Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-10-05

Executiutiye Chamber,
Olympia, Sept. 8, 1861.
A. j. LssTssoe sSd Lexis SoAss,
Esg's-Gentleman :-Hsving just en-
tered upon the duties Of SeeFetasy fDr
this Territory, md teing unexpectedly
clothed with, and Surrounded by the
duties, and responsibilities ofGovesnor.
aud NOT being very familiar with your
statutes, local interests aud local Prtju-
dice-, | feel much embarrassment on
acc.,unt VI the question: presented in
your communication of the 9th. handed
10 me ou Saturday the 9Th instant
Yet, being uninfuenced either by fear.
favor, ar affection. by n,alice. hatred or
iIl-wi!I. or by any of he most renn'e
pecuniary considerations, and my sole
Object Icing To discharge all my duties
with fidelity and imrartialify. ] shall
state plainly the convictions If n,y
mind ro.ldccd by thorough eobsisi-
Grafton of that question. ! shall do
this. Lowever. without following YOU
through. the whole Of your very lengthy
argumc..t.
Thee first | remark. before leav-
ing the States. l learned your Capitol
had been removed to Vancouver. On
rea hing the Territory. however, j
failed io find it at that place. Conse-
qucntly had TO come 10 this point to
enter upon the duties Of my office.
Had | found the Capitol at Vancouver.
i certainly should have stopped there.
but not finding it there, is it Il part of
y Scs..,snrx. IF fi,,- Tnprlfnrx
or Acting Governor, 10 remove thiiher:
This is big questionable question
in which you and your constituents,
and the citizens ofthis place feel deeply
interested. 1t is one ofthose questions
which always excite intercst-somc-
times warmth; therefore l am the less
surprised ut your failing to be entirely
cool, and ut your criticism, which l
think severe, on the action OF my pre-
dccessor, which was in my judgement
guided alone by his convictions Of right.
In speaking of Governor McGill's
course in relation to the Territorial Ii
brary, you say, your continents ere
gard this act as a high handed usurpa-
ton ofpower i'll matter over which
he had no control in any manner"
You also say -" There was no law of
Congress that gave the Governor any
control over the place where the Library |
should be kept" &c. Tit be true that
Gov. McGill had no legal authority for
his course, in controlling the Librarian,
where would find authority for d.
recting that officer? l ask the ques-
ton seriously not facetiously.
But suppose I had a legal right to or
der all the Federal Apprentices to Van
couver, and power to compel obedience,
would it he morally right, under the
circumstances, which surround us Ma
t:onalv and Territorialy to exercise
such power now? | think not. Our
Government, although tho best ever
made by man, is assaied from without,
and from within, by Rebels and Trail
tors, and Treason sympathers, who arc
trying to ruin it, because they cannot
continue to rule it Therefore from ne
cessity, and and in defense of our Clio.
rious Constitution and laws founded
thereon, the administration has had to
increase our National debt millions OF
dollars. Under these circumstances
should not all loyal patriotic citizens be
as careful of public assets, placed under
their control, as Of the private property
they possess. l think they should.
And the government having already
furnished comfortable Capitol, it |
ought not to he asked now to rent an
other. We should not in times like
these, ask the Government for single |
dollar, which is not essentially necessary.
1t has need of all its resources to put
down the unhaliowcd rebellion and to
recover from the frauds and populations
of the Buchanans, the Cobbs, and the
Floyds, who depleted its treasury.
True you promise, and l doubt
not would furnish funds to remove the |
public property to Vancouver; but re-
lection has satisfied me have no right,
as public officer, to receive contribu- |
tons for any such purpose. And l |
have been unable to find any law con-
ferring any such authority. But if we
had funds. legally raised and on hand
10 defray the expenses of removal,
there is not now time to remove, and
get things ready by the meeting Of the
next Legislature. Besides this whole
question has been referred to the pro-
per department ut Washington City,
both by my immediate predecessor,
Cox. McGill. AID myself, aud l hope
soon Ia be able to report the decision
thereon. Governor McGill, havii.g
adopted this course, and he having been
here during the tendency If the