, 1865-11-24
rha Annexation ouestion.

ure is gaining ground. The fact that our
people are left literally without anything
like the administration Of justice, is claimed
of itself as sufficient to justify the desire for
change. Outside the neglect Of the Dis
trict Judge, there are other reasons at work
that induce very many of our people to IA
vor annexation to Oregon. With the Sound
country we have no identity of interests, and
as consequence have little sympathy. On
the other hand, we are only separated from
Oregon by an imaginary line, and all our
interests hsrmonise with that part of Ore
gou east of the mountains. The section of
the State to which we are so nearly allied
already polls one-third the vote of the State,
and with the addition of Walla Walla Val
ley, will be able to control the legislation
and shape the policy of the State, 1t is
thus the inducement presented is not only
an escape from Territorial vassalage, but the
still higher privilege of controlling sover-
eign State, and With that control an inAu-
ence in the Congress of the Nation from
which we are now shtirely excluded Those
who are familiar with affairs at Washington
know that Territorial Delegate exercises
little or no influence, and that for all use
ful purposes he is little better than the fifth
wheel to a wagon. Executive officers and
heads of Departments defer to those who
have votes, and whose power they are likely
at any moment to require; but the non-vot-
ing Delegate is powerless to reach those who
dispense favors and patronage, aid hence be
he ever so industrious he is able to accom-
plish but little for his constituents. 1t is
thus that the citizen of the Territory has no
voice in shaping National legislation, nei-
ther has he voice in the selection of the
Chief Magistr ate privileges which must
forever be dear to the American citizen. If
the Territory was rapidly settling up and
gave promise of early becoming State, the
present condition Of nonentity might be en-
dured. But instead of this, we have the
fact that the Sound country, by far the lar
ger portion of the Territory is in torpid
condition, and at the present rate Of growth,
will require half century to reach the pro.
portions of State. To chain a rich and
growing county like Walla Walla to the half
dead carcase of Puget Sound is a condition
not to be endured, and hence it is not
strange that the proposed change is favora.
bly, regarded by SO large portion of our
citizens.
There are other Considerations of great
importance which are being agitated and
which tend no little to give encouragement
to the friends of this measure. Among
men of means, it is urged that in Walla Wal
Ia County sbere is no security to the money
lender against those who choose to take ad-
vantage of the existing situation of affairs
The man who has money to loan runs
great risk of loss if he puts it out at inter-
est for the borrower frequently pays in
greenbacks at par, that which he agreed to
pay in gold. Consequently, it is claimed
(and it appears plausible) that large sums of
money have gone out of this valley and Ter
ritory for investment foF no other reason
than that we have no special law-here to en-
force the payment of debts in gold or silver
which are contracted so to be paid. And
merchants and business men, generally, fire.
quently, after having wSiee6 for the pay
ment of debts year or two, are finally paid
of in greenbacks, at their face value. But
the worst Of it is, there seems to be no rem
edy in the Territory for abating this evil
The Governor stands ready to veto any Spe-
cifc Contract Law that may be passed; and
what is equally as bad, the Territorial Leg
islature, (Rt least the Puget Sound portion
of that body stands ready to prevent the
passage of auy such law. Therefore, to get
rid of this evil complained of, there is no
prospect, except by annexation.
A great many well disposed people advo-
cate annexation upon the ground that VIC
have no Penitentiary building in the Terri
tory for the confinement of criminals. Per-
sons convicted of crime and sentenced to
Psniteutiary for life, are cooped up in shack
ling County Jails, which ipis said, are not
capable of keeping a spirited chicken secure
aWeek. In Oregon they have a splendid
Penitentiary which by annexation would
be of great benefit to this section in the way
Of securing prisoners in confinement, as we'll
as tending greatly, by the terror felt by
evil dOers for sach an institution, to lessen
crime ITSELF Eke getting contract law, it
iTsaid there is'no probability of ever secur.,
ing penitentthry building foT'tHe Territory.
The only plausible objection urged against