The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1867-01-19
LETTER FROM THE CAPITAL.
BOISE CITY, January IS, 1867.

Legislature closed its business last Friday night,
and the members have scattered abroad among
their several constituencies. 1t is generally con-
ceded that for ability this Legislature has been
equalled by none of its predecessors, and think
the legislation of this Session has been conducted
with a spirit of fairness and with view to the
public good, and that the acts of this Legislature
will meet with general satisfaction. The list of
bills which become laws is difficult yet to com.
plete. 1t may be ready for you next week.
presume you have heard something in refer
ence to the emeute last Saturday. will briefly
state the facts, so that no misunderstanding may
occur.
An Act was passed, year ago, repeating an
Act passed by the Legislature at Lewiston at the
First Session, and providing for the form of oath
to be taken by all Territorial officers. The oath
to be taken is prescribed by the Organic Act, and
the Act of last winter followed in exact language
the words used in the Organic Act. The hold
over members of the Council, Of course, took the
old oath year ago. The new members, at the
beginning of this Session, took the oath provided
by law, viz: the law of the preceding Session, or
in other words, the oath prescribed by Congress.
That obligation was administered by Chief Justice
Mcbride, who, at the time it was taken by the
new members, distinctly stated from the Presi
dents stand 'that it the only oath required"
1t appears, however that Mr.. Hewlett, the Terri
torial Secretary, wanted to kick up difficulty, if
possible, with the members, because their politics
happened to differ from his own. He therefore
secretly telegraphed to Washington, to Secretary
McCulloch that the members refused "to take the
| oath;" leaving upon the mind of that official the
impression that they had refused to take any OATH
The Legislature had, day or two previously, te>
egraphed to Washington and received reply from
MIR. McCulloch, stating that $4,000 had been
placed at the disposal of Hewlett, with orders to
draw his drafts on Judge Cummins, late Collector
of Internal Revenue, to pay Legislative expenses.
This was distinct reply to one of the questions
telegraphed to the Legislature, which was: Can
the money in the hands of Collector Cummins be
made available for the expenses of this Legisla-
ture?" 1t was clear that it was the intent of the
Secretary Of the Treasury that the money should
be used to pay the members Of the present SEES
sion, Meanwhile it is rumored that Mr.. Hewlett
has received dispatch from McCulloch ordering
allegiance was taken. Mr.. Hewlett, however con-
tinued to assert his intention to pay the members
as soon as the Session was OVer-having at the
same time this dispatch in his pocket, and only
waiting for the Session to close to bring it out,
and then refuse to pay anything. These rumors
became so strong at last, that on the evening of
the last day of the Session Hewlett was summon.
ed before the Legislature to explain himself, and
he then for the first time produced the dispatch.
There are many reasons for the presumption that
the dispatch was bogus, and gotten up as an ex.
cuse for refusal to pay in order to defalca-
tons. Whether this presumption was correct or
not, will be determined hereafter; but there can
he no excuse for Hewlett, whether it was genuine
or bogus. His falsehood tc the Department, and
his falsehoods to the presiding officers and several
members of both Houses, emphatically declaring
his intention to pay, even while he held an order
or pretended order, in his pocket not to pay, are
without parallel in official duplicity and malignity.
| Hewlett then set up a claim that this was not
valid Legislature, and declared that he would not
even pay the members who had taken the oath of
allegiance over year ago-that he would not,
even il they now took that oath.
On the following morning a meeting of the
members was held at the Representative Hall, to
consider the matter. Col. Stevenson was called
to the Chair aud Messrs. Street, Mitchell and Ohle
were appointed Committee on Order OF Bust
ness. That Committee reported the following re-.
commentator: That the members proceed to the
Secretary's office and there tender bond of in.
delnnIly, offer to take any oath required by the
General Government, on payment of moneys, and
then demand their vouchers No member object
ed to the oath, i'll their individual capacities, but
they did object to being forced to take Ohcially
claiming that they had Saken all that the laws of
Congress or the Territory required. If there was
any rule OF the Department requiring the oath of
allegiance OF those who received money OF the
Government, before receiving the same, no one
objected to that requirement. The Secretary ask
ed for time-till o'clock, P. M..-tO reply. Att
that time he came with very singular document,
to the purport that he would not issue the VOuch
ers, notwithstanding the offer of the Committee
Meanwhile, a squad of soldiers from the Fort
drew up in front of the Hall, loaded their arms
and assumed beigerent attitude. This at once
raised the ndignatian of the meeting. The idea
of having bayonets thrust down their Threats while
peaceaby considering their grievances, was SUI.
icient to stir up the blood of every American cit.
iZen. great deal of confusion followed. How |
lett denied having anything to do with bringing
the soldiers there; said he did not know who sent
them or what they came for. On application at |
Marshal Alvords Office, the truth came out. Mr..
Hewlett had been there and represented that the |
meeting were breaking up the furniture, &c. and
demanded that the troops be called out to defend |
the furniture, and under that misrepresentation the
Marshal had ordered them out. As soon as Mr..
AlVOrd was Informed Of the facts he, through his
deputy, Mr.. Robbins, ordered the withdrawal of |
the soldiers. So Hewlett was caught in another
1alSehoOd, and was shown to have been the cause
OF the whole difficulty. What insanity could have
induced this foolish old man to suppose he could
Overawe Legislative body with puny squad OF
soldiers, it is impossible conceive. To endanger