Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-11-25

Nsosrfal Psayine fer The Aaaissiso
o. The sssae q WashiaGasa fate lie
Unisa. olerea IN the Csaaell BY
~. Cassa 81 Walia Walfa.
To the Honorable, the Senate and
House Of Representatives OF the United
States IN Congress assembled: Ice
people Of the Territory OF Washington,
by their Legislative Assembly, respect
fully bat urgently protest against the
further continuance by Congress OF tho
so-caIIed Territorial government = a
mere creation OF Congress unknown 20
the Constitution of the United States
the only warrant for such . political
anomaly in our institutions being based
upon a custom sanctioned 30 long thaf
Ii has grown to be regarded az the
necessary method whereby territory OF
the nation can be prepared for future
States If the Federal Union. Earnestly
this people pray that Congress VIII re,
move their political disabilities. and
that they may enjoy the constitutional
guarantee of A government, republican
in form. where the government derives
all its jus. powers from the consent OF
the governed.
The settlers of this Territory have
brought hither to establish state the
necessary intelligence. loyalty and pat
riosic motive. II is conceded that they
possess the necessary qualifications. but
they are denied the first and most essen
sial element of American citizenship.
They dare not participate in the seiec-
ton Of the chief magistrate OF the
nation; they are deaied the right to
elect their own officers: they cannot s1e
q citizen of one Of the States IN the Fed
erai courts because they are not reso2
nized as citizens of a State; they are
denied representation In the Congress
Of the United States: they cannot make
their OWE laws; they are mere depend
euts on your honorable body, VINO
claim TO adopt rules for their govern
ment under an implied power that you
make rules and regulations as 20 tae
disposition Of the Territory and other
property of the Government. In fact,
every relation of such a government TO
the Congress of the United States ex-
hibits dependence as humiliating as
that 50 terribly denounced IN that
grandest of indictments drafted by the
immortal Jefferson. arraignIng the
crown of Great Britain for Withholding
pspuiar rights from our ancestors
Oar people are u commonwealth. we
are a State, though denied such name.
As State, as a people, as COMMUNITY,
We ara entitled to demand that the Con-
gress of the United States guarantee 10
us Republican form of government.
The State and people of State are ous
equivalent forms of expression. and u
is not disrespectful when We urge as the
paramount duty OF Congress the guar
antee to Us of a Republican form OF
government, IN urgency OF which We re-
specially submit:
Flrst-rhat the people are sufficient
in numbers to successfully MAINTAIN q
State government. The Population of
Washington Territory largely exceeds
that of many of the States when ad-
United. Il Is not less than 125.OOo, and
well informed and observant persons
place it as high is 10000. The imrai-
grafton now and for the past year has
been unexampled IN the history OF
the growth If American States and
Territories. It is also worthy of re-
mark thai transition from Terri
toriai vassalage to Statehood and SOW
ereignt, have always been followed by
renewed growth-and surely the circGm-
stances and present surroundings OF
this Territory assure that increased
prosperity, importance and wealth. We
beg to refer to the admission of other
States: California was admitted with a
population Of 5..5S7. Colorado at the
census preceding admission numbered
1854. Florida at the census following
admission had population of ~, As.
while at the previous census Is mum
bersd only l,477. Kansas came in with
107, a06. Iowa at the census before ad-
mission had 43,1i2. Nebraska at the
census before admission had 28.S47, and
in 1850 had IL, YS. Nevada before ad
mission, 6367-subsequently, 42.4S1. and
in 1850 boosted of a population OF o., $50.
Oregon Was admitted in 1859, and at
the census Of the subsequent year had a
population of 81, i5o.
Those statistics establish the fact that
our population greatly eutnumbers that
of numerous successful applicants for
Statehood.
BY all the presidents Congress is con-
cludsd upon this proposition: WASH
in9ton Territory possesses the requisite
| population.
Seeond-Our people are amply able
TO maintain State government.
This is demonstrated by comparison
Of the valuation of the taxable property
in this Territory With those OF several
States in the Federal Union:
Washington Tin 1889. ,l07 ,.567
Cotoraf1o- |3.079 It's
Et.rsla 81 81 All .sr7