8th Arizona Territorial Legislature
Encyclopedia
The 8th Arizona Territorial Legislative Assembly was a session of the Arizona Territorial Legislature
which convened from January 4, 1875, till February 12, 1875, in Tucson, Arizona Territory
.
's strategies were showing clear progress. Beginning in April 1873, a majority of the territory's Apache
population had began converging on Camp Verde
to seek amnesty. In exchange for food and protection, the surrendering Apache agreed to live on reservations
and follow the instructions of Indian agent
s. A secondary benefit of the military action was that the General had ordered his scouts
to map the trails they discovered. As a result, many areas previously unknown to American settlers were mapped.
While the 5th Arizona Territorial Legislature
had approved building a prison near Phoenix, no funds had been appropriated for its construction. As a result the territory still lacked a place to incarcerate convicted criminals.
gave his address to the session on January 6, 1875. As with his previous addresses, he gave an overview of the Indian Wars within the territory. Thanking the area military commander for his progress in this conflict, the Governor said, "General Crook, in the subjugation of the Apache, has sustained his former well earned military reputation and deserves the lasting gratitude of our people"
Economically, Safford reported the territory's mines were doing well but that low prices for grain was constraining the prosperity of area farmers. As there was a persistent shortage of qualified candidates willing to work for the offered salary, the Governor recommended doing away with the position Attorney General
. Finally he requested creation of voter registration
laws and creation of a territorial insane asylum to remove the need of contracting with California to handle the territory's mentally ill.
, seeking to rectify an oversight by a previous session, introduced a bill to finance the previously authorized prison in Phoenix. He was outmaneuvered by José M. Redondo, a prominent cattle rancher and irrigation pioneer, and Representative R. B. Kelly, both from Yuma County
, who managed to amend the bill to replace "Phoenix" with "Yuma." Thus the resulting US$25,000 bond
authorization resulted in the territorial prison being built in Yuma
.
In other action, the session permanently located the territorial capital in Tucson, imposed a bullion tax on mined minerals, and created Pinal County
from sections of Pima, Maricopa, and Yavapai counties.
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 convened from January 4, 1875, till February 12, 1875, in Tucson, Arizona Territory
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
.
Background
The Indian Wars continued throughout the territory, but General George CrookGeorge Crook
George R. Crook was a career United States Army officer, most noted for his distinguished service during the American Civil War and the Indian Wars.-Early life:...
's strategies were showing clear progress. Beginning in April 1873, a majority of the territory's Apache
Apache
Apache is the collective term for several culturally related groups of Native Americans in the United States originally from the Southwest United States. These indigenous peoples of North America speak a Southern Athabaskan language, which is related linguistically to the languages of Athabaskan...
population had began converging on Camp Verde
Camp Verde, Arizona
Camp Verde is a town in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town is 10,610....
to seek amnesty. In exchange for food and protection, the surrendering Apache agreed to live on reservations
Indian reservation
An American Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs...
and follow the instructions of Indian agent
Indian agent
In United States history, an Indian agent was an individual authorized to interact with Native American tribes on behalf of the U.S. government.-Indian agents:*Leander Clark was agent for the Sac and Fox in Iowa beginning in 1866....
s. A secondary benefit of the military action was that the General had ordered his scouts
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
to map the trails they discovered. As a result, many areas previously unknown to American settlers were mapped.
While the 5th Arizona Territorial Legislature
5th Arizona Territorial Legislature
The 5th Arizona Territorial Legislative Assembly was a session of the Arizona Territorial Legislature which met from November 10, 1868, to December 16, 1868, in Tucson, Arizona Territory. It was the last of the annual legislative sessions.-Background:...
had approved building a prison near Phoenix, no funds had been appropriated for its construction. As a result the territory still lacked a place to incarcerate convicted criminals.
