Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1851-07-10
THE TIMES
THE FIRST LEGISLATURE OF
MISSOURI.

We arc indebted TO Capt. e. IL.
Bccbc, Of the steamship Dubuque, for
a record of great value to this State,
and which is curiosity itself. 1t is
the manuscript record of the first, and
several succeeding Legislatures held in
the then Territory, now State of Mis-.
souri,. To the State, as a part of its
early records, the book is of legal and
political importance, and TO the history
of the formation ofthe Territorial Gov.
crnment, it is no less interesting. The
title page is as follows:
"A Journal of the proceedings of the
Legislature of the Territory of Nilsson.
ri, commencing June Sd, 1906"
The title page does not exactly cor.
respond with the proceedings, for al.
though an effort was made 10 assemble
the Legislature on that day, it did not
actually meet until the lllh. The first
Legislature of the State consisted Of
the Governor and the three Judges of
the Court; but the record shows that
all the Judges were not present, and
that there was considerable official Dig
nifty and feeling extan,, even at tha,
early day. The records before us,
opens with James Wilkerson, as Gov
ernor; Return ]. Meigs and John b. C.
Lucas, Judges of the court. These
composed the first Legislature, Rufus
Easton, one oft the Judges, was not pres
ent. After few unimportant prolimi.
narics, the record opens with cores.
pondcncc between the Governor and
Judge Lucas, as to the manner of call
ing the Legislature together. A spicy
and interesting correspondence ensued
between them, which hereafter we may,
moro at large, allude to, as also, the af.
ter portion of the contents.
After some delay and adjournment
for vant Of a Quorm, they got together
the 25lh ofJune, 1906. The first busi
ness was the election of clerk, (UhG
kept the first part of the record
is not very clear,) Robert Wescoi
Andrew Steel and Edward Hampstead
were nominated; but no election wa:
had until the 2Slh, when Mr.. Hemp
stead was chosen. The following i.
the first reference TO the enactment O.
u law, and is in the proceedings of The
Goth of June:
"Thc following law was discussed ant
agreed TO, and ordered 10 be engrosscd d
TO. wit:
"a law respecting the Distric. of Ar
kansas"
The present State Of Arkansas wa
then District of this Territory.
On the same day the Legislature ha'
under consideration law ofthe follow
ing title: "a law to prevent the dis
charging of fire arms in the town Q
q ST. Louis, was discussed and the cor
sidcration of it postponed until to MOI
e row."
4 The Territorial Legislature, consis
O ing of the Governor and Judges, cor
linucd to exercise this power until th
9th day of October, l84l, when the
adjourned sine die. Al tho date {
adjournment, il consisted Of Frederic
:, Bates Secretary of the Territory an
acting Governor, and John Coburn an
Ohio Shradcn, Judges. Judge LuCa
o was, however, still in office.
is This valuable record turns up in tn
:. singular way, The papers and bool
" of Mr.. Edward Hampstead, the Cle
=" of the Legislature, came into Mr.. Be
= bc's keeping by his relationship wi
the deceased. II is an old fashione
half bound book, and until the CAPITA
,a' looked into it, he supposed it to be
old account book, such as was kept
IS. carly times in stores, &c. 1t is Ca
tain BIS. intention to deposit il with ,
rs Secretary of State. We shall at sol
proper period, give some portions Of
contents, coupled with the action of /
ow frs, Legislature, which then not OF
legisated for the whole Territory
zee Missouri, including Arkansas, &c, |
., also for the town of st. Louis. II il
record of deep interest as well as
curiosity, Hereafter it may have
No important bearing on the history of
Of city, aud effect the evidence Of titles