were tolerated in de-
bate, aud where politeneSs had no abode.
The conduct Of the two members before al
luded to, has been attributed to the fact,
that they wished to defeat certain bill
for compensating Messrs. Moses and Walk
er for services rendered in preparing pa
pers in reference to our war debt; but be
that as it may, the people will hold them
responsible for the manner in which the
House adjourned Upon adjournment,
then commenced breaking up Of chairs,
&c, that would have disgraced bar-room
fight, and in which it is said certain hon
orable member from Pierce bore q conSpic-
uous part.
/ would ask Mr.. Orion if the Council is
responsible for the neglect of certain
officers of the House to do their duty
or for the conduct Of Mess:s. Chapman and
Short? which, in my opinion, contributed
more than anything else to cause the
House to adjourn without u quorum. |
believe the people will sec the matter in its
true light, and correct the abuse at the
next election. From limited knowledge
of jefferson, have been led TO infer that
each House is bound to preserve its own
dignity and decorum, and have therefore
come to the conclusion, that an orderly
Council is not required to humor the disor-
ganizing spirit Of factious aud unruly
House, like the one which has recently ad.
jourued, and which has earned the unenvi-
able reputation Of being the most disorder.
ly one that ever convened in Olympia.
Mr.. Orion having brought before the
pnbIic certain distinguished gentlemen, by
almdipg in the most ilattering manner to
certain glorious events in their legislative
career, propose therefor to make few
comments on the same subject,