, 1865-01-13
A New Division scheme.

A. Townsend aud 4. B. Waterbury from
Lewiston, showing credentials from a
citizens meeting held at that place authori-
Eing them to come here, as delegates, and
confer with the citizens in regard to divis-
ion of Idaho and Washinton Territories,
and the formation of new Territory. The
6rst plan proposed was the severing of the
Boise country from Idaho Territory (leaving
all that region out in the cold) and then, by
the same modus ..operandi separating all
that portion of Washington Territory lying
east of the mountains and attaching it to Ida
no, retaining the name Idaho, with the Or
ganic Act, and "all the appurtenances and
hereditaments thereto belonging" excepting
the capital, which was to be located at Wal
Ia Walla. This proposition not meeting
with much favor, the delegates seeded from
it, and proposed that new Territory be or
ganized, with the same boundaries Upon
this proposition, public meeting was called
on Monday evening, at which Dr. e. Shell
was elected Chairman and R. R. Rees, Sec
retary. Messrs. Townsend and Waterbury
presented their credentials" which were
read to the meeting, after which they were
introduced by the Chair and both appeared
and spoke in advocacy of the division ; rep
resenting that by the removal of the capital
from their midst-which must follow sooner
or later-that they would be kept in a state
of vassilago," isolated from their capital,
and compelled to journey to their capital to
region with which they had no interests
in common; that by the division proposed, a
territory would be constructed in which there
would be an entire community of inter-
ests," and that to effect such division the
people of Lewiston we're entirely willing to
concede the capital to Walla Walla.
Mr. Lasater was then called for and said
he had given the matter but little thought,
but he was opposed to the division as pro-
posed but as relief from "yassilage" was all
the people of Lewiston seemed to desire, and
as they were so magnanimous about the be-
stowal of the capital, he thought better
mode for them and a safer one for us to en-
sure the ends desired, would be for them
to petition to have their portion of Idaho
annexed to Washington Territory, thus Sc
curing the balance of power to the eastern
side of the mountains, which would enable
the people, through their representatives, to
remove the capital from Olympia to Walla
Walla.
Gen. Bridges was called for. He opposed
the division scheme in toto was rather par
tial to the "Clam country" and thought
the gentleman who could not appreciate a
good dish of CLAIMS and oysters exhibited
poor taste, to say the least; said the divis-
ion matter was one that concerned the whole
people of the districts sought to be divided,
and that the assemblage present could in no
sense be considered representative meeting
Of the two districts.
Mr. w W. johnson, was called for and
opposed the proposed division, but agreed, in
case of any division, that the plan proposed by
hr Lasater was the better one, and thought
if the objects announced by the Lewiston
people were the only ones sought to be
gained by them they could accomplish them
by this means, and certainly should not OBJ
ject to it in case their own proposition did
not meet with the appreciation of the peo-
pie of Walla Walla.
Mr.. A. J. Cain offered the following res
OlutiOns, as expressive of the sense of the
meeting:
ResoIUed, by the citizens of Walla Walla
that we are in favor of annexing the following
portion of Idaho Territory to Washington Terri
tory, to-wit Beginning at the northwest cor
ner of Idaho Territory, thence running east to
the northwest corner of Montana Territory,
thence in a southerly direction along the bonn
dairy line between Idaho Territory and Montana
3
intersects the divide between the Salmon and
Boise rivers; thence along the divide between
Salmon river and Boise river and the Payette to
Snake river, thence down the middle channel
of Snake river to Lewiston, thence due north to
the place Of eginning-comprising the territory
that now cOmposes the counties Of Shoshone
Nez Perces, and Idaho in Idaho Territory
RssolUed, That we earnestly solicit the coop
GRAFTON of the citizens of Idaho in the consum-
nation fsaid object, believing that the inter-
ests of both Territories can be promoted thereby
Upon motion to adopt, Mr.. Waterbury
arose and strongly opposed the resolutions,
asserting that he came here, in good faith, to
consider proposition entirely different, and
again assuring the meeting that the people
of Lewiston were honest in their intentions
and would cheerfully concede all they prom
ised.
After some further debate and explana-
tiOns, the question was put and the resolu-
tions were unanimously adopted.
Taking both an outside and an inside view
Of this matter we think one of these propo-
sitiOns is about as liseIy to prevail as the 9th
err One thing IS certain: If. as Gen Rrid-