, 1864-12-09
Lewiston CORRESPONDENCE.


LEWISTON Dec Sd, 1864.
EDS STATESMAN The society of Lewiston at
the present writing consists of members of the
Legislature (insders and outsiders) doubtful
characters, in fact almost every conceivable
shade is represented usually found in a new
mining region. The "Lobby" is well repre-
sented by ''knowing ones,' Amateur wire
pullers and political leeches generally, who
seem to find an inexhaustible fund of amuse-
ment in listening to the reading and rehearsing
of long, tedious and excessively dry Franchises,
with which both Clerks desks are fairly over
loaded. Your correspondent counted nine
Franchises (for toll roads, principally which
were under consideration in one House at the
same sitting, mostly for the Boise region, and
some three or four terminating in Boise City,
the reputed future Capitol of Idaho.
The much mooted question as to whether a
Territorial Legislature meets as q dignifed, de-
Lucrative body, from which Laws are expected
to emanate for the protection and benefit of the
many, or whether they simply convene for the
purpose of granting exclusive licenses to the fa-
yorite few to plunder the masses indiscrmi-
nately, will, we fear, find no solution favorable
to the first proposition this session in Idaho
True, some bills of public character have been
considered but their number is few, compara-
lively speaking.
The all absorbing question of removing the
Capitol is virtually decided, the Bill being on
mitted of course four to three. The signature
of the Governor, however, is not so certain, and
so far neither the "Southerns' nor "Northerns"
with all their ingenuity have been able to OBJ
tain so much as a smile of assent or a sign of
dissent ''pro" "con" made with reference
thereto.
A Memorial to divide the Territory upon the
following lines introduced in the Council
upon Wednesday last, and upon which lively
debate ensued The proposition set forth, was
namely, follows:
Commencing at the southeast corner of Mon
tana and following the line of "A 3O/ west to the
Oregon line, thence along the said line to Snake
River, thence down Snake River to a point half
mile above Umatilla Landing, thence directly
North to the 49th parallel thence along said
parallel to the North Western corner of MOnta-
ma, and thence southeast along the divide and
present dividing line of Montana and Idaho to
the place of beginning. Thus you see you came
near being gobbled up without saying even so
much as "by your leave" had not the Boise
delegation stepped in and saved you by casting
the 'ineyitable four" votes against it, That
re-divisiOn must sooner or later take place in
Idaho no one who has taken the trouble to look
at the subject for moment will doubt. But
that the proposed lines would meet with the full
appreciation of the people Of either section, is
not so certain. So far however, as your cor
respondent can discern, had the aforesaid Me-
mortal passed and met with favorable cOnsid-
GRAFTON in Congress, Walla Walla would inevi-
tably have been the Capitol, and she might have
ornamented one side of the Capitol square with
that wandering Branch Mint, into the bargain.
OF the division, however, more anon.
A Memorial has passed the Council, praying
for the location of the Branch Mint in the Boise
Basin, 1. e., Boise City, which is about the only
place recognized by this Legislature upon the
maps of the Pacific slope, with perhaps the ex-
cepton of "Corvallis" and "Je-wholopin
Plains. We see no way to arrange this mat
ter with the Government in its present supposed
dilemma unless it should offer premium for
the best Yankee invention in that line which
might be so compressed to be carried in the
breeches pocket of the Superintendent --
without inconveniencing that biped
By this means every community could be
gratifed, every quartz mill supplied, and a
Branch Mint located at the tail of every sluice
box in the mountain districts.
1t is understood that Portland Merchants
with more money than brains) have feed a
young and aspiring politician of Idaho, to lob
by Memorial through the Legislature, praying
sever praying that this convenient institution
may be located somewhere beneath Italian skies
that ever smile down upon the valley of ''the
Walamit" Upon the other hand the Dales
merchants with (perhaps) more brains than
money commissioned the irrepressble "Treyitt'
to visit this locality, post haste, at his own ex-
pense, and enter protest against any
Legislation in Idaho for Oregon. Thus the
matter stands in statu guo at this writing.
/ rumor is current upon the streets that Gov.
Lyon will call extra session, but S undoubt-
edly without the slightest foundation in fact.
Since writing the above the Capitol Bill has
been taken from the table and finally passed
both Houses, awaiting only the signature of His
Excellency to become fiat acompH. Boise is
! iubilant The only cid attache of the Assem-
| bly, from that District, whose absence is sincere
/ ly regretted is 'Dash" "Poor fellow How
he would have manipulated his caudal appen-
dage at his masters irrepressible emotions of
delight. "-Ttppsr. INDEX.