6th Arizona Territorial Legislature
Encyclopedia
The 6th Arizona Territorial Legislative Assembly was a session of the Arizona Territorial Legislature
which met in Tucson
beginning on January 11, 1871, and running till February 14, 1871.
's sixth legislative session was initially scheduled to occur in 1869. Governor Richard C. McCormick had departed to become Arizona's Territorial Delegate to Congress following the previous session however and his replacement had not arrived in time to issue a call for elections. In the intervening time, the U.S. Congress had passed legislation calling for the legislature to meet every two years instead of the previous annual meetings. During the mean time, Anson P.K. Safford
had become Governor of Arizona Territory.
The Indian Wars continued throughout Arizona Territory. Due to limited political influence and lack of telegraph and railroad service within the territory, there was little understanding of the situation on the East Coast of the United States
. Unsatisfied with the situation, the territorial government was exerting what influence they possessed to have General George Stoneman
(a future Governor of California
) replaced as commander of the District of Arizona
Compounding the Indian issue was the presence of Mexican outlaws raiding the territory.
A linger issue was the status of Pah-Ute County
. Created by the 1865 session of the legislature
, most of its land had been transferred to Nevada
by the U.S. Congress on May 5, 1866. As a result the county was only a fragment of its original size and its status remained uncertain.
as the territory's biggest concern, stating "the Apache Indians have never manifested the least disposition to live on terms of peace, until after they have been thoroughly subjugated by military power"
The second issue facing the territory was a lack of public schools. While there was a catholic school for girls
in Tucson and a private school
in Prescott
, there were no public schools for the nearly 2,000 children residing in Arizona Territory.
To address the Governor's call to establish a public education system, a territorial property tax
of US$0.10 per $100 assessed value was established to create a general education fund. The act also authorized the Board of Supervisors in each county to assess property tax of up to US$0.50 per $100 assessed value to finance operation of public schools.
A proposal to create a Pinal County made in response to appeals by residents of Pima
and Yavapai
counties was twice defeated in the House of Representatives by a vote of 7–8. A bill introduced later in the session succeeded in creating Maricopa County
from a portion of southern Yavapai County
west of the San Carlos River.
The act which created Pah-Ute County
was repealed returning the remains of the county to Mohave County
. Additionally the seat
of Yuma County
was moved from La Paz
to Arizona City
.
Neither Mohave
nor Pah-Ute
counties were represented at this session.
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 met in Tucson
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...
beginning on January 11, 1871, and running till February 14, 1871.
Background
Arizona TerritoryArizona Territory
The Territory of Arizona was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863 until February 14, 1912, when it was admitted to the Union as the 48th state....
's sixth legislative session was initially scheduled to occur in 1869. Governor Richard C. McCormick had departed to become Arizona's Territorial Delegate to Congress following the previous session however and his replacement had not arrived in time to issue a call for elections. In the intervening time, the U.S. Congress had passed legislation calling for the legislature to meet every two years instead of the previous annual meetings. During the mean time, Anson P.K. Safford
Anson 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...
had become Governor of Arizona Territory.
The Indian Wars continued throughout Arizona Territory. Due to limited political influence and lack of telegraph and railroad service within the territory, there was little understanding of the situation on the East Coast of the United States
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
. Unsatisfied with the situation, the territorial government was exerting what influence they possessed to have General George Stoneman
George Stoneman
George Stoneman, Jr. was a career United States Army officer, a Union cavalry general in the American Civil War, and the 15th Governor of California between 1883 and 1887.-Early life:...
(a future Governor of California
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
) replaced as commander of the District of Arizona
District of Arizona
District of Arizona was a subordinate district of the Department of New Mexico territory created on August 30, 1862 and transferred to the Department of the Pacific in March 1865.-District of Arizona Commanders:...
Compounding the Indian issue was the presence of Mexican outlaws raiding the territory.
A linger issue was the status 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 1865 session of the legislature
2nd Arizona Territorial Legislature
The 2nd Arizona Territorial Legislative Assembly was a session of the Arizona Territorial Legislature which began on December 6, 1865, in Prescott, Arizona, and ran for 24 days...
, most of its land had been transferred 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...
by the U.S. Congress on May 5, 1866. As a result the county was only a fragment of its original size and its status remained uncertain.
Legislative session
The session convened on January 11, 1871. To address problems cause by Apache depredations during the preceding two years and special committee was formed to address the issue.Governor's address
The Governor's address was given on January 14, 1871. He used the speech to label the Apache WarsApache 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...
as the territory's biggest concern, stating "the Apache Indians have never manifested the least disposition to live on terms of peace, until after they have been thoroughly subjugated by military power"
The second issue facing the territory was a lack of public schools. While there was a catholic school for girls
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
in Tucson and a private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
in Prescott
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....
, there were no public schools for the nearly 2,000 children residing in Arizona Territory.
Legislation
The result of the special committee on the Apache issue was creation of a memorial to Congress containing statements from leading citizens and Army officers detailing the situation and requesting additional military presence. Typical of the included testimony was a statement from Governor Stafford reading, "during the year 1870 the Apache Indians have been and are now in more active hostility than at any time since the Territory has been under the American Flag."To address the Governor's call to establish a public education system, a territorial 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 US$0.10 per $100 assessed value was established to create a general education fund. The act also authorized the Board of Supervisors in each county to assess property tax of up to US$0.50 per $100 assessed value to finance operation of public schools.
A proposal to create a Pinal County made in response to appeals by residents of 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:...
and 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:...
counties was twice defeated in the House of Representatives by a vote of 7–8. A bill introduced later in the session succeeded in creating Maricopa County
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:...
from a portion of southern Yavapai County
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:...
west of the San Carlos River.
The act which created 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...
was repealed returning the remains of the county to Mohave County
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...
. Additionally the seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of 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:...
was moved from La Paz
La Paz, Arizona
La Paz was a short-lived, early gold mining town along the Colorado River in La Paz County on the western border of the U.S. state of Arizona. It was the location of the La Paz Incident in 1863, the westernmost confrontation of the American Civil War. The town was settled in 1862 in what was then...
to Arizona City
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....
.
Members
| House of Representatives | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | District | Name | District | |
| John Anderson | Pima | Joseph Melvin | Yavapai | |
| Thomas J. Bidwell | Yuma | James L. Mercer | Yavapai | |
| C. H. Brinley | Yuma | William Morgan | Pima | |
| Marcus D. Dobbins (Speaker) | Yuma | William J. O'Neill | Yavapai | |
| Jesús M. Elías | Pima | Ramón Romano | Pima | |
| J. H. Fitzgerald | Yavapai | Rees Smith | Pima | |
| W. L Fowler | Pima | John L. Taylor | Yavapai | |
| F H. Goodwin | Pima | G. A. Wilson | Yavapai |
| Council | |
|---|---|
| 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... |
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:... |
| Harley High Cartter Harley High Cartter Harley High Cartter, Sr. , born Harlehigh Cartter, was an American jurist who served as Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of Arizona Territory and President of the Council during the 6th Arizona Territorial Legislature.-Biography:Cartter was born in Lowville, New York on March 23, 1810 to... (President) |
Yavapai |
| Francisco S. Léon | 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:... |
| Andrew J. Marmaduke | Yavapai |
| Estevan Ochoa Estevan Ochoa Estevan Ochoa was a Mexican-born American businessman and politician who participated in the creation of the Arizona Territory.-Biography:... |
Pima |
| John H. Phillips | 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:... |
| Hiram S. Stevens | Pima |
| Daniel H Stickney (President) | Pima |
Neither 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...
nor 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...
counties were represented at this session.