, 1865-01-06
Governor,s Message.


not quite two columns in the Washington Dem
ocrst. 1t is very brief, though far from being
pointed document. The grandiloquent por-
tion of the message is found in the beginning,
IN the following words, relative to the existing
rebellion
at would have afforded US all much pleasure
five could have been able to say, that peace
had been restored throughout the whole of our
beloved country but unfortunately this intes-
tine and devastating war of the most wicked
causeless, and inexcusable rebellion ever known
in the history of mankind, against the best most
equitable and benefcent Government ever or
ganized and established by wise and good men,
sustained by brave and patriotic citizens of the
most enlightened and christianized population
Of our gloriously successful and prosperous Re
public, has not yet been realized"
After indulging in considerable more of the
same style of meaningless rhetoric, the Cover
nor emerges from his rhapsody into something
like common sense. He states, upon the au-
thority of the Surveyor General, that the total
number of acres of surveyed lands in the Terri
tory, is 3,47l, 1898. From the statements fur
nished by the Registers and Receivers of the
two Land Offices, the amount of land disposed
offrom Nov. l, 1863, is given in the message as
follows
AT the office at Vancouver, including Home
Gteads, Donations, Prescriptions, 42,976 acres
were disposed of, 20,O68 acres of which were
sold at the ordinary rates, realizing for the ben
eft of the Government, S25,O7 rs.
AT the Office in Olympia, the total amount of
acres disposed of amounted to SO, 269; of which
26,766 "a were sold for the sum of $8, 1897 81,
including S5,378 TO- the proceeds of the sales of
the Port Angeles town property.
At the Office at. Vancouver, 35 declaratory
statements have been filed on Presumption
claims; "A Homesteads taken, which amount to
1889 81 acres, and 20 certificates for Donation
claims, embracing IL $50 acres.
At the office in Olympia, upwards of 10, 900
acres have been located with land warrants; 85
Homesteads covering 10, ,267 90, and &c Dona-
tion claims, amounting to 9,l7O 81 have been
been completed.
Thus it will be seen that the amount of land
entered, located, &c, is l02, 24O n acres, and
exclusive of fees for the sale of land in the Ter
ritory during the year, is S63,9l0.
The Governor makes some suggestions in
reference to Prisons subject Of interest to the
public. He says;
Your attention is respectfully requested to the
want of Prisons for the confinement of crmi-
nails; and the insecure and insufficient condition
Of the Public Jails now in the Territory.
A certainty in the enforcement of the laws,
and the infiction of its penalties, is the only
curity the people can have for the protection of
their lives, their persons and their property
In the present lack of suitable and secure pla-
ces for confning criminals, the conviction and
sentence of the law-breakers to Imprisonment,
is entirely an idle ceremony; and that whole
some restraint upon the lawless class of the
community, which can only be found in the
proper in1iction of the penalties of law, is al
most entirely wanting in our Territory.
That the public good requires something to
be done in this matter is evident to all. In
most of the counties there are no Jails or other
places of confinement; and nowhere in the Ter
ritory is there suitable and secure Jail.
If the resources of each county are sufficient
10 erect secure Prison, there ought to be a
cheap, strong and substantial Jail constructed
at the county seat of each county. Or, if owing
to the sparseness of our population in some of
our counties, this should be impracticable, there
ought at least to be secure Jail constructed at
each of the several places of holding District
Courts, which should be open to the several
counties transacting business at such courts,
and which should be built by tax assessed up
on the several counties in said District courts.
tax sufficient to construct these district
Jails, it is thought, would not be oppressive,
and by a greater certainty of infiction of the
penalties of the law, we might reasonably ex-
pect diminution in crime, the saving to the
counties in costs now incurred in criminal pros
ecItions, would be quite as much as the tax
they would have to pay for the construction of
these prisons to say nothing of the other gains,
not to be computed in dollars and cents, to be
found in the general improved condition and Sc
curity of the people, arising from proper en-
forcement of the laws. What measures will be
the most efficient is submitted to your wisdom;
but earnestly urge upon your attention, the
great necessity and Importance of some positive
action by your honorable body, for the immed-
ate correction of this glaring evil.
Upon the subject of Divorces, the Gov. says
81 trust shall not be considered as speaking
unadvisedly, in paying just tribute of respect
for the very proper conduct of the Legislature of
the last session, in its refusal to grant Divor-
ees, which tended to redeem the character of
the Territory from that obloquy which had be-
come attached to it, by reason of previous Leg
islatures granting Divorces so readily to all ap-
plicants.
The conduct of the last session was pre-emi-
nently just and proper, in steadily refusing to
grant any Divorces. And would here express
the earnest hope that your honorable body will
pursue the same course, and leave the subject
of Divorces to the Judicial Tribunals of the Ter
ritory, where ii properly belongs"
The message then concludes, as follows:
ifThere are many affairs of Importance relative
to the interests Of the Territory, which might be
properly presented for your consideration, but
you gentlemen have just come from your re-
spective constituents and are acquainted with
their wishes, and what is most likely to promote
and protect their best interests, do not propose
to enlarge the number Of recommendations at
this time
beg leave to assure you it will be my ear
nest desire to cooperate with you in all the
measures adopted to promote the welfare and
prosperity of the whole population of the Terri
tory, and l will be ready to furnish you at any
time, with such information as may be in my
power, should you desire it..
Trusting that your deliberations may be
marked with that courtesy and forbearance
which is always required in the discharge of the
arduous and responsible duties which devolve
upon you, would respectfully solicit your coun-
sci and cooperation in the promotion of such
measures as shall be calculated, not only to pro-
mote, but to protect and secuEe the material
growth and prosperity of the Territory of Wash
ington."
BALI.-A Ball for the Benefit of the School
House, at Maxson's Corner will be given at the
1ew school house there on the 18th instant.