The Territory's Loyalty Crisis
A bitter partisan divide breaks out in the Legislative Assembly over a set of resolutions affirming support for the Union and the Lincoln administration.
The Legislative Assembly of Washington Territory was presented with resolutions stating that the Union is incorporated with the institutions of our country, that its dissolution would endanger their permanence, and seriously threaten our existence as a nation. It further resolved that Washington Territory, true to herself, and true to the Government, would not be found wanting in devotion to the Union, in fidelity to the Laws and Constitution, or in support of Mr. Lincoln’s administration. When put to a vote, the resolutions were rejected. The yeas included Denny, Griswold, Lombard, McCall, Smith of Clark, Taylor, and Urquhart. The nays included Aird, Bozarth, Bates, Beatty, Chapman, Gardner, Gilliam, Hinckley, Holbrook, Page, Settle, Smith of Walla Walla, Kuth, Thornton, Wilson, and Warbass.
“The people are competent to judge of the loyalty of those men who deliberately voted against them.”
This 1862 legislative standoff captures a moment of deep, violent uncertainty in the Pacific Northwest regarding the Civil War. It echoes the historical struggle of border territories to define their allegiances while thousands of miles from the front lines.
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