, 1861-05-02

Itol Commissioners, stating that he has not re.
ceived the plans and specifications for the erec-
tion Of the Capitol buildings, but will furnish
them as soon as received. lie assured the Board
that he will aid them to the extent Of his ability
in the discharge Of their duties
By the above paragraph, which we take from
the ChrOniee Of the 18th ult il will be seen that
the people OF Vancouver are eager 10 get hold Of
the money appropriated by Congress for the
erection Of the Capitol, and their eagerness is
but natural. The amount already appropriated,
with such additional sutis as are looked for to
complete the contemplated structure, would be
q nice windfall, and we do not blame themi nor
would we blame the people Of any town in the
Territory. for desiring to have it expended in
their midst; but we must here enter our solemn
protest against the wilful squandering of this
money, without Sttaining the object for which
it is designed. We have good reason to believe
that the leading parties in the scheme concocted
by the last Legislature for the removal Of the
Capital, never for . moment contemplated its
permanent location at Vancouver; well knowing,
as they could not fail to know, that such removal
was neth' r in accordance with the wishes Of
'hlr constituents, nor with right and justice as
they relate 10 such matters as seats Of govern.
ment Let this question be made the issue at
the ensuing election, in this and other counties
on the Sound, and we have no hesitation in saying
that the candidates pledged to removal will be
Overwhelmingly defeated.
The superior claims Of the Sound to the Cap
tAl have been fully and ably set forth by our
contemporaries, and Il would therefore be suptr
auOus on our part to attempt TO strengthen the
grounds taken BY them against the removal to
the Columbia River. We are still Of the opin-
ion, however, that the Act passed by the last
Legislature, for the removal Of the Capital, Is not
valid lacking, as it docs, the vital feature Of
law. Judge Strong has placed Il in as favorable
light Is pOssibl,, and yet be has failed to con.
vince us Of its validity. His most tenable posi-
tiOn is the fact that there is another Act in our
statutes in precisely the same shape as this Cap
ital Act-withOut enActing clause or date-the
validity Of which has never been questioned.
From this be argues that the Capital Act must
be perfect-must be valid. With as much rea.
son and sense be might insist that two wrongs
make right; or that two inuuIid Acts should
govern two hundred Ualid statutes Of the same
commonwealth. This line Of argument does not
carry conviction to sane minds. We regard this
as case in which general custom should rule
and, the general custom being to add the enact
ing clause, such laws as have Il omitted should
be imperative, ct least until succeeding Legs-
Iature correct the error. This rule is made the
guide Of an courts In equity cases, and is in
strict conformity to the common law as we have
been accustomed 10 lis dispensatiOn. But We
did not set out 10 discuss law with Judae Strong
We prefer to leave that duty 10 Judge McFadden.
on whom It more properly devoIves.
Our purpose in writing this article was simplv
70 urge : suspension Of further stems in tbserec.
ton Of the Capitol until Il Is permanently located
bv an irrepealable law N ths o,ss,sa of su.h 4.
law 'be pass;bls vh,.h :. s.-;0rsI,, o,,..,;o,,
v.noouv,r n.vs. -. 1. Z. - ~. - =
~. ana not t a ,onv ,;th am cOrs.n, m n. -,
n sove,oO,sD1 e. ~. .r,;,o,~ m. ,".,;,,.
vh;ch nromD,.d ~ r.,.s.. - ~. -, - y.
-. or's ~ sn,,. NJ ,,,.,;cs 80 =. - .,.
M ~, - n. ", ,.I,S ,-h;.s :. 80.
M. vo.,a 4. .,,Iss;.,'. -, ~. s.,,o~; 80
v,D..r a. ~ r.ns.l IN =, : = =
- .o'''' - '.'.' ~. ~ tne Dll
sppsops'.nng tne money iOr me erection q the
VAP''ol' e'a no. aesisnaie ne town In which that
money should % expended. lt would have dis
slPatea bone o. perpetual contention in the
terriiory. Our Legislature now have power 70
remove me capital every winter, II they see 81.