Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1886-03-11

was declared duly elected Meantime
while this contest was going forward pc
titons were sent from every precinct il
North Idaho, except three, contaiuin.
about 600 names. more than four fifth
OF the whole voting population Of Nortl
Idaho at that time, asking for the annex
alton Of these northern counties to Wash
ineton, which petitions wer. iorwarde,
BY DIR NJ. A. Kelly. Of this city, anC
placed in the hands of delegate jacobs
OF Washington Territory and prcsent.c
to congress by him, as delegate Fem o.
Idaho had not then obtained his seat
Those petitions We're referred to a com
mittce in congress, from which rommitte,
they never emerged. This was in tn,
spring of 1876. Dr. Kelly of this city
and ex delegate Jacobs of Washington
Territory are referred to, as also the
1000 signers in North Idaho VIII,
signed the petitions, and We presume
that tho files of the committee on terri
tories will contain these Petitions if they
are not destroyed. The first time the
state for Washington was asitated IN
North Idaho, was after the legislature OF
Washington in the winter of lS17-S
pissed the act authorizing the calling of il
convention Of delegates to frame con
stitution for Washington, and providing
| that the northern counties of Idaho be
permitted to choose delegate who should
have seat in said convention, and be
permitted to take part in the discussions
but without the right Of vote The
question was then agitated in North Ida
no, shall the people elect such delegate?
1t was adjudged that they dc so and ac
cept of the terms offered by Washington
Accordingly delegate convention of the
northern counties of Idaho was called to
be held at Lewiston that convention
was fully represented by delegates ir m
Ill the counties and they chose dele
gate to the convention in Washington to
be held at Walla Walla in June, 1878.
That convention NIT, framed constitu-
tim and schedule, which was afterwards
submitted to the people Of both Washing
ton and Northern Idaho. aud voted upon
receiving votes Of the people of North
Idaho. All bat 81 were cast in
Norh Idaho in favor of sal
constitution. Since that time the
people have acquiesced in statehood for
Washington with Northern Idaho lneIud-
ed with the expectation that Statehood
would be the most expeditions way of Sc
curing annexation, but in no instance
have the people of Northern Idaho re-
linquished their desire to be annexed to
Washington whether or not it became
immediately admitted into the union.
Hence the statement made by the News
alluded to has not always been, as it says,
the battle cry Of the north, au
nexation and statehood But on the Other
hand has been annexation with nr with
on, sta ehuod. 1t is strange that il there
is such opp sition as is claimed by the
dispatch Of March }, that it is not for MI
lated and expressed by parties of North |
Idaho, who are willing to let it be known
by the people here, hut not writer in all
the papers Of Northern Idaho is willing
to annon nee that opp, si,ion and eA,u t
published over his own signature in these
northern counties, save the few Monta-
mans Who desire to slough off the mining
districts Of Shosl.one county to 20 to
Montana, and the publisher of the Nee
Perez Ners, and two OF the county
commissioners Of idaho eoun'y, and n.
b. Wiley, who has always been an open
opponent Of any and all annexation
The members of congress in the House
who heard II n John Haileys state.
nents of the facts in the history of this
movement, as also the facts stated BY
Hon. q. 5. voorhees,, delegate from
Washington have as near the truth in
'esard to the history and progress of
his question as could be stated, and
While Hon. Mi. Haley being resident
II southern Idaho acknowledged himself
personally objecting tc the north going to
Washington, but admits the TACT tina, the
,eople all want annexation and have so
ign'ted for years in different ways, and
hat both democrats and republicans of
'orthern and southern Idaho have asked
hat this wish of the people be granted,
herefor Mr.. HALEY himself demanded
he passage of the bill, Surely the Sen
tc cannot now with this history before
hem, demand that he people shall be at
he expense of having rehea,ing at the
olls simply at the dictatiou OF few
estless and grumbing spirits, who dare
ot make their objections known anon.
he people who are to be affected by an.
exati"u. 1t is said that whiskey dealers
D some Of the towns object to annexa.
i'm to Washington because the late
'gislatuue OF that territory has passed
zeal option law. We cur hardly believe
hat they are willing to admit that, and
luch less to publish it DER their own
as reason. We have heard
,me say they don't fear local option or
Ugh license. That it will benefit them.
COMMUNICATED