The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1867-08-17

In fact did our Territory ever know true life /
and impartial justice in the administration of
her affairs until the advent, as her ruler, of the
scholar, the orator, the statesman and patriot /
gentleman, Gov. Thomas Francis Meagher-
Resolved, That a continuation of the same
wise statesmanship, the same adherence to
everything that Is right, and the condemna-
ton of everything wrong, Will soon enable
our diyinely blessed Territory to reach shat
greatness her rich ores and green valleys so
we'll entitle her to.
Resolved, That copy of these resolutions
be forwarded to his Excellency, Andrew ohm
son. President of the United states, and the
Speaker of the House of the National Con-
gress. ...
Mr.. Smith, of Beaverhead, who, with Mr..
Weed, are the only members of the Union
party in the House, being In a hopeless minor
ity, and wishing to obtain a record of the real
feeling of members, moved to insert the fol-
lowing-he was in the chair at the time:
After resolution four, add the following
change resolution five 30 six: Resolved, That
we welcome to our young and promising Ter
ritory, Major-Gensral Thomas Francis Meagh-
er, as a citizen and az a civil officer but more
than all, as soldier, who fought gallantly
and eminently against treason that sought,
without justice or cause, TO overthrow be-
nefcent Government, founded upon equal
rights and exact Justice to all now, after
peace Is restored, we hail, in our victory, a
chief who has just sheathed sword that driT-
ped with the blood of the enemies of the
American Union"
In order to obtain a quorum and a second
er, the member for Beaverhead had to send for
Mr.. weed. Mr.. Mayhem made long speech
but far from as clear and luci1 effort as is
| usual with him, declaring In substance that
\ the resolution was political, and he could
not endorse the Generals political actions.
| lie said that, rs n Democrat, he could never
endorse him politically; that he never had,
4 and that he never would. Mr.. Smith here
said: What are you going to do wi th them
| Mr.. Mayhem smiled, colored and said moth
ing-but that he would sooner vote down his
own resolutions than add that one; he would
sooner tear the original resolutions into a
Thousand pieces. He endorsed his actions as
| Governor only. Mr.. Parrott came in lust be-
fore the amendment put to the vote, and
did not seem to understand the full scope of
| the language. He proclaimed his entire will
lingness to endorse the Generals fighting for
the Union, declaring hiHlself to be Union
| Democrat of the sJaunchesG kind. lie said
that he thought it fooli h to introduce
the resolutions at all, since the House had, by
passing the vetoed bills, declared that they
did not endorse all the Governors acts, and
If this was not SO, they had behaved most i'm
properly in passing those bills. Whilespeak-
ing, Mr.. Parrott was repeatedly called to order
by the Chair, who observed that the resolu-
tIons were not under debate, but only the
acceptance of the amendments. Mr.. Parrott
promised to keep near the point as he could,
but argued that the discussion of the amend
ment involved a reference to the original reso-
l1tions IN order to discuss Its propriety. The
amendment was lost, only three votes, those
of MessIs. Smith, Weed and Parrott being
ayes. The nays were Messrs. Mayhew Daems,
MImms, Hanna and Corey.
Just before the House adjourned, Mr. Par
rott having had time to read the amendment
carefully, asked Mr.. Mayhew if he could
change his vote; but was told it was too lace.
Finding this to be the case, the member from
EdgerJon went over TO Mr.. Mimms who voted
with the majority, and asked him to move, at
the morning session, the reconsideration of
the vote ON the amendment. This being done
To get Linn out of the dilemma of a wrong
vote, he moved to amend the amendment by
lin eHcct) substituting the following
That we welcome to our young and promis-
ing Territory, Major-GeneraI L. K. Meagher
as citizen and as civil officer, and, more
than all, as solder who fought gallantly
aud emInently In defense of his country
Now, after peace Is restored, we hail. in our
victory, chief who has Just claims to the
esteem and respect of his fellow citizens
This was carried. Mr.. Mccullough rose and
said that he could not vote for the resolu-
tlons. lie thought them Ill-Jimed and unnec-
essaTy. The House was inconsistent. The
day before they had passed finance bill, light
enIng the public burdens, and now they were
wasting S4U0 of the public money by arguing
a matter of no importance.
Mr.. Parrott repeated his objections to the
probably by mistake authorized the payment
of $4,000 for the pursuit of criminals by Neil
HOWE and John Eeatherstun for which there
was no law (Mr. Mayhew) $4,000 he would
not place himself in false position by voting
for the resolutions; he was the last Democrat
on the stump in Iowa; but he was a true
Union man, and he was ready to enlorse a
soldier who fought for the Union if he did
not he should tread under his feet his two
brothers who had fought for it. lie also said
that Major Bruce and Major Bagg were the
men ID be credited for calling the Legislature
They WORKED UPON THE GOVERNOR AND SHOW
ED HIM THE LAW.
Mr.. Maxwell offered the following amend
ment to the resolution:
Strike out the fourth resolution and insert
in lieu thereof the following: Fourth, thai
we welcome to our young and promising Ter
ritory Major-G eneral Thomas Francis Meaghei
as a citizen and a civil officer; but, more
} than all, a soldier who fought gallantly fol
his adopted country, and who, as such, has just
claims to the highest respect and esteem OF
his fellow citizens. lsO strike out the addi
tional resolution.
He said he could endorse any gallant sol.
dier who fought well for the side he espoused
like Stonewall jackson for instance.
Mr.. Mccullough said if the resolution
merely meant that the General was a gallant
soldier, be could vote for it, AS SUCH
A VOTE DID NOT ENDORSE THE CAUSE
FOR WHICH HE FOUGHT, though b,
. thought it absurd to endorse his acts out
side of the Territory. On the sam,
principle he could vote that Robert Lee was Q
gallant soldier who fought for his country OF
StonewaIl Jackson, or JEFF Davis the greatest
! of them all.
The discussion terminated at this point, tn,
resolutions being laid over till Saturday, at
, p. m. This is supposed to be death blow
as the Council may adjourn on Saturday.