3rd Arizona Territorial Legislature
Encyclopedia
The 3rd Arizona Territorial Legislative Assembly was a session of the Arizona Territorial Legislature
which began on October 3, 1866 in Prescott, Arizona
.
had been elected Arizona Territory's Delegate and resigned as governor on April 10, 1866. In his place, Territorial Secretary Richard C. McCormick had been appointed the territory's second governor. The other big political concern was that most of Pah-Ute County
, created by the previous session, had seen most of its land area transferred by the U.S. Congress to Nevada
on December 4, 1865.
Infrastructure presented continuing problems. The Governor was "ashamed to say that to this day there is not a stage coach running in Arizona". He also denounced the reliability of postal service, claiming faithless mail contractors had abandoned their duties due to the threat posed by Apache. To support the establishment of law and order
, McCormick recommended construction of jails and courthouses. He suggested the Apache threat could be dealt with by either moving them to reservations or by an influx of settlers crowding them out.
Financially, Governor McCormick reported that territorial debt had reached US$21,051.40. As a result he recommended that new expenditures be limited.
was dissolved while a district attorney
office was created. The Board of Territorial Auditor was likewise eliminated with a new Territorial Auditor position taking its place.
To deal with transportation needs, the legislature authorized counties to levy a special road tax to construct highways. Yavapai County received authorization to levy a special property tax
of $0.50 per $100 assessed value to pay for the construction of a jail
and other public buildings in Prescott.
The session passed a resolution honoring the accomplishments of the Arizona Volunteers, a ranger force organized to fight Apaches
, stated the Volunteers "have inflicted greater punishment upon the Apache than all other troops in the Territory, besides ofttimes pursuing him barefoot and upon half-rations, to his fastnesses, cheerfully enduring the hardships encountered on mountain and desert." Memoranda sent to the U.S. Congress included requests for additional mail routes and a plea to repeal the law transferring most of Pah-Ute county to Nevada.
Arizona Territorial Legislature
The Arizona Territorial Legislature was the legislative body of Arizona Territory. It was a bicameral legislature consisting of a lower house, the House of Representatives, and an upper house, the Council. Created by the Arizona Organic Act, the legislature initially consisted of nine members in...
which began on October 3, 1866 in Prescott, Arizona
Prescott, Arizona
Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It was designated "Arizona's Christmas City" by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford in the late 1980s....
.
Background
At the time of the session's meeting, Arizona Territory was still in the process of being settled. Roads, postal service, and other forms of infrastructure were limited and Apache posed a threat to the lives and property of American settlers. Governor John Noble GoodwinJohn Noble Goodwin
John Noble Goodwin was a United States attorney and politician who served as the first Governor of Arizona Territory...
had been elected Arizona Territory's Delegate and resigned as governor on April 10, 1866. In his place, Territorial Secretary Richard C. McCormick had been appointed the territory's second governor. The other big political concern was that most of Pah-Ute County
Pah-Ute County, Arizona
Pah-Ute County is a former county in the northwest corner of Arizona Territory that existed from 1865 until 1871. The majority of the county's territory is now in Clark County, Nevada, including the city of Las Vegas. Due to the transfer of most of the county's land to Nevada, Pah-Ute is known as...
, created by the previous session, had seen most of its land area transferred by the U.S. Congress to Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
on December 4, 1865.
Governor's address
Governor Richard C. McCormick gave his address to the legislature on October 8, 1866. During his speech he noted that a census earlier that year had shown a territorial population of 5,526. There had been "an abundant harvest" produced by local farmers and McCormich believed Arizona's mineral wealth had the potential to promote significant development.Infrastructure presented continuing problems. The Governor was "ashamed to say that to this day there is not a stage coach running in Arizona". He also denounced the reliability of postal service, claiming faithless mail contractors had abandoned their duties due to the threat posed by Apache. To support the establishment of law and order
Law and order (politics)
In politics, law and order refers to demands for a strict criminal justice system, especially in relation to violent and property crime, through harsher criminal penalties...
