The Fight for Washington’s Soul

It will be remembered that a few days ago the House, with but one dissenting vote, passed an act relative to the inspection and measurement of logs. This afternoon the bill came up as a special order in the Council. For several years past Mr. P. B. Johnson of the Walla Walla Union has been endeavoring to create and keep alive a sectional feeling between the eastern and western sections of our Territory. This continued effort resulted today in the introduction of a memorial to Congress, asking for a division of Washington Territory. Mr. Johnson acknowledges having been the author of this memorial. Mr. Kerr opposed it, stating he had been taught in youth to detest secession. Hon. Thomas Caton of Walla Walla made the master speech against the measure, hoping to see this sectional feeling buried in oblivion forever. He argued that without maritime and commercial advantages, the territory could never accomplish the goal of entering the Union as a great state. The motion to print the memorial was lost by a vote of eight to four.