Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-11-21
ThanksRiyine.

i
. of the President setting apart Thursday, the
goth inst, as day Of National thanksgiving
and prayer. We earnestly adjoin upon our
people the observance of this request of the
President, that We may unitedly return
thanks to Him who has 90 abundantly
blessed us as nation during the past event
full year. In the language of the Proclama.
ton: :" No human council hath devised, nor
hath any mortal hand worked out, these
great things. They are the precious
gifts Of the Most High God, who, while
dealing with us in anger for our sins. las
nevertheless remembered mercy" Well
may we, then, as people. engage with heart
fit thankfulness, in the worship Of the Most
High. on that day. AS nation, our glorious
cause Of freedom has achieved a standing aud
pcrmanence which leave no doubt of future
greatness and perpetuity. and as individuals
representing the constituent parts of the
great fabric Of popular government, we can
thanks to an overriding Providence. Let
each patriotic heart review the glorious train
Of victories to our arms, the strong-points Of
rebellion captured and held, the almost mirac-
ulous results Of the past few months cam
paign. and 60 forth iu unrestrained thanks.
and praise.
While the joy of many a household nearer
the scene Of conflict may be darkened by the
loss of dear ones upon the CORY field, We have
no such sadness to mingle will, our praise.
The dark form Of civil war has not made its
appearance in our midst, nor has necessity,
thus far. demanded that any Of our citizens
should 60 forth to engage in the conflict in
which they are SO ready to yield their all
their fortunes and their lives. Peace and
plenty has been our portion. while the mach.
nations of traitors in our midst have come to
naught. The earth has yielded her richer
treasures in profusion, and our harvests have
been garnered in safety. No calamity has
been visited upon us which we are not able
to bear, and countless blessings have been
our lot.
Let us, then, on Thursday next, engage as
becomes highly favored people in the wor-
ship OF the Almighty Ruler who holds the
destiny Of nations in His hand.
| .s.-
IMPORTANT DECISION. - Tho following
Litter from Commissioner Lewis. of import
ance to shippers and others doing business
with British Columbia, we take from the Or
cgonian. 1t will be observed that in the
opinion Of the Commissioner, stamp duties
imposed by schedule b on manifests. bills Of
l"ding and passage tickets. apply to all ves-
sells plying between the ports Of the Uni
ted States and the ports Of British Column
bia":
TREASURY DEPARTMENT., }
OFFICE OF INTERNAL REVENUE,
Washington, Sept. 18th, 1868.
Sir: BY proviso of the 10th section of
the Excise Law, Schedule b. stamp duties
imposed by the schedule on manifests, bills,
Of lading and passage tickets, shall not apply
to steamboats, or other vessels plying between
ports of the United States and ports in Brit.
was made in order to avoid any collision be-
tween the pTONisiOuS III tH0 CACIse Law anu
tho conditions of the Reciprocity treaty. BY
the regulations Of the Treasury Department,
it is ruled that Hudson's Bay Company or
Prince Rupert's Land is not comprehended
among tho provinces or colonies referred to
in the treaty. This, think. is sound con-
struction of the treaty, and the law Of Con-
gress is to be so interpreted as to operate
consistently with that treaty, but not to in
tcrfere with the Excise law any further than
the stipulations Of the treaty require.
Although the territory formerly held by
the Hudsons Bay Company is now known
as British Columbia, and is a part Of the
British Possessions of North America, yet at
the time Of the Reciprocity treaty being con-
cluded, It was certainly not considered as
part Of British North America. The fact Of
its not having since become province Of the
British Government does not affect the opera.
ton Of tho treaty. or give It a greater extent
than il had before. In my opinion, therefore.
stamp duties imposed by Schedule B, on the
mauifesta, bills Of lading and passage tickets,
apply to all vessels plying between the ports
Of the United States and the ports Of British
Columbia. Very Respectfully,
JOSEPH j. LEWIS,
Commissioner.
JERRY w. SULLIVAN. - This gentleman
has again favored US with huge package Of
the latest Ea 'tern papers and pictorials,
among which we find the N. Y. Msssrated
A..rs H,~u>.p. IJ..LI,, en1 E~n~L I..1:.Ss