, 1856-12-19
Territorial Legislature.
IN THE COUNCIL.


of the two members from Clarke county are
still vacant, owing to'the continued absence
of Messrs Huff and VanVleet. This is
to be regretted, as it leaves one of our
most populous districts unrepresented in
the Council We trust that before anoth-
er issue, both members will be in their pla-
ces, or afford to their constituency an op-
portunity to elect their successors. No ex-
cuse but one of truly meritorious charac-
ter can justify prolonged neglect to con-
fding constituency. When trusting peo-
pie confer position, the acceptor of that
position assumes voluntarily the task of
promptly and diligently performing the
whole duty Of that position. Presence, at
least, at the post Of duty, would seem to
be required. Continued absence is GER
tainly high mark of disregard, if not an
insult to that constituency We do not
wish to be considered as referring to the
present cases. We speak generally Of the
whole class. No session of the legislature
has yet occurred without these prolonged
absences, and we trust that hereafter
members Of the assembly who accept the
position, will be punctual to the day of
meeting.
These remarks at this time are the more
pertinent, because the discussion some two
days in the Council, was based on the above
positions 1t arose on bill to modify Sec
tion 80 of the election law, which section
relates to vacancies in the legislative as
sembly.
BY q strict construction Of that section,
Il would appear that session Of the legis-
lature must intervene between the occur
ing of vacancy and the next election,
to authorize the governor to order spe-
cial election to gil such vacancy. 1t wns
matter Of doubt whether, if the vacancy
occurred during the session, q special cleo.
tion could be ordered. To avoid this diff
fculty and to secure an election, should a
vacancy now exist in the Clarke county
delegation, or should any case of that
character hereafter occur, bill was intro
duced in the House, and in this shape it
finally passed, authorizing vacancies to be
filed by special election If they occur any
time between the annual election and the
close Of the next session. If they occur
after the close Of the session, the election
is to take place on the day Of the general
election, with the proviso, however, that if
special session of the legislative assembly
is to be called, a special election may be
ordered, This bill passed, was signed,
and became law during the past week.
An important amendment to the road
law is now before the Council, and will
come up for final disposal at an early day.
1t authorizes supervisors to take the re-
ceipt Of the supervisor of any other road
district, as evidence Of the performance of
work. Some difficulty was experienced
during the past year on this subject. The
old law required the work to be done where
the person resided. During the Indian
troubles, while all families fed to towns for
refuge, those subject to labor upon the
roads acquired residence and weu warn
ed out in those districts. Most persons
preferred to work where their claims were
located, and about the time work was due
performed it in their own district. Under
\the proposed amendment, evidence of this
by the receipt Of supervisor where the
work was done, would release them from
work where warned out.
The bill relative to Northern Indians, is
now lying on the table in the Council, in
asmuch as bill of similar nature is before
the House. As both houses have had
their attention directed to this subject, il
is to be hoped that beneficial legislation
viii grow out Of the action Of the Assem-.
bly, and that from the provisions Of both
bills wholesome bill will be obtained,
which will abate the nuisance to which the
people of the Sound have been subjected
for the past few years, and allay the we'll
grounded anxiety and fears of the frontier
and exposed settlements from the preda-
tory incursions Of these marauding hordes
Mr.. Wiley introduced q bill abolishing
the offices of Territorial Auditor and Treas
urer, conferring the duties of both of said
efices on Territorial Financial Agent" "
who is, ex-oficio, 10 be Librarian of the
territory. The bill has had two several
readings, and was laid on the table to be
printed.
Mr.. Poe introduced an amendment to
the exemption law. To every person over
age it secures property to the value Of one
thousand dollars, as exempt from attach.