Governor's address
Governor Anson P.K. SaffordAnson P.K. Safford
Anson Pacely Killen SaffordVarious sources give multiple variations for the spelling of Safford's two middle names. Among these are Peasley, Peacely, Keeler, and Killen. was the third Governor of Arizona Territory...
gave his address to the session on January 6, 1875. As with his previous addresses, he gave an overview of the Indian Wars within the territory. Thanking the area military commander for his progress in this conflict, the Governor said, "General Crook, in the subjugation of the Apache, has sustained his former well earned military reputation and deserves the lasting gratitude of our people"
Economically, Safford reported the territory's mines were doing well but that low prices for grain was constraining the prosperity of area farmers. As there was a persistent shortage of qualified candidates willing to work for the offered salary, the Governor recommended doing away with the position Attorney General
Attorney 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...
. Finally he requested creation of voter registration
Voter registration
Voter registration is the requirement in some democracies for citizens and residents to check in with some central registry specifically for the purpose of being allowed to vote in elections. An effort to get people to register is known as a voter registration drive.-Centralized/compulsory vs...
laws and creation of a territorial insane asylum to remove the need of contracting with California to handle the territory's mentally ill.
Legislation
Representative Granville H. Oury, representing Maricopa CountyMaricopa County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*73.0% White*5.0% Black*2.1% Native American*3.5% Asian*0.2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.5% Two or more races*12.7% Other races*29.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, seeking to rectify an oversight by a previous session, introduced a bill to finance the previously authorized prison in Phoenix. He was outmaneuvered by José M. Redondo, a prominent cattle rancher and irrigation pioneer, and Representative R. B. Kelly, both from Yuma County
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:...
, who managed to amend the bill to replace "Phoenix" with "Yuma." Thus the resulting US$25,000 bond
Bond (finance)
In finance, a bond is a debt security, in which the authorized issuer owes the holders a debt and, depending on the terms of the bond, is obliged to pay interest to use and/or to repay the principal at a later date, termed maturity...
authorization resulted in the territorial prison being built in Yuma
Yuma, Arizona
Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. It is located in the southwestern corner of the state, and the population of the city was 77,515 at the 2000 census, with a 2008 Census Bureau estimated population of 90,041....
.
In other action, the session permanently located the territorial capital in Tucson, imposed a bullion tax on mined minerals, and created Pinal County
Pinal County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*72.4% White*4.6% Black*5.6% Native American*1.7% Asian*0.4% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.8% Two or more races*11.5% Other races*28.5% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
from sections of Pima, Maricopa, and Yavapai counties.
Members
| House of Representatives | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | District | Name | District | |
| John T. Alsap John T. Alsap John Tabor Alsap was an American physician, lawyer, politician, and farmer active in the early days of Arizona Territory... (Speaker) |
Maricopa | A. L. Moeller | Yavapai | |
| Levi Bashford | Yavapai | John Montgomery | Pima | |
| Gideon Brooke | Yavapai | W. J. O'Neill | Yavapai | |
| S. H. Drachman | Pima | Granville H. Oury | Maricopa | |
| Jesús M. Elías | Pima | Samuel Purdy Jr. | Yuma | |
| H. Goldberg | Yavapai | Hugo Richards | Yavapai | |
| F. M. Griffin | Pima | Alphonso Rickman | Pima | |
| C. P. Head | Yavapai | George H. Stevens | Pima | |
| R. B. Kelly | Yuma | S. W. Wood | Mohave |
| Council | |
|---|---|
| Name | District |
| Peter Rainsford Brady Peter Rainsford Brady Peter Rainsford Brady was an American military officer, surveyor and politician. Following a short service in the United States Navy he joined the Texas Rangers, where he served during the Mexican-American war and along the western frontier... |
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:... |
| John G. Campbell | 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:... |
| A. E. Davis | 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... |
| S. R. DeLong | Pima |
| J. P. Hargrave | Yavapai |
| J. M. Renondo | 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:... |
| L. A. Stevens | Yavapai |
| King Woolsey King Woolsey King S. Woolsey was an American pioneer rancher, Indian-fighter, prospector and politician in 19th century Arizona. Woolsey Peak and other features of Arizona geography have been named after him, but he has also been criticized by historians for brutality in his battles with Apache native... (President) |
Maricopa Maricopa County, Arizona -2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*73.0% White*5.0% Black*2.1% Native American*3.5% Asian*0.2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.5% Two or more races*12.7% Other races*29.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:... |
| William Zeckendorf | Pima |