Year: 1863




The Golden Age of the 1st inst. comes TO us
filled with accounts of a grand mass meeting
gotten up by bakers dozen of politicians held
at the Luna House in Lewiston, on Sunday the
2sth ult In this meeting resolutions were
adopted expressing desire that Washington
Territory be divided, and that the new Territory
be called Lafayette" Our limited space will not
permit us to review the proceedings at length
A memorial to Congress was adopted by the meet
ing-a most clumsily written instrument-which
was evidently gotten up by "Scrantio,' and is
about as truthful in its representations, could
be expected, when emanating from the pen of
one who boasts that his private feelings do not
cord with his written views. The document sets
forth that


"Your memorialists, citizens of Lewiston Wash
ington Territory. in conjunction with several thou
sand other residents of the eastern portion of
said Territory, would most respectfully repre-
sent" &c.


The second paragraph commences,


"The navigation of our rivers, the Snake and
Clearwater, whose waters flow from the Rocky
mountains to the Pacific ocean, having been fully
tested, will cause new era to dawn on this once
supposed wilderness, &c.


The first quotation is single instance of the
misrepresentation the document contains, and the
second, is specimen of both misrepresentation
and style


From all we can learn this division scheme was
concocted some months ago by a few property
holders at Olympia, who are interested in keep
ing the Capital at that place. They brought to
their aid few broken down politicians, and sent
them into the interior counties to further the
scheme and carve out for themselves places in
the proposed new Territory. They have begun
it and how well they will succeed the future will
show. We have the assurance of prominent men
in all the eastern counties, that the people as a
mass are adverse to the scheme. 1t is perhaps
seconded by few of the citizens Of Lewiston, be-
cause the head agitators promise them that tie
town of Lewiston shall be the seat of Govern
ment of the new Territory. But we fully believe
that outside of that town the division question
would not in fair test, bring fifty votes to its sup
port. The main argument there in favor Of di-
vision is that Olympia is situated five hundred
miles--steam travel--from Lewiston. They
might with just as much propriety advocate the
establishment ofa Pacific Republic, on the ground
that Washington city is too far from Lewiston; !;
and every little isolated village in the country
might ask for division after division, on the same
principle.


We believe, and the great majority of our peo-
pie believe, that the time for dividing the Terri
tory has not yet arrived. The country is yet too
sparsely settled, and the eastern portion of our
Territory is not yet fully explored and where the
main body of our permanent population are to To-
cate is question for tie future to decide. I'm
til that matter is established the question of di-
vision should not be agitated, SO that when it
does take place-as it most likely .will-the divis-
ion lines may be suited to the wants and conven-
ience of the people The boundary lines, as pro-
posed by these cIiquetags would work incalculable
injury to the upper country. The new Territory
could have no contro! over the Cascade portage
the key to the Columbia river. In fact, view it in
wEat light we may, we can see no justifable reason
for a division now. On the other hand, economy
and good government dictate that we should re-
main as we are, at least until the country beco mes
more tbickly and permanently settled, and until it
is known where the boundary lines should bedrawn
so as not to work injustice to either section when
divided. Let the citizens of the territory look to
it or their rights will be bartered away by few
politicians who are seeking their own personal ag-
grandzement and have not the country's good at
heart


For an expression of the sentiments of the
people of Lewiston on this subject, see our Lew
iston correspondence.