Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-09-19
SATURDAY MORNING, SEPT. 10, 1863.
The Restoration of Our Trade with British
Columbia.

The Restoration of Our Trade with British
Columbia.
1t will be seen by reference to tho tclc-
graphic dispatches we publish to-day, that
the President has ovcr-rucd the decision of
the Acting Secretary of the Treasury, and
has ordered repeal of so much of the order
of November last as prevents the export of
live stock from the Pacific coast. There can
be no mistake about this, for we find the re-
ccption of the order announced in the San
Francisco Bulletin of Sept. 18th, over the sig
nature of the Collector of that port. 1t will
be joyful news to the farmers of Oregon and
Washington, who were beginning to con-
clude, after the publication of the letter to
the Collector of Port Angeles from the Act
ing Secretary Of the Treasury, saying, " that
in view of things on the Pacific coast, it is
not deemed expedient, at present, to suspend
or modify the ordcr;" that it would be con-
tinued indefinitely. We did not, however,
believe the President would refuse to rcscind
the order, and in our notice of the letter last
week, We expressed the confident opinion
that the decision of the Secretary would be
Over-rulcd by the President, and it is very
gratifying that our prediction has so soon
been realized.
Our people are under great obligations to
the Government officials of Olympia for the
part they have taken in calling the special
attention of the President to the oppressive
character of the order, and in urging upon
him its modification. But for this timely in
reference on their part, it is more than
probable it would not have been repealed for
months to come, if at all. We make this
allusion to those gentlemen for the reason
that much has been said by those who re-
fused their signatures to the letter addressed
to the President, urging among other objec-
tions, that it was an impcrtincnt intcrfcr-
ence with the action of the Government, and
their course has likewise been severely criti-
cisedby Victor Smith and his friends, as in in
fringement upon the duties belonging to the
Collectors of the Revenue.
1t is evident from what has transpircd dur
ing the past year, and more especially the
past six months, that disposition exists in
the Treasury Department, to retalate upon
this Territory for the peoples refusal to en-
dorse their favoritc, Collector Smith. 1t is
manifested in the tone of the letter to Smith,
declining to rescind the order, that they did
not intend to ever call the attention of the
President to it; and there is nothing in the
letter to justify the conclusion that Smith
recommended its repeal. On the contrary,
it is reasonable to infer that the state of
things referred to by the Secretary as justify
ing his refusal to rcscind the order, was
suggested by Smith. 1t is very certain that
nothing existed ON this coast then, that does
not exist now, to justify suspension of our
trade with British Columbia. We would
Ike to see Victor's letter to the Secretary,
and if we have done him injustice, we will
make amends for it. We think the facts, as
far as they have transpired, Justify the con-
clusion that, but for the active and efficient
interference of our officials, in calling the at
tention of the President to this unnecessary
and very oppressive order, it would not have
been rescind,d.
This is not the first time the President has
interposed to redress our wrongs; but his
good intentions have been thwarted, at least
in one important instance, by the "diplomatic
management" Of his subordinates and the
man. who was indicted by the unanimous
verdict Of grand jury for embezzlement,
and who wosld have been convicted, had not
the case been arbitrarily taken out of court
by an order from the Treasury Department,
il still retained in Office to insult and out
rage the good citizens of our Territory ;
and that, too, after the President had, on the
9th day of May last, peremptorily ordered
his removal.
The only doubt that can now hang owe,
the restoration of our trade with British Col
umbia, is. the fear that the Treasury Depart.
ment may take the responsibility of nullify.
ing the order Of the President.
Union CONVENTION IN IDAHo.-The Agt
publishes call for Union Convention ia
nominate candidate for Congress to meet al
the Mountain House, IS miles above Lewis.
ton, Sept. 2Sth.
~ Superintendent Hale, and family re.
tanned from San Francisco Monday last.