Year: 1870

state government.


The Walla Walla Statesman is publish
ing series of articles on State government,
written by Hon. N. T. Cation, Esq. As
the question comes before the people in
approaching contest, we shall rcpublish
the articles as they appear:


NUMBER ONE.


In June next, the qualified electors of
the Territory will be called upon to say
! whether the Territorial vassalagc which
has existed for seventeen years shall longer
continue or not. For one l am free 10
say that if Washington Territory cannot
BY the time a constitution is framed and
adopted, assume tho noble bold and man.
ly stand of a State assert her right to Il
voice in the council chambers of the ma
tion and doff her garb of youth, and stand
erect in full-fcdgcd and self reliant man
hood, she had better petition (the only
right to which she is now entitled un1ues-
tioned) to be joined to Alaska or to the
North pole and to be frozen up.
The advantages of such change are too
we'll known to require enumeration. \
people as intelligent, as industrious and as
cntcrprisnS as any on the continent may
be found in Washington Territory. 1t is
simply absurd then to say that they are
not as capable of taking care of themselves
as o:lers-just as competent to select their
own judges and other officers as the people
Of any other sections Of the country.


Such questions are therefore unncces-
sary to be discussed, and are not legiti-
matcly involved in the investigation. The
honest and candid will admit that we have
been Territory sufficiently long; that our
people are as intelligent and euterprising
as any other, and just as competent to
make their own selections of officials as
elsewhere The only question then that
necessarily arises, is this: Are the people
Of Washington Territory capable Of sas-
taining State gorernmeRts The writer
maintains that before State constitution
can be framed and adopted, that she will
be. Should the qualified electors decide
in favor of chan ye, it will devolve upon
the legislature to convene in 1871 to pro-
vide by law for convention to be held
subsequent to that period. The present
condition of affairs are such that three
years or moro will elapse before the ncces.
sary machinery can be prepared for sue
ccssful operation under the new order of
things. With the brilliant prospects of
the near future for our Territory, can any
sane mind doubt great acquisitions both
to our wealth and population? It may be
said that it is wrong in principle to de-
pend upon the favorable or unfavorable
results of the future. Still let it be noted
that all Territories that have tried the ex-
pertinent Of late years, urged this very
idea as a reason-and a strong one too
for move that would otherwise have
been considered premature. And in every
instance, be it said to the praise Of such
foresight and judgment, time demonstrated
the propriety aud correctness Of the view.
Revcnue--withoutsuch governments could
not exist-arises chiefly from taxation
upon the material wealth of country.
Will any one dare affirm that Washington
Territory has not at this day resources
within her borders sufficient from which
to produce all the revenue required to run
a State government without any increase
of taxation? l propose to show by facts
aud figures, that she is just as capable as
others that have tried the experiment sue.
cessfully. l have selected few of the
States as near as may be in size, wealth
and population at the time of their admis.
sion as States, to our own Territory
at the present time, to show this fact.
After which, I propose to show by esti.
mates, the ability Of our own people to
maintain 4 State government, and to meet
every requirement Of an economical ad-
ministratou of affairs This I will en-
deavor to do in future communication.
In the meantime let all think upon the
subject, aud be prepared to consider fairly
and honestly the facts IS presented.


propose 70 show 10 the next place, that
Washington Territory is just as capable Of
maintaining Stats government - many
others that haya triad the exoerimsnt aun.