DELLEVUEJJAZETTE.
1IKNHY M. HURT,
Ntwi and I.or rJitor.
DELLE VUE, N. T.
THURSDAY, DEC. 17, 1857.
Nebraska Legislature.
Th Fourth Legislative Assembly, cf
Nebraska Trrritory, convened at Omaha
City, oo Tuesday, Dec. 8, 1857.
COUNCIL
. : ; Tuesday, Dec. 8th. .
Council was called to order, ly Air.
Allan of Sarpy.
Gen. L. L. Bowen was chosen Presi
dent fro em., Warshburn SofTord, Clerk,
pro ttm., when the Council proceeded to
permanently organize, ly the election of
Geo. L. Miller, President, Washburn
Saflbrd of Otoe, Chief Clerk, Sam'l II.
Elbert, Asst. Clerk, John Reck, Sergeant.
at-Arms, and Joseph 11. Cromwell, Door
Keeper, Rev. Mr. Watson, Choplin.
Wednesdny, Dec. 9th.
The President announced the Standing
Committees.
The Council repaird to the Hall of the
House of Representatives, to hear the
Governor's Message, after which, ad
journed. Thursday, Dec. 10th.
Mr. Reeves, Chairman of Select Com
mittee, reported that the Government
would pay the postage of the members
and Chief Clerk of the Council.
The following Bills were introduced :
An Act to locate a Territorial road
from Omaha to Elkhorn River.
An Act to incorporate the City of
.Washington, in Dakota County.
An act to incorporate the town of Oma
di, in Dakota County.
An act to repeal an act, entitled an net
to restrain sheep and twine from running
at large, in Dakota County.
An act to provide for the better regu
lation of schools in Nebraska.
An act amending the charter of Nema
ka City.
.vAa act incorporating the Nemaha Hy
draulic Company. .
On motion of Mr. Bo wen, a Committee
was appointed to inquire iuto the condi.
tion of the Capitol building, its cost and
to whom it belonged.
" Messrs. Bowen and Rogers, were ap
pointed such Committee. Adjourned.
Friday, Dec. 11th.
The following Bills were introduced :
. An act consolidating the corporations of
Nebraska City, South Nebraska City, and
Kearney City.
!'An act to ' incorporate the town of
Greegsport.
Geo. A. Graves wns elected enrolling
and engroting Clerk. -
Messrs. Bradford and Rogers were ap
pointed a Committee of two, on part of
the Council, to confer with a like commit
tea, on the part of the House, to report a
criminal code. Adjourned.
Saturday, Dec. 12th.
The following Bills were introduced :
An act regulating fees and salaries.
An act regulating the sale of spiritous
liquors.
Mr. Bvnren moved that a Committee of
two be appointed on the part of the Couu
cil, to confer with like Committee from
the House, to inquire into the condition of
Baoka in the Territory, and also to inquire
into the expediency of enacting a general
banking law, similar to the banking law
of Wisconsin or Illinois.
Messrs. Bowen and Sailisbury, were
appointed such Committee.
Mr. Sa fiord, by leave, inttoduced the
following Bill :
An act exempting the homestead from
forced sale.
On motion of Mr. Kirkpatrick, the
Council went into the Committee of the
whole, on the Governor's Message. Mr.
Bowen in the Chair.
HOUSE.
Tuesday, Dec. Sih.
The House temporarily organised by
electing S. A. Strickland of Sarpy, Speak
er; S. M. Curran of Washington, Chief
Clerk ; Hudson George of Nemaha, As
sistant Clerk ; John E. Dailey of Doug,
las, Sergeant-at-Arms ; Isaac K. Fisher
of Douglas; Door Keeper.
Oa motion of Mr. Armstrong, a Com
mittee of five was appointed to examine
the credentials of Members. Messrs.
Holloway, Hail, Stewart of Washington,
-MauetU) and Taggart, were elected
. auch Committee.
'J '"' ; Wednesday, Dec. 9ih.
