Year: 1867

THINK 1T OVER. y


The veto of the bill removing the seat
Of government to Helena has called from
the press Of that city, the severest de-
uuneia;iaaS Of the action of the Govern
or. lie is heaPed with epithets and in
vsctiye charged with base motives and
even threatened with personal violence


il fndIsc-eeJIy he should visit that lo-
caliiy. Although, perhaps not antici-
pating the severe terms employed to ex-
press their disapproval Governor Smith
knew that the removal of the Capitol to
Helena WAS the special LEGAL measure
the EdgerJOn delegation had determined
10 accomplish, if possible. at this session


and thoroughly considered all the atten-
dant circumstances of the case before
yetOing the bill. If, as he doubtless did,
he knew the storm of local Indignation
that would sweep against him, and in
the full knowledge OF its coming, deter
mined to do that which he believed to
be just, and for the best interests of the
Territory OF which he is Executive, he
is entitled to credit for honesty of pur-
pose and irmness in what he believed
to be right. He is vaguely charged with
having been influenced by sinister mo-
tives and controlled by other desires
than that which should have effect with
an officer We do not know that this
is, or is not, the case. Heretofore, the
honesty, truthfulness and character of
our Governor las not been impeached.
He came here with record that en-
titled him 10 the respect of all He was
feastyd, feted and fattered in Helena,
ana TO longer ago than last June was
the recipient of 4 present of twenty town
lots in the Green Clay Smith addition to
Helena, which he holds to day. The
Herald had such implicit confidence in
the Governor it urged him to issue a
PROCLAMATION locating the Capital, and
have the Legislature ratify il and move
it straightway over. Truly the times
have changed. Governor Smith lives in
plain, unpretentious dwelling in Vir-
ginia, and owns no other property here
or in the vicinity. Gentlemen of Helena
have talked freely and sanguinely of
the fine residence the citizens of Helena
would build for him when the Capitol
was removed to that place. Il does not
look from these things as though sordid
motives had influenced him. More than
this, Mr.. Sample Orr, n member of the
Council from Gallatin county, was of
fered on theevening that the bill passed
the House over the veto, ten thousand
dollars in greenbacks to give his vote IN
favor Of Helena. We can speak OF this
matter dispassionately, because to his
credit be il said, he refused the bribe.
It was q pretty fair bid for one vote,
twice as much as Simon Cameron paid
for any one when he bought the Sena-
torship in the Pennsylvania Legislature


one year ago. Still Mr.. Orr is poor man
and has no property in Virginia
or vicinity. Considering these little
matters of fact would it not be as well
on the part os our Helena cotemPoraries
to accept either one of two things, that
Virginia beat Helena at her own game


or, that the gentlemen are honest.
If the first is true, our little town de-
serves credit for her spunk and you should
not make yourselves ridiculous by Pout-
ing about it. If the latter is true,
sprinkle cool patience on the heat OF
your distemper, and give the objections
10 the bill a serious, impartial considera-
lion before committing yourselves to
position, that will not bear investigation
The bill as introduced and passed In
the Legislature, would have, if approved
by the Governor and people, removed
the Capitol permanently" to Helena or
retain it permanently in Virginia. This
clause in itself was sufficient to have
killed the bill. The Legislature and Peo-
pie OF this Territory have no power to
permanently locate the Capital. Again,
the Territory is not sufficiently develop