An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 24

Author: Hines, Harvey K., 1828-1902
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1056

USA > Washington > An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 24

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

The delegate elect was not a man suited to represent such a Territory as this on the floor of Congress at this time. With a certain solidity and slowness of character, and an easy facility of conversation, he lacked the genius and elo- quence and daring that impress and mnove such bodies as that in which he was to serve. He lacked intellectual force and moral momentum, though he had some intellectual might. Among a certain class of the pioneers his slowness passed for wisdom and his general suavity for popularity. In fact both parties, Whig and Democratic, committed an error in the selection of their candidates for this most important office. Instead of taking their most brilliant and able man and sending him to represent them in Con- gress for the public benefit, they both chose their men from considerations of party policy rather than of public benefit. The men themselves were not to blame for being unable to cope with the demands of the hour in the interests of the Territory they desired to represent, but the par- ties were for putting them forward, however estimable as private individuals they were; and this is not called in question.

The legislators elected at the same time had a fair measure of ability, and were well qualified to consider the practical questions that were sure to come before them. It was Democratic by a majority of one in the council and six in the house, but partizan zeal did not strongly influ- ence its action, and on the whole its work snb- sewed the best interests of the Territory. G. N. McConaha had the honor of serving as president . of the council and F. A. Chenoweth as speaker of the house of representatives.

The message of Governor Stevens, however, stamped him as the man of the Territory; and, as the general scope of its statements and recom- mendations presents so good a reflex of the con- dition and needs of the young commonwealth, it appears eminently proper that a summary of them should be given here.

He introduced his message by a glowing en- cominm upon the Territory itself, and dwelt upon its natural advantages for commerce. IIe

then referred to the anamolous condition of the public lands; the Indian titles not having been extinguished, nor any law having been passed for their extinguishment, the settlers were ull- able to obtain any titles to their lands under the land laws of Congress. He took up the subject of roads as one of the most important to the people and advised the legislature to memori- alize Congress concerning their construction. He also counseled them to ask for the appointment of a surveyor general for the Territory and for liberal appropriations for the surveys, so that the settlers could intelligently locate their claims. He suggested some essential amend- ments to the land law making it possible to acquire title by the payments of the minimum valuation after a residence of one year, and that single women should be placed on the same foot- ing as married women. He urged the early set- tlement of the boundary question between Washington and the British territory on the north, and that Congress shall be memorialized on that subject, as well as on the necessity of continuing the geographical and geological sur- veys already commenced.

He treated ably, and at some lengthi, the position and relations of the Hudson's Bay Com- pany and the Puget Sound Agricultural Com- pany. He conceded they had certain rights granted to them, and certain land ceded to them, but that the vague nature of these rights, as well as of these lands, must needs lead to disputes concerning their possessions, and recommended that Congress should be memorialized to extin- guish their titles. He declared that the rights of the Hudson's Bay Company to trade with the Indians was no longer allowed, and that, under instructions from the Secretary of State, he had already notified that company that it would be allowed until July to close up its affairs, and that after that time the laws regulating intercourse with the Indians would be rigidly enforced.

The attention of the Legislature was urgently called to the necessity of providing for a school system, and asked that Congress be memorialized for a grant of land for a university. An efficient

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militia system was declared to be a necessity in a Territory so isolated, which must, in case of war, be compelled for a time to depend upon itself even for protection against foreign in- vasion.

This message strongly impressed the Legisla- tive Assembly and the people of the Territory, and showed the governor to be a broad-minded aud statesmanlike man.

Beyond complying with the suggestions of Governor Stevens in regard to memorials and such subjeets of legislation as he directed their attention to, the acts of the Legislature were mainly directed toward local interests, such as the formation of counties and designation of county seats, the appointment of a commission to codify the laws, the assigning of judges to distriets, and the selection of Olympia as the temporary capital of the Territory. When these things were attended to the Legislature ad- journed.

