, 1883-11-29
Weekly Argus.
MEMORIAL
PRAYING An ACT FOR ADMISSION oT TrF
STATE OF WASHINGTON INTO
TIE UNION.

IHL UNION
The following memorial was drawn
by Hon. Thos. Cation. of Walla
Walla Itpas7cd with hmrah:
The people Of the Territory Of
Washington by the Legislative A
sembly respectfully but urgently
protest against the further continu
ance 10y Congress Of the so-callcd
Territorial Government q mere ere
alton of Congress unknown To the
Constitution IF the United States
the only warrant for such d political
anomaly IN our institutions being
based upon a custom sanctioned SO
long that it has grown to be regarded
as the necessary method whereby
territory Of the nation can be pre-
pared for future States of the Federal
Union. Earnestly this people pray
that Congress Will remove their
political disabilities. and that they
may enjoy the constitutional guarran
ty of a Government, republican III
form, where the government derives
all its just powers from the consent
of the governed.
The settlers of this Territory have
brought hither to establish q State
the necessary intelligence, loyalty
and patriotic motive. 1t is conceded
that they possess the necessary quail
fcations, but still are they denied
the first and most essential elements
of American citizenship. They dare
not participate in the selection OF the
Chief Magistrate of the nation; they
are denied the right to elect their
own officers; they cannot sue a citi-
zen of one of the States in the FEEDER
al courts because they are not recog
nized as citizens of a State; they are
denied representation in the Congress
of the United States; they cannot
make their own laws; they are mere
dependents upon your honorable
body, who claim to adopt rules for
their government under an implied
power that you make rules and regu-
lations as to the disposition of the
Territory and other property of the
Government. In fact every relation
of such government to the Congress
of the United States exhibits de
pendence as humiiating as that so
terribly denounced in that grandest
of indictments drafted by the immor-
tai Jefferson arraigning the Grown of
Great Britain for Withholding popu-
lar rights from our ancestors.
Our people are 4 commonwealth.
We are State though denied such
a name. As State, as people, as a
community, we are entitled to demand
that the Congress of the United
States guaranty to us republican
form of government. The State and
people of State are but equivalent
forms of expression, and it is not dis
respectful when we urge as the para
mount duty of Congress the guaran
tee to us of republican form OF
government. In urgency of which
we respectfully submit.
First, That the people are sufficient
in numbers to successfully maintain
a State government. The popula-
ton of Washington Territory largely
exceeds that of many of the States
when admitted. 1t is not less than
125,000 and well informed and OBJ
servant persons place it as high 15O,
600. The immigration now and for
the past year has been unexampled
in the history of the grown of Ameri-
can States and Territories. 1t is
also worthy of remark that transition
from Territorial vassalage to State
hood and sovereignty have always
been followed by renewed growth,
and surely the circumstances and
present surroundings OF this Terri
tory assure that increased prosperity,
importance and wealth. We beg to
refer to the admission of other States:
California was admitted with a
population of 92,597. Colorado at
the census preceding admission num-
l>oroa 90 9e4 ENlO~,1o ~ fbo oaocvc
following admission has population
of 87.445, while at the previous cen
sus numbered only 54,477. Kansas
came in with 107, ,206. Iowa, at the
census before admission, had 43, 112.
Nebraska, at the census before ad-
mission had 2S,S47, and in 1860, 132,
993. Nevada, before admission,
6,967; subsequently, 42,491, and in
1880 boasted population of 62,656.
Oregon was admitted in 1859, and at
the census of the subsequent year had
population of 81, ,455.
These statistics establish the fact
that our population greatly outnum-
ber6 that of numerous successful aP-
plicants for Statehood. By all the
precedents Congress is concluded
upon this proposition:
Washington Territory possesses TIE
requisite population.
Second, Our people are amply able
to maintain a State government,
This is demonstrated by a compari-
son of the valuation of taxable prop
erty in this Territory with those of
several States in the Federal Union:
Washington Territory lin 1888 gs44. .IO7, ,566
Colorado Tin 1880. ..... 43,U72, GAS
Florida =" " .. PC, AZ, ,227
Nevada 4" - . 29, ,564, ,G73
Oregon i" ... 1912, SIT
In the support OF an insane asy-