The Committee on credentials reported
that they had examined the credentials of
members, and Sad the following mem
ben duly elected, and entitled to eats :
Burl and Cuming.
William 11. Bock.
Can.
. . Lawson Sheldon, T. M. Marquette, K.
A. Donelan.
Dakota.
William G. Crawford, FJward C.
Jones.
Douglas..
George Armstrong, James Stewart,
Joseph W. Paddock, Wl R. Thrall, Geo.
Clnyes, John Steinherger, Andrew J.
Popplelon, Michael Murphy.
Dtxlgt und Platlt.
John W. Taggart. .
Ntmaha and Johmon.
Albert J. Benedict, Samuel A. Cham
bers. . .
Richardson end Pavmet.
Wingate King, A. F. Cromwell.
Srtrjn.
Amos Giites, Charles Holloway, James
Davidson, Silas A. Strickland.
Washington,
Parris O. Cooper, P. C. Sullivan,
James S. Stewart.
Otoe.
Win, B. Hail, Joshua G. Abbe, J. ft
Campbell, J. Sterling Morton, James C.
Decker, I). B. Rolb.
Which Report was received and
adopted.
On motion of Mr. Benedict, the name
of Mr. Minich of Nemaha, was added
to the list.
Mr. Poppleton moved that the House
now proceed to ballot for permanent olii
cers. Carried.
Mr. Decker moved the House now pro
ceed to elect ollicera, viva voce.
Mr. Poppleton challenged motion.
The Speaker decided House coulJ only
vote viva voce under rule.
An appeal was taken, and the ayes and
nayes being demanded, resulted in the
chair being sustained.
Mr. Poppleton moved suspension
rules. Carried.
Mr. Poppleton moved that the House
now proceed to ballot for permanent offi
cers. Carried.
Messrs. Paddock and Holloway were
appointed tellers, for Speaker.
Mr. Holloway nominated Mr. Decker
of Otoe. Mr. Paddock nominated Mr.
Morton of Otoe. .
Mr. Decker wys elected ou first ballot
by a vote of twenty to twelve.
The House then proceeded to ballot for
Chief Clerk. Messrs. Curran of Wash
ington and J. Howard of Cass, were nom
inated. Mr. Currnn wa elected on first ballot,
by a vote of nineteen to fourteen.
The House Ihon proceeded to elect
other permanent officers. Mr. Howard
of Dakota was elected Assistant Clerk.
Mr. Matthias of Sarpy ,Sergant-al- Arms.
Mr. Fisher of Douglas, Door Keeper,
and Rev. Mr. Chivington, Chaplain.
The Secretary then came within the
bar nnd administered the oath of office to
officers and members.
The Council mid House then met in
joint Session, and received Governor's
Message.
On motion it was Resolved, That the
Territorial Printer be directed to publish
3000 copies of Governor's Message.
Thursday and Friday.
The greater part of these two days
was occupied in a discussiou of tho pro
priety of electing a Page. The- oppo
nents of the measure, based their ppposi
tion upon the ground, that, as the United
Mates Oovernment had made no provis
ion for lite payment of such an otficcr, it
was not right for the Legislature to sad
dle the expense upon the Territory. That
it was the duty of the Legislature to re
trench expense. That we had dono with
out a Page last year, and could do without
this year. However, afier much und elo
quent debate, the House decided to elect a
Page.
Clarence Clark of Douglas was elected.
The following notices of Bills were
j,iven:
By Mr. Armstrong: A Bill to incorpo
rate the Grand Lodge of Free and Ac
cepted Masons of Nebraska.
By Mr. Steinbergtr : A Bill to repeal
all the Bank Charters in the Territory.
By Mr. Abbe : A Bill to incorporate
the town of Brooklyn, in Otoe County.
Also a Homestead Bill.
By Mr. Poppleton: A Bill to provide
a criminal code for Territory of Nebraska.
By Mr. Paddock: A Bill to incorpo
rate the Omaha Library Association.
By Mr. Taggart: A Bill to amend
the charter of the city of Fontenelle.
