April Archives treasure #2: First territorial law

Since our state’s Legislature finally passed an operating budget and finished its special session earlier in the week, it’s fitting that the second Archives treasure for April is a legislative “first.” In fact, it’s the first page of the very first law passed by the Washington Territorial Assembly, in 1854! The legislation established election procedures, created precinct boundaries, and defined who could vote. At the time, the right to vote was limited to “white male inhabitants at least twenty-one years of age.” The third Archives treasure is still to come. The first treasure is the cross-sound bridge plans and map from several decades ago. After we feature the third and final treasure, you can vote on your favorite for this month.

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