Legislative Turf Wars in the Early Days
Despite attempts to smear the new leadership as corrupt, the first Legislative Assembly of Washington Territory successfully organized its houses 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 Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Washington convened on Monday, as per proclamation of the governor, and proceeded to business. We feel particularly gratified at the admirable selection of officers generally, but especially of those who have been called upon to preside. An effort has been made by certain powers that were for more than a year to render the names of McConaha and Chenoweth indicative, by association, of contempt and dishonesty. Col. McConaha was president, it will be remembered, of the Monticello convention, that tended so materially to the division of Oregon, and giving us a separate territorial existence. His present position has given a signal and merited rebuke to the influence which has been at work for his destruction.
“An effort has been made by certain powers that were for more than a year to render the names of McConaha and Chenoweth indicative, by association, of contempt and dishonesty.”
Political infighting and character attacks were as much a feature of the 1850s as they are today. This report highlights the 'rebuke' delivered by the Assembly to those trying to undermine the newly elected leadership, showing how early Washington political life was defined by the struggle to consolidate power.
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