Washington Territory's Eight-Year Push for Statehood

Mr. President, I can think of no more momentous or important topic to be considered by the Senate of the United States than the question whether a new member shall be admitted to the great family of States. It is now more than eight years since the people of Washington Territory—and the Panhandle of Idaho Territory—have been knocking at the doors of Congress for admission into the Union. Whatever may have been the reasons for refusal or delay, the scripture promise, 'knock and it shall be opened unto you,' is not yet fulfilled; but I think there are abundant reasons why refusal or delay should no longer occur. The people of that territory, relying upon what they thought was a solemn compact of the United States, framed a constitution and asked to be admitted. The question has been debated in Idaho Territory in various ways during the past few years, and on more than one occasion it has been overwhelmingly decided not only in favor of the division of Idaho Territory, but the annexation of the northern part thereof to Washington. The legislative body of Idaho Territory has passed with a great deal of unanimity a memorial asking that the territory be divided and that the northern part be set off to Washington. I cannot, therefore, see anything in the opposition, which seems to me feeble and sporadic, except a kind of setting of back fires by parties interested outside of the Territory of Idaho against the admission of the State of Washington into the Union.