Soon after the Legislature adjonrned Gov- ernor Stevens repaired to Washington city to report in person on the results of his railroad survey, and to attend to such other matters as he might in the interests of the Territory. The Legislature had passed a resolution approving of his leaving the Territory for these purposes, and so he went armed with the double influence of his personal character and the approval of his constituents at home. Before going, with the thoroughness that marked all his work, he made an examination of the Sound, looking for the most feasible points for the terminus of the Northern Pacific road. Bellingham Bay, Seat- tle and Steilacoom impressed him favorably. The other matters that he specially desired to present to the attention of the government re- lated to Indian affairs, to the rights and privi- leges of the Hudson's Bay and Puget Sound Agricultural Companies, and to the settlement of the northern boundary of the Territory. The message of Governor Stevens relating to tbis subject, and his declared purpose of pressing the matter of its settlement at Washington, ar- rested the attention of the British authorities

on Vancouver Island and a conflict of authority arose on San Juan Island between I. N. Ebey, as United States collector of customs, and a jus- tice of the peace under the colonial government of Vancouver Island, named Griffin. Ebey, claiming San Juan as a part of the Territory of Washington, and finding that several thousand head of sheep and other .stock had been im- ported from Vancouver Island without being entered at the custom house, visited the island in his capacity as collector of customs. The Iludson's Bay steamer Otter, with Mr. Sankster, collector of customs for the British port of Vie- toria, on board, ran over to San Juan and an- chored near Mr. Ebey's encampment. When told by Mr. Ebey that he was on the island in his official capacity to enforce the revenne laws of the United States, Sankster then declared that he would arrest all persons and seize all vessels found navigating the waters west of the Straits of Rosario and north of the middle of the Straits of Juan de Fuca.

Mr. Ebey, by no means intimidated by this growl of the British lion, declared that an in- spector of customs should remain npon the island to enforce the revenue laws of the United States, and expressed the hope that no one pre- tending to be offieers of the British government would attempt to interfere with his official duties. Sankster ordered the British flag dis- played over the quarters of the Hudson's Bay Company on the island.

James Douglas, governor of Vancouver Island and also vice-admiral in the British navy, was on board the Otter during these pro- ceedings. Sankster proposed that Ebey go on board the Otter to hold a conference with Mr. Donglas, but was informed that the collector of Puget Sound district would be happy to meet Governor Douglas at his tent. This, however, the governor declined to do, and soon after the steamer returned to Victoria, leaving a boat's crew to watch. The next day Mr. Ebey ap- pointed and swore into office Mr. Webber as inspector of enstoms and stationed him upon San Juan Island,

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There was probably no intention on the part of Douglas of proceeding to hostile measures in vindication of the pretensions of Great Brit- ain to San Juan Island, but he did desire to state the pretensions of his government, and so dispute the elaims of the United States as to leave his case without prejudice from default when the final struggle came. Resolute as he was, in Mr. Ebey he met a man as resolute and far- seeing as himself, and the result of his course secured no advantage to Great Britain in the final settlement of the question of boundary be- tween the two countries, which is considered in another place.

The visit of Governor Stevens to the national capital was productive of much good to the Territory. The efforts of delegate Lancaster to secure the attention of Congress were proving abortive, and the addition of the powerful per- sonality and influence of Stevens to them com- pelled attention that could not be persuaded by the feeble solicitation of the delegate. It is just, too, to say that delegate Lane, of Oregon, gave the strong support of his influence to the measures of Lancaster and Stevens, and together they secured a fair consideration of the needs of the new Territory on the part of Congress.

They secured an appropriation of $30,000 for the construction of what was known as the "Mullan road" from the Great Falls of the Missouri via Cœur de Alene lake to Walla Walla; of $25,000 for the construction of a military road from The Dalles of the Columbia to Fort Vancouver; of $30,000 for a road from Fort Vancouver to Fort Steilacoom; and $89,- 000 for light-houses at various points on the coast. Liberal provision was also made for the Indian service, in which was included the sum of $100,000 to enable Governor Stevens to treat with the Blackfoot and other tribes in the north and east portions of the Territory.

