Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-02-21
Division CT the Territory.

Editor STANDARD:
Division of the Territory SCENE to be sub
jject OF interest now before the people. l pro-
pose to mako few practical remarks upon it..
showing it's necessity. Passing over the ex-
tent of the Territory which may naturally be
subject of remark; for it contains three
times as many square miles, as the whole Of
New England, four times as many as the State
of New York or Pennsylvania. Stretching as
it does near two thousand miles from the ex.
treme point of Cape Flattery to the most
disan South Eastern limit. One Capital
for country con tanning SO many square
miles is inconvenent. 1t is almost inacces-
sible to those portions five, six, Or eight hun
dred miles distant. The citizens of the coun-
ty of Boise, for instance. would find it very
inconvenient, if not impossible to transact
business with the territorial officers at Olym-
pa Distance and expense will preclude the
more remote sections from personal commu-
nication with tho capital however important
that communication may be. but it is not
upon this view of my subject that propose
to dwell; but wish to take one Of more
practicle and vital nature. l refer to the con-
i!ict of interest between the country East
kand West OF the Cascade Range, The coun-
Try East and West Of this rangeis SUI gcncris.
! Each has its own peculiar interest. In tho
Eastern portion, the mining interest predomi
bates, all other interests are tributary to ii.
lit moves the pulse and vital current of that
country. In the Territory West ofthe noun
tains the interest is for the most part agricul-
tural and numbering. Here the monied re-
sources are measer and seldom available
There though meager, are available. There
fees and revenues must be larger to meet the
current expenses of the country. Here the
wages and other resources being smaller and
outgoes being less, the revenue or taxes should
b. less. There, as in all mining countries,
views and feelings upon pecuniary matters
will be more eXtravagant. One section will
be a fast country, the other a slow one. The
one section will lrgislate with an eye TO ex
travagance, the other with an eye to economy.
The laws that would be adapted TO one section
would work hardship to thy other. One
section will require laws ola stringent char
of liberal and lenient character, for its popu-
lation is permanent and poor. Hence there
will be Il conflict both il the views OF legisla-
tors, and in the application OF the laws. and
this conflict cannot be Obviatcd without en-
trusting Il great discretionary power 10 the
county commissioners, or sore other county
officer, Or officers, which would give an oppor-
tunity for malfeasanco o, Wholesale robbery
in the line of taxation, and even this adap!a-
ton Or local provision might be extended as n
matter of courtesy by the majority to the mi
nority. Any one who reflects upon this mat
ter cannot fail to see marked difference in
the laws which would be adapted to the two
sections Of country. This difference l con-
slider good and substantial reason for d-
vision Of the Territory. 1t is important to
this section of country, that this division be
made at the earliest possible period. Recent
accessions to the population East of the noun
tains has greatly increased that vote. Already
its vote is over fourteen hundred greater than
the vote Oh this silo of the mountains, next
year it will more than double it. The time
is near at hand when that section will over
rule this This present year it would do it, if
the apportionment bill had passed. Its sway
is stayed for short time only. 1t will come;
if the Territory is not divided. it is inevitable.
1t may come with unqualified severity, deny
ing to us even local provisions favoring this
section of country. if so we will feel it sensibly
in our own pockets. We will see it in the
sacrifice Of property at forced sales aud in the
general embarrassment ofthe whole conn,l-
nifty. Il. Ii.
BAKERS PARIRlE, Feb. 10Th, 1863.