Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-08-31
.Tell tie xruth," &c.


one or two statements in his article OF
the 22d inst, OH the Capital question,
in which he has unlntentionally, no
doubt, departed from his laudablc pur-
pose Of "tclling the truth" In allud-
ing to the provision of the organic act
our friend States that, in addition to
the authority vested in the Legislature
to change the Seat of Government
that body is empowered "to locate ii
permanently at some Other place." Now
the words italicised are not to be found
in the act to which he referred.
lie further states that "with regard
to site for the Capitol, we are ill.,
formedthat the Government has good
and valid title, approved by the depart
ment at Washington, to as handsome a
site in this city, as there is in this Ter
ritory, which has been cleared Oft, and
there is now large quantity of valua-
bic building stone upon the ground
The impression intended to be con-
vcycd by this very ingenious statement
is. that the site referred to was selected
for the Capitol building. tits scarcely
necessary to say that such is not the
fact. The land at Vancouver the title
to which has been approved by the At
torney General, was selected aud dona-
ted as site for the Pcnitentiary, and
the stone was purchased for the toun-
dation of that building.
Again, our friend contends "that
the Legislature by the act entitled IAN
act to permanently locate the Seat of
Government for the Territory of Wash
incton,' which declares that from and
after the passage of this act the Seat of
Government for the Territory of Wash
ington shall be and remain at the city
of Vancouver, in Clark county, did
make the change they were !:y the or
ganic act authorized to make, and did
permanently locate the Seat of Govern
ment. In other words, the organic act
contemplates temporary location,
which was made at Olympia, and a
change and permanent location which
were done by the act of last winter"
Now we contend" that although the
organize act contemplated" a change, yet
whether change should or should not
be made was entirely optional with the
Legislature. The temporary location
was made by the act of January 10,
1856, and the Legislature, not deeming
q change expedient, by the act of JAN
uary s, 1858, directed the Commission
crs elected to "superintcnd the erection
of the permanent building to proceed to
locate said Capitol building at Olympia,
upon the ten acres of land now
occupied by the temporary Capitol
building" Could palmer language
be used to express the intent of the
Legislature that the location made by
the latter act should be the permanent
one? This act was passed in order
that appropriation of $50, 1000, made by
Congress some time before, for the
erection of a permanent Capitol might
be at once expended for that purpose.
Upon the passage of this act, therefore,
to use the words of the Chronicle, the
Legislature "did make the change they
were by the organic act authorized to
make, and did locate the Seat of Gov
ernment," and such, we have no doubt,
will be the decision of the proper de-
partment.
Now We suggest to our friend that
we await patiently the decision Of the
proper authorities. The discussion of
the matter cannot but widen the breach
existing between two rival sections Of
our Territory; bat, as We have already
said, we consider it our duty to expose
the partial and unfair judgments passed
by the Chronicle upoa questions in
which the people are so deeply inter
ested. Had the Chronicle published
the plain truth,-nothing more or less,
we should have no cause for CON-
plant. Az the matter stands we must
still admonish our friend to "Tell the
Truth and Shame the Devil"
CoxPLIxESrARY.-The press on the
Sound ara n INIT in commendin0 late