Meantime, during the absence of the Gov- ernor, the current of events in the Territory flowed smoothly on, and there is little to record in the way of history. Only one thing ruffled the even surface of things, and that was the occasional predatory incursions of Indians from the north, sometimes attended with barbarous murders, which kept the scattered settlements along the shores of the Sound in more or less alarm. These, however, so far as necessary, will be considered in our chapters on the Indian Wars of Washington, and hence need not be considered at length in this connection.

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CHAPTER XVIII.

TERRITORIAL HISTORY, CONTINUED.

SLOW PROGRESS --- REASONS THEREFOR-POLITICS-FIRST DELEGATE TO CONGRESS-ORGANIZATION OF PARTIES JUDGE STRONG- J. PATTON ANDERSON-PERSONAL POLITICS-GROWING CON_ FUSION IN PARTY LINES - GOVERNOR STEVENS THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE -ALEXANDER ABERNETHY THE REPUBLICAN -- STEVENS ELECTED -- FAYETTE MCMULLIN, GOVERNOR FRASER RIVER MINING EXCITEMENT RESULTS UPON THE TERRITORY.

E VEN after a Territorial Government was fully instated the material progress of the country was very slow for quite a number of years. The reasons for this are patent. The open country east of the Cascade mountains was yet closed to settlement, and the region about Puget Sound was so inaccessible that only the most determined and resolute people, or those who had special connections of interest there, found their way thither. Be. sides there was no surplus population in any Pacific coast region eager to leave the limiting conditions of an annoying and crowded multi- tude to find personal freedom outside of throng- ing marts. All the coast was free and open, and there was verge and room enough every- where for breath and expansion. In a measure, too, the influx of Eastern immigration had ceased. Therefore the growth of the infant Territory innst needs be tirefully slow. The few thousands of people scattered over many more thousands of square miles of country had little to do but wait for the good times which their faith prophesied and their hope looked for that were sure to come in some sweet hereafter, and perhaps prove an overpayment of delight. But, after all, the hardest thing in the world is to wait. I'rovidence is slow, the ages are long, our life is brief, and avengings or rewards must come to us soon if at all. It was therefore not an easy lot that came to the isolated dwellers on Puget Sound and along the wooded river courses; and only a few were really great enough and strong enough to wait.

Still there is one refuge that the great Amer- ican mind can always find in city or on frontier,

namely, politics; and this refuge did not fail the people of this Territory in the present di- lenuna. It was a time of high political debate in the country at large, and the echoes of that debate flew into the door of every log cabin fromn Juan de Fuca to the Cascades. Grave national issues were discussed about every mountain camp-fire, in every logger's cabin and miner's hut; and, although Washington was yet bnt a Territory, and as such could have neither voice nor vote in the national legislature, no part of the country really took a more intel- ligent interest in the issues that were being joined between North and South, between loy- alty and disloyalty during the later fifties, than did these sturdy pioneers. What was to have been expected occurred. Political opinion was confused, if not chaotic. The pressure of events was not yet strong enough to solidify or erys- tallize the elements of patriotism that were float- ing in the mass of all parties into the order and purpose of a party organization, or to unite their opposites into an antagonizing order. It was a time of ereatiou, politically, in Washington, and "darkness was on the face of the deep.""

It is proper that we say that this was not to the discredit, but rather to the credit, of the people. They were too individualized and in- dependent to be swayed in a mass by appeals or passions. More solid thinking was never done by men than was done by the lumbermen from Maine and Michigan and elsewhere in the forests of the North along the shores of Puget Sound, and by the scattered home-makers from the prairies of Illinois and Missouri, or the shop-keepers from Boston and New York who

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had established themselves in the wilderness or on the corners of the streets of cities yet to be. than was done in this Territory at this time. That they did not all think alike was evidence that they all thought, and that no one thought for all.

