Thurston County Rallies for the Union
As the Civil War ignites, Republicans in Olympia gather to declare their loyalty to the Union and choose their delegates for the coming struggle.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Pursuant to notice, the Thurston County Republican Convention met at the District School-house, in Olympia, on Saturday, May 4th, and organized by electing D. R. Bigelow chairman, and A. W. Moore secretary. Every precinct was fully represented. Intelligence from Washington brings distressing and alarming news of civil war and fraternal strife existing between the Government of the United States and the rebel army of the Confederate States. In the present distracted state of affairs, it is the privilege and duty of each and every loyal citizen to give expression of devotion to the Union of the States, and to sustain the Federal authority in all its Constitutional obligations. Resolved, that party names and party animosities should, in this trying emergency, be forgotten, and that all who unite in sustaining the laws and in upholding the Federal authority against treason and rebellion will be regarded as allies and brothers.
“Party names and party animosities should, in this trying emergency, be forgotten.”
In May 1861, local politics in Olympia were entirely consumed by the existential threat of the American Civil War. This event highlights how quickly the regional political identity of the Pacific Northwest was tethered to the national crisis, transforming local schoolhouse meetings into hubs of wartime mobilization.
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