, 1865-01-20
Preamble and Resolutions.

The following preamble and resolutions were
passed at public meeting held at Lewiston on
the 7th instant, several days before the meeting
held, to consider Interpretations, in this city
WHEREAS, The Territory of Idaho was crea-
ted by Congress in March, 1868, and organized
by the arrival at lewiston in said Territory, of
Governor, Secretary and Marshal, who pro-
ceeded to temporarily locate the seat of Govern
ment at said Lewiston, and
WHEREAS, The first legislative assembly, du-
ly elected, assembled at said Lewiston, in pur-
suance Of the proclamation of said Governor,
and organized on the 18th day of December, 1868,
and held legal session of sixty days and enact
ed laws which became in force in said Territory,
and
WHEREAS Said legislative assembly enacted
an election law, providing for an election of all
officers authorized by the act creating said Ter
ritory, to be held on the first Monday of Sep
tember, 1864 including members of the legisla-
tive assembly, and making their term of office to
commence on the first Monday of January, 1865,
and
WHEREAS, During its session of 1864,
Congress passed an amendment to the act crea-
ting said Territory of Idaho, changing the time
of election fixed by the legislature of said Terri
tory fo: theyear 1864, from the first Monday in
October, but not changing the time of the COM
then elected, and,
WHEREAS, The term of service of the mem
bers of the lower House of the first legislative
assembly of said Territory, by the terms of the
act creating said Territory, was to continue one
gear, and,
WHEREAS, Their said term of service did not
expire till one year from the 7th day of Decem-
Der, l863 the date of their qualification as mem
bers and
WHEREAS Sundry persons claiming to have
been elected in October, 1864, met at Lewiston
on the l4th day of November, 1865, and assem-
bled to organize a legislative body, and to
pass laws, without the authority of law -makers;
one branch of which organized by the election
of all of their officers priorto taking their oath of
Office prescribed by law. and,
WHEREAS Said illegal assembly proceeded
[Here the Secretary has evidently omitted
some of the ,ohereases.
Therefore:
ResolUed, lst, That the President of the Uni
ted States be requested provide, forthwith, the
Territory of Idaho with an efficient Governor,
Secretary, Marshal, District Attorney and two
District Judges said officers to be appointed
from the citizens now resident in the Territory
who know our position and wants, and who will
administer our laws faithfully and impartaly
and not be the first to disobey them through
1ear, faYOr, caprice OF bribery.
ReSOlved, I'd, That the manner in which, and
the circumstances under which Governor Lyon
left this Territory are conclusive evidence to the
people, that he either regarded his official acts
as unauthorized by law and good policy for the
people of the Territory, that he induced
to adopt this course by some insane agency not
reconcileable to the laws of reason and the Dig
nifty of his position as the Executive of a free
people.
~ =, !, a
expedent for the interests of the people of the
two sections that the Territory of Idaho be di-
vided by parallel 440 3O/ North extending from
the southwest corner of Montana Territory,
nearly along the main divide between the wa
ters of Salmon and Snake rivers to the eastern
boundary of the State of Oregon and a new Ter
rtory organized for one of these divisions.
Resolved. 4th, That we the people of Northern
Idaho regard our civil and political interests as
identical with those of the people of that part of
Washington Territory which lies east of the Co.
lumbia river, and regard the division of Wash
ingtOn Territory by a line commencing where
said river leaves the Oregon line thence running
northerly up said river to the mouth of the
! Okanagan river, thence northerly with said
Okanagan river and lakes to the 49th parallel,
and the attaching of said eastern portion of
Washinton so divided, to said Northern Idaho,
as policy greatly subserving the political, com
mercial and agricultural interests of all the in
habitants within the proposed new boundaries
of Idaho Territory.
Resolved, 9Th, Thatthe people ofNorthern Ida
no will seek the attainment of the objects ex-
pressed in the foregoing resolutions, as loyal
men in loyal manner, and that we will in no
wise countenance any attempt to discredit the
authority of the United States or its officers, or
to disobey the laws thereof or the laws of this
Territory duly enacted.
Resolved, 9th, That the President of the Uni
ted States, the Delegate from Idaho in Congress,
and each and every member of the Pacific dele
cation in Congress be furnished with copy
of this preamble and resolutions and respect-
fully requested to urge the accomplishment Of
the objects sought therein.
Resolved, 7tht That copy of the foregoing
preamble and resolutions be furnished TO the
Golden Age, Walla WaHa Statesman, DaIles
Mountaineer and Portland Oregonian newspapers,
with the request that they publish the same.
We hereby certify that the foregoing
preamble and resolutions were unanimously
adopted at public meeting of members of the
Legislative Assembly of Idaho and citizens of
Nez Perce, ShoshOne and Idaho counties, held
at Lewiston, January 7th, 1865
STAMFORD CAPPs, Chairman.
w. W. THOMPSON, Sec'y.