By Mr. Hail: A Bill granting a char
ter for a Ferry across Missouri River at
Nebraska City.
By Mr. Martin : A Bill to consolidate
Kearney City, Nebraska City and South
J Nebraska, under one inunicp!e charter.
By Mr. Strickland : A Bill to incorpo
ratej an Agricultural Society, for the
County of Sarpy.
By Mr. Holloway s A Bill to repeal
Act incorporating Leau qui court companj
By Mr. Sullivan: A Bill ammeuding
attai nment Law. Also, a Bill repealing
exemption law. 1
By Mr. Campliell: A Bill to regulate
trade in intoxicating liquors.
By Mr, King: A Bill to authorize ar
bitration of causes pending in District
Courts.
Notices of a number of other Bills of
minor importance were given, which we
will notice in their proper place.
Mr. Armstrong presented the petition
of Alonzo Perkins, claiming a right in
Perkins to sit as a Delegate from Wash
ington County, which was referred to a
Committee ou Privileges und Elections.
The Committee on Credentials reported
that they had examined the credentials of
Joseph Van Horn ; and that he wns en
titled to a sent in the House as Delegate
fram Cass.
Mr. Van Horn was sworn in.
The House then determined thnt their
daily sessions should commence at 9
o'clock, A. M.
Saturday, Dec. 12th.
On motion of Mr. Holloway, the
Clerk wai instructed to furnish each
member of the IIouso with twenty copies
per week, of som; newspaper or newspa
pers, published in thu Territory, to be se
lected by each member.
The Committee on Rules and Regula
tions, for the Government of the House,
reported that they had examined Rules of
last House, and recomneuded their adop
tion. Uepott received and adopted; and 150
copies of said rules ordered to be printed
for use of members.
Mr. Stewart of Douglas, presented Re
port of Superintendent of Com. Schools;
which was received and adopted, nnd 500
copies ordered to be printed for use of
members.
House went into Committee of the whole
on Governor's Message. Mr. Paddock
n the Chair.
Mr. Strickland gave notice of a Bill to
regulate mnnner.and change day of hold
ing general election.
Messrs Bowen nnd Salisbury 'of Coun
cil, ami Messrs. Armstrong, Strickland,
and Donclan of the House, we.e appoint
ed a j )int Committee, to investigate the
condition of Bunks in the Territory.
The greater part of the afternoon ses
sion, was spent in mi exhibition of tho
country member', to the inspection and
scrutiny of tho urbane Indies. Said exhi
bition was highly satisfactory to the la
dies. But one incident transpired to mar
tho harmony of the occasion. Several
of the members frein the outer districts,
would indulge in raising a cloud of smoke,
caused by brrning of tho Virginia weed.
At this the ladies became disgusted, anJ
left in high dudgeon
Slundins; Committees.
COUNCIL.
Judiciary. Messrs. Bradford, Rogers
ami Kirkpatrick.
Finance, IVuys ami Means. Messrs.
iiri,patric;, Keeves ana Allen.
Education, Messrs. Furnas, Bowen
and Puett.
Military sJjf.iirs. Messrs. Bowen,
.Mr Donald snd Clancy.
Highway, Bridges a ni Ferries. Mes
srs. Sarford, Pumas and Sulisbury.
Expenditures. Messrs. McDonald,
ralloil ami Uowen.
Lworporations. Messrs. Salisbury,
h.irl.patric! ami McDonald.
Ttrritori.il Library. Messrs. Clancy,
Alien nnd Jfrndfcru.
Pvliic Buildings. Messrs. Rogers,
Sailsburv and Puett.
Elections. Messrs. Rogers, Clapry
and Niiiord.
Count if.. Messrs. Puett, Salisbury
and Snltoi'i!.
Piiiiti ig. Messrs Kirkpatrick, Ro,
ers nnd Puett.
, Agriculture. Messrs. Reeves, McDo
nald and Furnas.
Enrolling and Engrosing Bills. Mes
sirs. Allen and Reeves.
