The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1865-02-04
LETTER FROM LEWISTON.

LEWISTON, January 2, 1865.
EDITOR WORLD: AS reader of the first
Democratic journal published upon the soil
Of Idaho, allow me to congratulate you upon
the many evidences apparent of your success.
During the recent session of the Legislature.
/ have looked ia vain for some pen whose
facile movements should portray to their
constituents, through your columns, the
labors of their delegation, and their firm
adherence to the doctrines taught by Jefferson,
and the early founders of the Republic.
Legislators, like actors, need the approval of
the public, in order to crown their efforts
with final success.
LEGlsLATIvE-A GOOD JOKE.
The first of the session passed smoothly
along, with the exception OF an occasional
ripple upon the surface the of political puddle,
near its close. Upon the introduction of the
, Bounty bill, (framed in the sanctum of his
Excellency, and, therefore, his pet,) party
lines were drawn, and woe be to the Waver-
ing. The mandate of his Highness had gone
forth, that the pretext for robbing the hardy
pioneers of Idaho should receive the sanction
of the Legislature; that it might be legiti-
mately done under statute law. The friends
of the bill were dsinclined to give its pro-
visions very extensive airing, choosing
rather, to pass the matter through without
attracting much attention. At length il
became understood that, did they succeed
easily in the Council, the House was no
disposed to allow SO gross an outrage upor
the people of this Territory to be perpetrated
with impunity. Although so modified as te
seem not wholly impracticable on its face
still the tax levied under its provisions
solely for a "bunkum record to lay before
Father Abraham-amounted to S45,0O0. The
first proposition called for $l44,0 which
was much nearer the actual amount needed
Huge bunkum speeches from the Repub
lican members (who need reelection to keel
their seats) were made, lauding the Admins
tration to the skies, and denounciEg all WIT
refused to fall down and worship the imag
that Caleb of " Lyonsdale had set up, that
for the want of faithful reporter for you
journal, will be lost to their constituent
7 forever. Praise of worthy meftis a delight
full theme; when undeserved, however,
becomes the most withering sarcasm. There
fore, in claiming that I've owe this to ou
government at home, from the fact that sh
has ever extended her protecting hand owe
us,"-and this claim set up in the face of tn
fact that, on the contrary, we have SO far no
only paid all the usual taxes levied by GU
government upon old settled States,-but W
ehave also supported, at our own expense, an
from an almost empty treasury, all the dis
reputable Federal officers sent here. Doe
our government need these troops? and Wha
for? If we have to support lin addition t
the officers we have no voice in electlng)
standing army, let the people have some Voic
in the matter. Your correspondent listene
attentively to the arguments,-or rathe
nbunkum," of the Republicans in bot
Houses, and it was also generally observe
that they left the merit of the bill untouched
Several good third rate Fourth-of-July ora
tions were had overi it, and finally the funera
sermon was duly preached over it, and it
companion-the Militia bill, by the Reyeren
member, in the House, from Idaho. Thu