Probably if the political sentiment of Wash- ington at this time were to be named after the fashion of the olden nomenclature, it must be classed as Democratic rather than Whig. The Territory had been admitted into the Union uuder Democratic auspices; its governor, Ste- vens, and its list of Federal office-holders had been appointed by a Democratic president, and it was but natural that that party should have seeured the vantage ground of strongest and most effective organization. Besides, just across the Columbia, Oregon, under the then almost controlling influence of Joseph Lane, was strongly on that side, and so the motive of political harmony with that Territory had its influence in determining the status of this.

There was really but one office in the Terri- tory that could serve as a test of party senti- ment. That was the office of delegate to Con- gress. Around this, therefore, the division took place. The first election for that office occurred so early after the organization of the Territory that party had comparatively little decisive in determining its result. At that election, as we have seen, Columbia Laneaster of Clarke county, in the southern portion of the Territory, was chosen. Ilis polities were as individnal as him- self, though his antecedent affiliation had been largely with the Whig party. With a certain appearance of solemn weight in his presence that was well matched with the method of his slow and oracular utterance, he succeeded in impressing himself upon enough of the voters of the territory that they had given him the honor of being their first representative in the Congress of the United States. But he lacked the alertness and vigor to retain the position that the auspicions time, together with his per- sonal elements, had given him, and hence his first service was his last in that capacity.

Doubtless geographical position had something to do with this result, for his residence was on the extreme southern limit of the Territory, and in a region that was rapidly outgrown and out- numbered by the region along Puget Sound. So it was not greatly to his discredit that, in the more stringent organization of parties in 1855, these things proved sufficient to defeat him before the Democratic convention, and to put in his place as a candidate for delegate to Congress J. Patton Anderson, who had come to this Territory as its first United States marshal, appointed by President Pierce, and who had over him the order of a strong pro-slavery Democrat of the most ultra Southern school.

By the opposition or Whig party Judge William Strong was nominated. Mr. Strong also came to the coast as a Federal appointee, bearing a judicial commission from Millard Fill- more. He was of large and imposing presence, and both as an officer and a man had won a considerable place in the regards of the people of the Territory. In after years he removed to the city of Portland, Oregon, where he resided until his death, maintaining a prominent posi- tion at the bar of that city and State. The result of the ballot gave Mr. Anderson the delegate- ship by a narrow margin over his abler com- petitor. But neither of the men who repre- sented the two great political parties of the country in this election figured afterward in the history of Washington to any considerable extent. Mr. Strong, as we have stated, removed from the Territory, and Mr. Anderson did not return to it to reside. He espoused the south- ern cause in the rebellion, and, though winning no high distinction, yet received a commission as brigadier-general from the Confederate gov- ernment. During this political canvass there were many indications of what was coming in the disruptions and disintegrations of old parties and the formation of new tones. A " free soil " candidate for Congress in the person of Joseph Cusliman received a small vote, while it was with difficulty that a large part of the Demo- cratic vote could be held to the candidate of

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that party. It was obvious to far-seeing men that causes were at work below the surface of things that might at any time, and certainly would at some time, work a revolution in the political complexion of the Territory. One of the causes was this: In the organization of the Territorial government and appointment of its officers, a great many able and ambitions men had been brought to the Territory. Others had come in charge of or associated with the govern- ment surveying parties, and had remained in what seemed to them this inviting field for per- sonal promotion. The ultimate star that guided each of these was self. They could not be ex- pected to act from a purely public and patriotic purpose, for each one supposed that, while serv- ing self he could serve the public at least as well as could any of his fellows. The larger parties, therefore, were made of the innumerable smaller personal parties of these able and aspir- ing men, and were held together by a very feeble tennre. A great, overshadowing publie interest, npon which the affections of the common people, who are always patriotic, could be united, would inevitably dissolve the old political tenures, and new and stronger ones would be formed. Be- sides, the very men of whom we have spoken were not destitute of patriotism, albeit they were personally ambitious of place and power, and when it became apparent to them that there were questions to be decided by the votes of the people greater than what individual should hold the offices, they too would be found ready to lead or follow the general impulse of change. That such a change was coming, and coming soon, was in the very air. Under such a state of things the Territory came up to the time for the election of another delegate to Congress to succeed J. Patton Anderson, during whose term of two years nothing of importance had been done to secure the interests of the Territory he rep- resented in the halls of Congress.