, McCormick recommended construction of jails and courthouses. He suggested the Apache threat could be dealt with by either moving them to reservations or by an influx of settlers crowding them out.
Financially, Governor McCormick reported that territorial debt had reached US$21,051.40. As a result he recommended that new expenditures be limited.
Legislation
The session oversaw a reorganization of the territorial government. The position of Territorial Attorney generalAttorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
was dissolved while a district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
office was created. The Board of Territorial Auditor was likewise eliminated with a new Territorial Auditor position taking its place.
To deal with transportation needs, the legislature authorized counties to levy a special road tax to construct highways. Yavapai County received authorization to levy a special property tax
Property tax
A property tax is an ad valorem levy on the value of property that the owner is required to pay. The tax is levied by the governing authority of the jurisdiction in which the property is located; it may be paid to a national government, a federated state or a municipality...
of $0.50 per $100 assessed value to pay for the construction of a jail
Jail
A jail is a short-term detention facility in the United States and Canada.Jail may also refer to:In entertainment:*Jail , a 1966 Malayalam movie*Jail , a 2009 Bollywood movie...
and other public buildings in Prescott.
The session passed a resolution honoring the accomplishments of the Arizona Volunteers, a ranger force organized to fight Apaches
Apache Wars
The Apache Wars were a series of armed conflicts between the United States and Apaches fought in the Southwest from 1849 to 1886, though other minor hostilities continued until as late as 1924. The Confederate Army participated in the wars during the early 1860s, for instance in Texas, before being...
, stated the Volunteers "have inflicted greater punishment upon the Apache than all other troops in the Territory, besides ofttimes pursuing him barefoot and upon half-rations, to his fastnesses, cheerfully enduring the hardships encountered on mountain and desert." Memoranda sent to the U.S. Congress included requests for additional mail routes and a plea to repeal the law transferring most of Pah-Ute county to Nevada.
Members
| House of Representatives | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | District | Name | District | |
| Underwood C. Barnett | Yavapai | William S. Little | Yavapai | |
| Oscar Buckalew | Pima | Michael McKenna | Pima | |
| Soloman W. Chambers | Pima | William J. Osborn | Pima | |
| Royal J. Cutler | Pah-Ute | Granville H. Oury (Speaker) | Pima | |
| Alonzo E. Davis | Mohave | Robert F. Platt | Yuma | |
| Marcus D. Dobbins | Yuma | John B. Slack | Yavapai | |
| James S. Douglas | Pima | Hannibal Sypert | Yavapai | |
| Daniel Ellis | Yavapai | William H Thomas | Yuma | |
| Thomas D. Hutton | Pima | Henry McC. Ward | Pima |
| Council | |
|---|---|
| Name | District |
| Mark Aldrick (President) | Pima Pima County, Arizona -2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*74.3% White*3.5% Black*3.3% Native American*2.6% Asian*0.2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.7% Two or more races*12.4% Other races*34.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:... |
| Octavius D. Gass | Pah-Ute Pah-Ute County, Arizona Pah-Ute County is a former county in the northwest corner of Arizona Territory that existed from 1865 until 1871. The majority of the county's territory is now in Clark County, Nevada, including the city of Las Vegas. Due to the transfer of most of the county's land to Nevada, Pah-Ute is known as... |
| William H. Hardy | Mohave Mohave County, Arizona Mohave County is located in the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2010 census, its population was 200,186, an increase of 45,154 people since the 2000 census count of 155,032. The county seat is Kingman... |
| Henry Jenkins | Pima |
| Daniel S. Lount | Yavapai Yavapai County, Arizona -2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*89.3% White*0.6% Black*1.7% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.5% Two or more races*5.0% Other races*13.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:... |
| Alexander McKey | Yuma Yuma County, Arizona -2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*70.4% White*2.0% Black*1.6% Native American*1.2% Asian*0.2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.8% Two or more races*20.8% Other races*59.7% Hispanic or Latino -2000:... |
| Mortimer R. Platt | Pima |
| John W. Simmons | Yavapai |
| Lewis A Stevens | Yavapai |