The First Legislative Assembly of Washington Territory Adjourns
After intense deliberation and the drafting of a new legal code, Washington’s first territorial lawmakers closed their session in Olympia.
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.
The first Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Washington has adjourned sine die. Embittered by no party prejudices, untrammeled by factious interests, and not harassed by local questions, the legislators have performed their duty in a manner honorable to themselves, and we doubt not satisfactory to their constituents. Speaker of the House Mr. Chenoweth addressed the members, noting that the labors were great and the amount of business accomplished was large. He lauded the House for their gentlemanly bearing and intelligence, which he described as above the average standard of other legislative assemblies with which he had been acquainted before coming to this coast.
“They have marched boldly to the battle field, and have employed no weapons but such as belong to honorable men.”
This reflects the birth of Washington's legislative process in 1854. The tension between local constituent needs and the strictures of the Organic Act remains a fundamental theme in state politics today.
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