The Idaho Capital Plot

Our citizens were somewhat surprised on Monday last by the arrival of Messrs. B. A. Townsend and E. B. Waterbury from Lewiston, showing credentials from a citizens’ meeting held at that place authorizing them to come here, as delegates, and confer with the citizens in regard to a division of Idaho and Washington Territories and the formation of a new Territory. The first plan proposed was the severing of the Boise country from Idaho Territory and by the same modus operandi, separating all that portion of Washington Territory lying east of the mountains and attaching it to Idaho, retaining the name Idaho, excepting the capital, which was to be located at Walla Walla. This proposition not meeting with much favor, the delegates proposed that a new Territory be organized. A public meeting was called, at which Dr. E. Sheil was elected Chairman and R. R. Rees, Secretary. The delegates argued that Lewiston was isolated and would be kept in a state of 'vassilage' from their capital. Mr. Lasater was opposed to the division as proposed, but suggested that as relief from 'vassilage' was all the people of Lewiston desired, a safer mode would be for them to petition to have their portion of Idaho annexed to Washington Territory, thus securing the balance of power to the eastern side of the mountains, which would enable the people to remove the capital from Olympia to Walla Walla. The citizens of Walla Walla unanimously adopted resolutions in favor of annexing Northern Idaho counties to Washington Territory.