, 1863-01-10
THE WASHINGTON STATESMAN.
SATURDAY MORNING, JAN. 10, 1862
Editorial Correspondence.
OLYMPIA, Dec. 24tA, Is

DObh AAONoN9 VI IiAS AAC6 AoAUIA'S AAooNAAi
bly, adjourned yesterday until the Sd of
January. Comparatively little practical
legislation has thus far been accomplished,
although quite a liberal number of bills
have been introduced into both houses
Several memorials have passed, and will be
sent forward to Washington without de-
lay. The memorials passed at this session
relate mainly to the establishments of post
routes in different parts of the Territory,
and to the extension of the public surveys.
Among the most important of the memo
rials for post routes was that introduced by
Mr.. Moore praying for the establishment
of mail line from Walla Walla to Salt
Lake city, via Powder river and Boise
mines and Fort Hall. 1t is to be hoped
the Government will lose no time in re-
spending to this memorial, as the demand
for mail service on the route contemplated
is already apparent, although not so great
as it will be another season. The memo
rial to the Postmaster General for an in
crease to tri-weekly coach service from
Dalles to Walla Walla, also passed. House
bill authorizing the city Council of Walla
Walla to levy an extra tax for the purpose
of removing Instructions to cross streets,
passed both houses before the adjourn
ment. A bill introduced by Mr. Yantis,
of Spokane county, creating and organizing
the county of Stevens, has passed the
House. The new county composes nearly
all that part of Walla Walla county lying
north of the Columbia river, commencing
at point where the 10th parallel crosses
the Columbia river, and runs thence west
with said parallel to the summit of the
Cascade mountains, thence south with the
summit to the Wenatchee river, thence
down said river to the Columbia and place
of beginning. 1t is estimated there are
about six hundred people within the limits
of the new county, and that the popula-
ton, owing to its gold mines, will rapidly
increase. Several divorce bills have been
introduced into the House and .unceremo-
niously laid on the table, where they will
probably remain. One has passed the
Council, but 1 judge from the disposition
already manifest, it will fail in the lower
house. A majority of the members are
opposed to opening the door even by the
passage of a meritorious bill, for when one
is passed, every man who has a bill of this
character-and they are as numerous as
ever-claims its passage for the same mer-
itorious reasons and it is impossible to
make any distinctions upon the meage1 in
formation submitted. l therefore hope the
House will maintain the stand 1t has taken
and refuse to pass any and all divorce bills.
A Joint Committee of both houses has
been appointed, consisting of McFadden
and Hubbs, of the Council and Potter,
Smith and Hubbs, of the House,-for the
purpose of revising and codifying the laws
of the Territory, commencing with the first
session. The committee is authorized to
employ two clerks, and provision has been
made for their payment out of Territorial
funds. The committee are already at work,
but fear that the shortness of the time al
lowed for so great work will not enable
them to do Justice to it. They are expect
ed to report in time to admit of action up
on the subject before the session Closes
In case anything definite is accom- plished,
provision will be made for the printing of
the revised volume.
In the Erening Bulletin received here
last night, the following rather surprising
news item appears 'Hon. Mr.. Kellogg,
of Illinois, introduced into Congress a res
olution, which was adopted instructing the
committee on Territories to enquire into
the expediency of organizing a new Dis
trict out of the Salmon river mining coun-
try" We are at loss to understand by
the language of the resolution exactly
what it means; but considering the rela-
tions existing between the honorable mem
Der from Illinois-who is, believe, chair
man of the committee on Territories-and
certain gentlemen of Olympia who have
been actively pressing the question Of
division for the past six months, we are led
to believe that in the above resolution the
word district means territory. This con-
clusion is warranted also by the fact that
precisely the same line of division advoca-
ted by these Olympia gentlemen is proposed
by the member from Illinois, which line in
cludes Walla Walla county in the old ter
ritory, making Snake river at Lewiston the
boundary
There is a small band of conspirators
here in Olympia, mostly confined l judge
to government officials, who have for seve-
raj months most industriously employed
themselves to secure a division of the Ter
ritory upon the lines above indicated. They
expect the present Congress to act upon the
matter; and so confident are they of fa-
vorable result, that am told one of them
made public declaration the other day on
the street, that we would get the news of
division of the Territory in less than sixty
davs 7 nndersfand that Wallace's servi-