HOUSE.
Privileges and Elections. Messrs
Campbfil, Strickland, Chambers, Pad
dock and Beck.
Hays and Mean. Messrs. Thrall,
Steinberiter, Beck, Jones, and King.
Juditiury. Messrs. Crawford, Pop
pleton, Marquette, Campbell and Sullivan,
Accouuts and Exixndilures. Messrs,
Albe, Armstrong, Benedict, Rogers and
. i is
jneiuon.
Agriculture. Messrs. Chambers,
Cromwell, Vanhorn, Murphy and Morton.
Roads. Messrs. Stewart, of Douglas,
Robb, Joues, Thrall, and Mimch.
Militia. Messrs. Gates, Cooper,
Claves, Thrall, and Sheldon.
Put, He Buildings and Grounds. -Messrs.
Hail, Donelan, Holloway, Poppleton,
and Benedict.
Internal Improvements. Messrs Clayes,
Davidson, Robb, Mimch, and Rogers.
Federal Rrlations. Messrs. Donclan,
Stewart of Washington, Murphy, Gates,
and Crafjrd.
Engrossed and Enrolled Bills. Messrs
Paddock, Davidson, Abbe, Vanhorn, and
Cooper.
County Boundaries, and Covnly Stats.
Taggart, Hail, Holloway, Vanhorn,
and Beck. '
Corjwrations. Messrs. Holloway,
Steinberger, Cooper, Hail, and Benedict.
Library. Messrs. King, Thrall, Min
ich, Morton, and Davidson.
Banks ami Currency. Messrs. Strick
land, Sullivan, Robb, Stewart of Douglas,
and Steinbergcr.
Common Schools, Colleges, and t'nitvr-
iies. Messrs. Stewart, of Washington,
Murphy, Sheldon, Armstrong, and Crom
well. 1
Public Printing. Messrs. Marquette,
Davidson, Taggart, Morton and Arm
strong. (ovcrnor'i Message.
Gentlemen vf the Council and House of
Represntatives :
We are nsseinbled, to-day, under the
most favorable auspices. The Territory
of Nebraska has, thus far, achieved all
that her friends could nsk. Her early or
ganization and rnpid progress hnve signal
ly illustrated tho safety and expansive
force of the principle of the federal coin
pact, from which naturally, sprang her
Organic Act.
The imprint of her "Great Seal" has
been genuxne. Port lab Sovcacion
tv " has been vindicated ; ' Prourcss,"
verified. Peace and good order, practi
cal vigor and manly observance of consti
tutional obligations have characterized the
conduct of our people. No dangerous ag
nations or political heresies have been per
mitted to take root; but the seeds of in
dustry, education and law, planted at the
commencement, by enterprising and prac
tical men, have vended the legitimate fruit
of a safe nnd efficient self government.
L nder such circumstances, and inhabit
ing a county of such vast extent, natural
eatity and productive wealth although
lamentable dissensions hnve given to our
sister territory a wider notoriety we may
well congratulate each other, to-day, upon
our verification of tho political truth,
' Happy is that people whose annals arc
tranquil.
We hnvs assuredly, no ordinary cause
of gratiude to Him who rules over all
thing, for the opportunities vouchsafed us
the advantages of geographical posi
tion on the great natural line of com
merce a foremost place in the race of
Territories and the facilities of modern
improvements and ereat enterprises to
promote our advancement in every de
partment oi industry and art. By a con
tinued adherance to wise and moderate
councils by earnest and real public spir
it and internal harmony, immigration will
be rapidly increased our new counties
speedily populated the great cities of the
sea board will identify with ours their
commercial interests and capital once
more liberated from financial paralysis
will find its safe and more profuuble in
vestment in the fee-simple of our fertile
woodlands, prairies and valleys.
Reposing entire confidence in the in-
tegr ty nnd intelligence of the represent
atives of a rreat people, convened to de
liberate for the general good, 1 cordially
unite w ith von in a deep sense of the res
ponsibilities devolved and a sincere desire
to co-operate w ith you in meriting the
good opinion of our constituents at large.
