, 1863-02-07
Divisional Voice From Idaho.

WIlI6I, d4I6I uSulOI4Su4AS INC OOSh VH@V H@S
appeared from time to time in that paper on
the division subject, invites the editor to
come out with his reasons, showing why
Washington Territory should be divided:
FLORENCE, Jan. 10th, 1868.
ga qrestion at the present time is agita-
ting the citizens of our Territory which is
Of common and universal interest, to-wit:
A division of our Territorial Domain, shar-
ing an equal interest with Lewiston, and
as you invite correspondence of expression
through your columns, we venture accord
ingly. In your Editorial of Dec. 25th,
you ask some questions, and make in con-
nection with resolutions and memorial to
Congress, many broad assertions. We
propose to notice the substance and ques-
tionable virtue of the articles above referred
to-
lst. As plea of justification for divis-
ion, you represent to Congress your great
distance from Olympia, hazardous route
thereto, and the necessity of passing
through an organized State. Like causes
produce the same effect. If any of these
causes would separate our Territory, the
same would make division of Oregon,
California, as we'll as the Government of the
U. S. Apply it in our case and you can
not exclude it in theirs. The counties of
Wasco and Baker in Oregon, in connection
with more than half the whole area of the
State are situated east of the Cascade
range Our pass to Olympia is theirs to
Salem The counties of Coos, Curry, Jc
sephine, &C., lie west of the coast range,
and contain an area larger than some of
our eastern States. There are many coun-
ties in California, the average distance Of
which from Sacramento is over 500 miles,
each embracing more Territory than seve-
raj of our States, some of which are sepa-
rated from the Capital by high mountain
ranges Suffice to name one-Mono, is
east of the Sierra Nevadas If distance,
natural barriers, fatigue and danger of
route will be sufficient cause for Congress
to grant separation, the same principle and
reasons ough to grant a Pacific or some
other Republic, the summit of the Rocky
mountains being the boundary line over
which our Federal officers must pass or
take the isthmus route which traverses an
organized nation. 1t is true we are a long
distance from the present location Of the
Capital, but our government makes ample
appropriation to pay travelling expenses of
the members Of our Legislature. We
have travelled it entire. The allowance is
sufficient. AS to passing through an or
ganized State, (you touch its 5order) being
a grievance is sounding news that makes
the ears of your readers ''tingle" and their
sides swell with laughter. If the Orego-
mans have abused or mistreated any Off
cials of our Territory, it is not known in
Idaho county.
2nd. In your petition to the Legisla-
ture, you represent that 1--WE the people of
the eastern portion of Washington Terri
tory" 1t is a natural conclusion to say this
embraces the entire population. Our pros
perity is your accumulation, our misfortune
in spite of you enters your door, then do
US not an injury by misre representation (not
intentional) to those in whom we have vest
ed power, and whose acts may reflect on
their constituency lasting, immovable
detriment
3rd Your resolutions inform us that
there are 10000 or $4,000 inhabitants in
the proposed Territory This may sound
well abroad, but until you show the figures
and name the localities whose aggregate
make that number, we must differ with
your estimate We hope the hidden and
undeveloped resources of Washington Ter
ritory, will justify the immigration you
predict.
4th. That you make gross mistake in
saying we have but one-ffth of the repre-
sentation in our Legislative Assembly, you
can easily ascertain by reference to session
acts of 1862, page 81. If the last ap-
portionment oil did not give us what we
were entitled to, it is only an evil of To-
cal and political character Such has and
does occur in every State in the Union.
9TH. In your memorial to Congress
"we have no courts of justice within 100
miles, nor no authorized local government
existing" This is a lamentable state of
affairs. Remarkable condition Some of
your readers are we'll acquainted with the
fact of County officers being elected in Ju-
ly 1862, in the county of Shoshone. Lew
iston was then in said county, Since that
time other counties have been organized
which placed you in Nez Perces. Under
the change, which did not effect civil au-
thority, at your annual election, you by
popular voice chose all your county Off
cials, and now you publish to the world
that you are 100 miles from justice. and
without local authorities. If such is the
fact, it is no fault of our domestic institu-
tons, but you are culpable, and rightly de-
serve the punishment existing under such
a State of affairs.
9th. "How can the Legislature of this
Territory, which sits only once year, and
then only sixty days, &C." No part of
State or Territorial economy is more highly
appreciated, than short legislation with
brief and comprehensive laws. Where
law-making power meets and often holds
long sessions. the influence instead of pro-
wing harmonious and salutary is discord
and detriment If Territorial enactments
whose origin is on Puget Sound, are not
effective in Lewiston and in the Bitter Root
mountains, they would be equally futile
with their fountain head anywhere this
side the Cascade range. The fundamental
principle Of our law. find root in Justice
and honesty. The intercourse between in
dividuals, seeks and flows in the same chan
mel and in any state of affairs that may ex-
ist to the contrary, is traceable to an abuse
of these unchangable tenets 1t is often
the case, that the shadow Of their virtue
enters largely into the sentiments of a COM
munity, generating strife murderous to pri-
vate and public prosperity, while the real
substance would ameliorate and obviate
endless and withering confusion. We are
aware of, and appreciate the mineral
wealth of the mountains, but to dissent
nate the idea they present the groupings of
rubies at every step and slope. and that