Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-02-09

lativc to paying James Lodge for cer-
tain services, also the Council Bill rel
ativc to collection of taxes in Thurs
ton county. This bill makes the shcr-
if, cr-oGcio, collector of taxes.
The Council refused to pass Mr..
Burbank bill amendatory to the mar
riagc law. Then adjourned.
Political Speaking at tho Capitol. ..0ur Ma.
tional Difficulties.
We freely give place to the following
communication rs the individual opin-
ions of one of our most talented and
consistent fcllow-citizens, but we Gisap-
prove the sentiment of "Lct the Union
slide," under any and every phase it
may be presented. Our motto is, The
Union first, last, all the fme-bidc the
good time coming. Truth must ulti-
matcly triumph over error. Freedom
and free institutions will yet be the
guidc-starc of American empire, and in
the mean time let lis patriotically adj
vance our standard, emblazoncd there
on those words of living fire, uttered
by the immortal Webster, "Union and
liberty--now and forcvcr-onc and in
scparablc."
Ed. STANDARD: Having listened to
the political speaking at the Capitol,
on the evening of the 23d ult., | feel
impcllcd to make Il few remarks in re-
lation to some of the points maintained,
and also concerning the present crisis
in our national affairs.
] was forcibly reminded of the ab-
surdity of attempting to reconcile posi-
tons that are, in their nature, irrecon-
cilablc and amtagonistic-sucha as blend
ing the claw of force" with the "rights
of naturc:" the inherent and reserved
rights of the individual, with the power
Of legislation to invade and outrage
such reserved rights, andwhich, by uni
vcrsal consent, is the object Of legisla-
ton to defend.
Had the speaker, Mr.. Garfieldc, adj
hercd to his pledge made ut tho COM
mcnccmcnt Of his speech, "not to say
anything unpleasant to either Demo
cat or Republican" no exception would
have been taken. But, when those
guilty of "ctcrnal agitation on the
slavery question" us some Republicans,
at least, have been, honestly believing
that agitation is the handmaid Of prog
rcss and reform, are classcd with disun-
ionis.s, no apology is needed for the
following structures.
In relation to the clause of the Con-
stitution making it the duty of Congress
"to dispose of and make all ncedful
rules and regulations respecting the
territory and other property of the Uni
ted Statcs," he contendcd that Congress
was limited to tho making Of rllcs and
regulations for the disposal of tho soil
merely. In short, the unanimous judg-
ment of every administration from
Washington down to Polk, that Con-
gross has the power of legislation gen.
orally for the Territories was secuted,
and the subtcrfuge Of Stephen A.
Douglas invented and put forth as a
bid for Southern support, substituted
in its stead. What good is to be Sc
cured rchcarsing an issue that after a
discussion of six years has been con-
dcmned in both sections of the Union
by the very section it was intended to
serve, is more than l can see.
Towards the Breckenridge wing OF
the Democracy much sympathy was
manifested. Property in slaves was
emphatically declared to be capital,
as money, or any other property was
capital :" but they were met by the i'm.
posing question that IF the people OF
a Territory, in their Territorial capac-
ity, have no right to prevent the intro
daction of slaves, how can it be pre-
vented after the Territory becomes q
State?'' The speaker had never heard
the question answered, and was utterly
unable to answer it himself.
The above is q fair example OF the
Popular Sovereignty mode OF explain
ing difficulties. Not straw would he
place in the way Of the South securing
their Constitutional rights; but alas,
that could only be done by converting
all the free States into slave States at
the pleasure of the southern slavchol'
dcrs! In this dilemma, resource was
to be had only in Popular Sovereignty,
which meant simply the rights Of Ma
turc, which existed prior to all constitu-