To protect most effectually thetr interests;
to elevate public character; to foster in
dustry, temperance and virtue; to build
up institutions of charity ; to educate
those who are to follow us; to stimulate
to public spirit and moral manliness ; to
systematise and adapt the duties of Ter
ritorial, County und Township officers ; to
consolidate and perfect a code of practice ;
to develop our natural and mineral wealth;
in a word, to direct the Supt erne power
to the best good of the governed and
achieve for Nebraska that sterling name
and conspicuous place which her natural
resources nnd th bpirit of her people de
verve and demand and to effect all this
in the short space of forty days, in nn as
sembly of two Houses and conflicting in
tetests, i i a manner su'.isla tory to any of
us, is certainly a task requiring conscien
tious u ltd constant application, regardless
of considerations of personal or local grat
ification or advantage.
We meet to-day, for the fourth time, at
the place first chosen for the Territorial
Capitol, and in the spacious and imposing
edifice now neatly completed under the
appropriation by the General Govern
ment, and through the public spirit of the
City of Omaha. The cjstof the struc
ture having far exceeded the estimates
and the deficit having been promptly con
tributed for the general good, there can
be no doubt that justice of an earnest ap
peal for the reimbursement of the amount
(5)50,000) will be recognized by every
citizen ; nor can we refrain from the be
lief that Cnj;ress will not be reluctant to
defray the additional requisite expense.
The actual necessities of the Territory
require the servir.es of a Surveyor Gener
al, and assurances have been received en
couraging the hopi that an effort to se
cure such an appointment will be success
ful. The memorial for the proper distribu
tion or troops along tlm emigrant line
should also be renewed, in connection
with an application for crams of land for
railroads. The propriety of such assist
ance from the General Government is un
questionable. W are on the direct Kne
of communication between the great ports
of the Atlantic and Pacific. The com
merce of the lakes we lis the tide with the
mineral and agricultural wealth of the
north, and if to-day the wisdom of the feder
al ion should be called upon to fix the most
feasible and profitable national route, it
would teem that a determination in favor
of this natural line between the depots of
the tar east and west, along the A alley of
the Platte, would be coerced by the ne
cessities of trade, with the force of math
ematical truth applied to experemeutal
practice.
Private enterprise cannot be relied upon
ta undertake so stupendous a project. Un
der the social and business system of this
country, there is no monopoly. Individu
als, with or without money, credit or posi
tion, may project railroads and other in
ternal improvements, barter in shares and
at last abandon their schemes to their own
advantage and the ruin of others. The
fluctuations and uncertainties of private
speculations will not be seriously enter
tained in the action of the General Gov
ernment upon a matter of such admitted
military necessity and national import
ance. Provisions for a railroad to the
Pacific, along the route above mentioned
should be urgently sought from Congress
at its present session, before the most valu
able land shall have been secureed by
speculators or settlers.
We may congratulate each other how
ever, on the actual commencement of a
work of approximate and preliminary im
portance. The arrangements for the
completion of the second Division of the
Atlantic and the Pacific Telegraph from
the Missouri River to the Pacific, have
been perfected under the direction of Mes
srs. Henry O. Reily, John J. Speed and
other eminent contractors and practical
lelegrnphers. While the public pulse has
been so quickened by the hope of an Oce
anic communication between the old nd
new worlds, comparatively little has been
said in respect to a lino or more direct
benefit to our own country to be built
without either money or favor from the
Government and requiring only such
protection as the interests of the country
demand for the security of hmigrants,
The proprietors solicit only a proper dis
tribuiwn of Government Troops, in gnrri
sons separated by a reasonable distance
and having a certain and daily communi
cation by means of detachments. By
troops thus apportioned, the letter mails
could be regularly transmitted, travelers
protected, railroad projects advanced, the
country colonized ond the telegraph line
completed m a short space of time, with
out addition expense to the General Gov
eminent. The citizens of the West can
not regard with indifference so public spir
ited an ellort and in which the only en
courngements asked is that protection of
intercourse which should long since have
b-en conceeded, in justice to western in
terests.
