Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1878-07-05

had any significancy at all to be consid.
cred and acted upon by that people, or
by the members Of this conv .ntion, it
must have been for the purpose Of con.
ferring and counselline with their dele
gate, it chosen and sent here by them,
upon their readiness and willingness to
unite with the people Of Washington in
forming State government to include
those three counties within the boun.
dar'es ct the proposed State.
Such was the Interpretation | gave
to the suggestion of the Legislature of
Washington. and such was the inter-
probation which the people of those
thee counties gave 70 that portion of
the act, and with that Interpretation
they accepted the suggestion in good
and iuil tailh. aud chose their delegate
and sent him here to meet YOU. and
fully authorized TO inform YOU that the
people Ut those counties are DESTROYS 10
unite their fortunes with you to join
with You IN framing State government,
Including those three counties within
IFS boundaries, aud further authorized
as heir delegate to sit ia this couyep
lion as calabarer with YOU in prepur
ing such constitution as will be
dop'ed tn the wish OF he people Of not
o"ly Washington territory, but the REQ
pie of these three counties of Idaho
and when SO prepared to provide for its
submission to all the people alike in
both Washington and these three com.
TIES, for their adoption or rejection.
This is why The delegate from Idaho is
with you. and So far as authority from
the people is concerned, am here with
IL much authority from my people to
vote On all questions involved in the
making ct constitution FIR the pro-
posed state OF Washington, as any other
delegate on this floor. aud it was no
more in the power Of the legislature of
ashins'on territory to take away that
authority whic;. my people have given
me, ~ all respect, whether by vote or
therwlse, than that legislature had
power TO divert any other delegate
ON this hnor finm his right to vote in
this convention. Tie gentlemen from
Island says that he delegate fir. m idaho
is here under construct tv receive 5000
Tor ms attendance without The privilege
oi tie upon this floor Far from it,
sir. lie is here upon the suggestion Of
The legislature Of "; shinyton to the
people Of North Idaho to send dele.
gate here to confer with the delegates
iron Washington upon the exn, dencv
ct uniting the fortunes Of Waslnuc,on
and North Idaho under one COVE nnent
aud If deemed exped cut, to iintly
settle upon the terms OF the contract
reduce 1t to writing in the shape I II
constitution, agreed to. and executed by
the delegates fr III Washington and
North Idaho, and then taken back to
the people of both Washington and
North Idaho, for their ratification or
rejection, they being the priucipals
while We are only their agents. The
legislature OF Washington had no power
TO make contract with the peonle of
North Idaho, nor with their delcg .tc.
much less to dictate he terms of con
tract that should bind the delegates in
this convention. The making of the
contract between the people of Wash.
ington and the people North Idaho was
lett to .e delegates of the two sections
alone, ana to give force and effect to
that contract it must be ratified nv
the people Of both sections, and before
VIC can gain admission with the other
states it must have The endar. ement of
Congress itself. This convention then
having agreed that Washington and
North Idaho should join their fortunes
it only reuains for this convention to
determine who are sent here as dele.
gates from the two sections, in order to
determine who lave the, right to vote
upon all matters connected with the
framing of the contrac, or constitution
that is to be he government of the two
sections. il the people Of these sections
see fit to adopt it.
This then is not convention whose
honnrs beyond the time of their MS.
semb'ing. are in any manner limited by
any legislative enactnen; Of either
Washington or Idaho. The members
here assembled are fresh IRON the REQ.
pie; to carrs out their will in changing
the government. not by direction nf any
existing law, but only limited by the
constitution of the United States. and
the will Of the people who are ;, be
governed, as underst cd by the dele
gates, here assembled. Our position is
that OF a people seeking change of
government p aceiu'ly. without, the pre-
scribed forms Of laws, aud hence NAV
he considered reaceable revolution OF
a people. The uhnriIes cited by the
gentleman from Island are not applica
hle to our case, they refer to changes
OF government where there exists pre-,
scrlbed firms and cnactmeuts fer such