The logical candidate of the Democratic party for delegate to Congress in 1887 was Governor Stevens, although he had a strong and very bet- ter opposition among the leaders of his own

party, the causes and methods of which were far more creditable to him than to those who opposed him. It is not necessary that we lead our readers into the intricacies of the plots and counter plots of the period, as it would be much time spent to little profit. It is enough to say that, while Mr. Stevens had come into conflict with the judicial department of the government in some matters of administration relating to Indians and Indian affairs, and in these con- fiets his enemies had succeeded in indneing the president to reprimand him for his action, yet the people, and especially the volunteers who had served in the preceding Indian wars, felt that he was their friend and proper representa- tive, and were resolved to give him the place of honor and of power. Meantime, feebly follow- ing, at this early day, the trend of public senti- ment elsewhere, the Republican party had ef- fected an organization and put forward as its candidate for Congress Mr. Alexander Aber- nethy, a man of excellent personal qualities, but not well adapted to lead a new political crusade in the chances and changes of such an eventful period in the history of the country as this. The new party had in it not a few of the best and ablest men of the Territory, but the exi- gences of the country were not yet sufficiently apparent to lead the mass of the people to sun- der old political ties and enter new party affilia- tions. The result of the balloting gave the elec- tion to Mr. Stevens by a large majority, and on the 11th of August he resigned the office of governor, Secretary Mason taking his place as acting governor until the appointment of his successor. This was Fayette McMullin, of Vir- ginia, who held the office of governor only until July, 1858, when he was removed, having done nothing to entitle him to the confidence or grati- tnde of the people.

While McMullen himself did nothing worthy of record as governor of the Territory, yet dur- ing his term of office an event occurred that, while at first it seemed to interfere with the prosperity of the country. ultimately redounded to its prosperity. This was the discovery of

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gold on Fraser river in British Columbia, which awakened an intense excitement all over the coast. The history of this mining excitement does not belong to this book, only as it affected the prosperity of Washington. It drew away a large number of the people of the Territory, thus abstraeting population and labor from the resources of an already weak commonwealth, and leaving it for a time even poorer than it was before. Its progress had been so slow as to greatly discourage many of its friends, as was evident from the fact that there were but three more votes cast for delegate to Congress in 1857 than in 1855, or only 1,585 in all. On the whole this was about the most unpropitious era of the history of Washington, and the historian lingers in its story anxious to find something to relieve the sombre page of his record. This

mining excitement does not afford the relief, for instead of bringing population it took it away. Still there was a compensation in its after re- sults. It awakened the people who remained in the Territory to activity in promoting explo- rations and opening roads across the mountains into the open country to the east toward the upper Fraser mining regions. As the mining excitement diminished, and thousands of unsue- cessful men returned from British Columbia, a large number of them, some from choice but more from necessity, remained in the Puget Sound regions and became permanent settlers there. From this class Puget Sound probably doubled its population before the close of 1858. Thus what threatened at first to be a great ca- lamity of the country proved in the end to be a great benefit.

CHAPTER XIX.

TERRITORIAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

I. I. STEVENS AND HIS RELATION TO THE HISTORY OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY-HIS PERSONAL CHARACTER ELECTED TO CONGRESS RE-ELECTION- CRISIS IN HIS CAREER-RETURN TO OLYM- PIA --- DECLINED RE-NOMINATION-OFFERS HIS SERVICES TO GOVERNMENT --- COMMISSIONED COL- ONEL-BRIGADIER-GENERAL-DEATH-HONORS PAID HIS MEMORY-ELECTION OF DELEGATE TO CONGRESS RAPID CHANGES IN OFFICERS DEATH OF GOVERNOR MASON -- SEAL OF GOVERNMENT- REPUBLICAN APPOINTEES-GOVERNOR PICKERING- SECRETARY EVANS.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 24

Author: Hines, Harvey K., 1828-1902 Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 1056

Author: Hines, Harvey K., 1828-1902
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1056