A memorial should also be forwarded,
praying for an appropriation for a milita
ry bridge across the Platte Kiver. Lvery
good citizen ardently desires that ih fruit
less sectional alienation heretofore exist
ing between the two sections of the terri
tory should cease forever, and willl heart
ly approve the endeavors of your honora
ble body to contribute to such a result,
I lie importance of the earliest 'transmis
sioii of these memorials to Congress should
elicit immediate action.
To the country at large the past has
been truly an eventful year. A disus
trous monetary revulsion delayed for i
time by the great supplies of gold from
estern discoveries has befallen us at
Inst prostrating credit destroying con
fidence ruining individual and associated
capitalists disclosing monstrous frauds,
and bringing distress, penury and beggary
to the doors of tens of thousands of the
industrious clusses, all over the Union,
In the public prints are long lists of brok
en or suspended banks. The immense
influx of coin hat only stimulated to an in
creased manufacture of paper promises.
It is estimated that about two thirds of the
currency of the country is Veil. The cri
sis was inevitable, and it remains only to
profit by its severe and emphatic warn
ings. It mny be urged that specie is again re
turning to its former channels, and that
public trust wll soon revive. Yet what
an amount of coin will repair the injury
already wrought or afford a basis se
curity against human avarice, stimulated
to extravagant speculation, nnd unscrupu
lous excesses, by the facilities afforded by
an insecure Banking System. The His
tory of profitable" banking is inevitably
the history of alternate depression, over
action and ruinous expansion. May we
not hope tliafihe eveuu of the year will
lead to a general reform, aud to the re
striction of paper to the use of commer
cial men? Believing, as I do, that the
whole system of Banking is insecure
even when based on State Stocks aud Se
curities where one promise to pay is
made the basis of another both, perhaps,
equally falacious tnd being especially
convinced that the institution of banks in
this Territory was impolitic, and that there
are imperfections iu the Charters I re
spectfully urge that some adequate means
be taken to remedy the evil, and protect
our citizens in future. Many persons who
h ive realized from such systems, advan
tage to themselves, may have heretofore
been no danger to others. But the exper
iment has uow, at last, been fully tried,
and none can be so far deluded by the
transient stimulous and temporary vigor
imparted to business transactions by traffic
in expanded credit, as to fail to see the
necessity of additional protection of labor
and of the great agricultural and other
producing interests, upon which our true
prosperity depends. The action of the
first few years is apt to fix the character
of the future State; and, in the important
respect of the fiuancial policy, to be pur
sued, no timidity or indifference or inter
ested motives should be permitted to pre
vent or postpone a determined effort to
avert in future, calamities such a- those
from which the country is just emerging.
The Banks now in existence in the Ter
ritory are perhaps as safe as most of such
institutions prudently inauaged in their
infancy, but few of the community have
suffered loss ; yet it is eq ally true, that
the profits are to be made hereafter, la
the mean lime, gold and silver, withdrawn
from Eastern adventurers and depositors,
may be expected in sufficient quantities
for the ordinary purposes of trade. Al
though, therefore, Paper Money is now
so identified with the business habits of
the community, that the prospect of its
abolishment perhaps for a long time to
come seems impracticable, ana to many ab
surd ; yet, within our own jurisdiction, by
proper safeguards and restrictions, we may
apr-ximate such a result; and may now
provide that the full specie equivalent of
all circulated bank paper shall be at all
times within the reach of every citizen.
By a monthly, or at least quarterly inspee-
tion of the Banks, by sworn and responsi
ble officers, it can be known that specif
means, are actually held, fairly proportion
ate to paper issues. The circulation of
bank notes of a smaller denomination at
first than five dollars; and afterwards of
ten dollars, should be prohibited, and it
may be provided that Commissioners shall
assume the direction of the affairs of sus
pended banks, on the first day of their
suspension. It seems also worthy of con
sideration whether the excessive importa
tion of foreign bonk bills should not be
restricted by requiring the additional en
dorsement of aush Banking Houses-
chartered or private, as may issue
them.
The institution of Bankrupt and Relief
laws has been urged by many for the
?urpose of augmenting our Federal
Vealth the first for the accommodation
of insolvent debtors, reducing to embar
rassment by unlooked for disasters the
last for the security of encumbered capi
talists against foreign liabilities. Under
no such laws can a just discrimination bt
made between the unfortunate delinquent
and the successful and unprincipled swin
dler. Their necessary effect is lo ignore
the faith of contracts and demoralize so
ciety without conferring ultimate benefit.
Considerations ' of policy as well as of
morals, dictate that our real welfare can
only be consulted by occupying and retain
ing a safe, elevated, and honorable posi
tion, the experience of communities, as
well as of individuals having abundantly
taught that true happiness and greatness
have no friends as sure as Integrity and
Honor.
Our code of practice is universally re
garded by the bar as meagre and defec
tive. The statutes are limited, confused
and contradictory : in consequence both
the bar and the public are unable lodetei
mine the correct mode of proceedure in
cases of frequent occurrence ; and the
judges being left without a definite statu
tory guide in their decisions, have teo
great a latitude of discretion as little de
sirable to them, as annoying to parties.
To accomplish the desired amendments,
one or more practical and experienced
lawyers should be appointed, and such rea
sonable compensation allowed as will in
duce them to devote to the work the nec
essary time and study. It is impossible
for a committee of the legislatuae, amid
the pressing diuis crowding upon them in
a brief session to contribute the required
ability and attention. There are needed
steady and faithful comparison of on
part of the code with another, and careful
examination of analogous statutes of oth
er states and of the decisions of the
courts. ' -
In August, 1856, Congress passed an
act for the purpose mainly of reducing
the expenses of the Territorial Courts,
thrown upon the federal treasury. Un
der this law the judges are required t
fix the times and places of holding the
courts, but are restricted to three points in
the Territory, or one in each district.
Hence, parties, jurors and witnesses are
compelled to attend from remote parts of
the district or the judges must assume
the responsibility of delaying proceedings.
An effort should be made to amend the
act by a provision allowing ea h county to
assume and def.ay the additional expense
necesiary for the public convenience.
The necessity of passing an act permit
ting the payment by the counties of the
extra expenses in cae the law of Con
gress should be ameuded is obvious and
imperative.
The increase and changes of our popu
lation seem to demand a new arragement
of Judicial Districts. The recent and
rapid settlements northward of Dahkotah.
extending to Niobrarah, have imposed an.
undue proportioa of labor on the judge of
the Third District. A modification of the
present division is therefore suggested
by attaching one or mora counties north,
to the Capitol District and uniting the
counties south of the Platte in the allot
ment to the second District.
In the action of nearly all Legislative
asembliea and communications from ex
ecutives, the highest importance has been
attached to the faithful administration of
an effici nt common school system. In
a country founded on the absolute equals
ty of the people it i vitally necessary thsU
the character of the di4rict sc'iool shiuld
favorably compare with the grade of select
Academies thus placing the means of
thorough education within the reach of all.
Our Territorial assembly has provided an,
adequate law, the provisions of which,
have been almost entirely unheeded,-
Many County Superintendents hare failed
to qualify as prescribed in Sec. 19 and 20,.
Chap. 18, 2d Statutes; and the County
Clerks have provided no substitutes; nor
has the forfeit been collected by the pros
ecuting attorney as provided in Sec. 23.
Others have neglected ta report to the
Superintendent of Public Instructions oa
the first of November, as ordered in Sec
32, thus the law has been rendered virtu
ally a dead letter. In many, if not all the
counties, no districts have been formed, no.
taxes levied no teachers employed, and)
no steps taken m respect to school land.,
The act of Congress of 1857, providing
for the zclectkio of other sections in li