The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1868-11-06
EXTRA CONFIRMATION.

law making is more a curse than bles-
sing. If our legislators had commenced
right, we should not to-day have cause
10 complain of the present condition OF
the Territory. When the first Legisla-
ture assembled at Bsunack, our Terrific
~ enjoyed an enviable reputation at
home and abroad All hearts beat high
with hopes that a few brief years would
give il place in the Union, as one of
the n Ost valuable members of the great
Republic. The election had resulted in
favor of the Democracy, but il was be-
lieved shat party strife would not oper-
ate TO iDjure our material interests. We
had a great country TO explore and de-
velop, which gave evidence OF un-
surpassed richness in those elements,
that through all past time have ruled
the world. IL was fresh. uncultivated,
and just as il came from the hand of the
Creator. Blessed with all natural facili
ties to render improvement easy, and
reward for labor sure, il was thought
that the fostering hand of legislation
would soon fill il with evidences of an
enlarged and comprehensive observa-
tion. How different has been our expe-
rience, We look in vain through the
large volume. first published as the laws
of Montana, for a single law, which re-
fleets any merited desire on the part of
our Legislators, for territorial improve
ment. Not dollar was appropriated
TO any measure of public convenience.
The idea most prominent in the minds
of the members, eliminated in the SEN
timent, Let us do for ourselves, with
out regard TO the Territory" This was
the light which guided their deli ibera-
tions. rs the result. they saw in
every needed road. ferry. bridge,iG every
gold placer, gulch. quartz lead, coal
deposit and iron bed. an opportunity,to
make money. Shaping their legislation
accordingly, every facility required to
develop the country, or promote public
was made the subject of
private charter, and to- the disgrace of
the first law makers. full oue-third of
the statutes is occupied with these evil
dences of their recklessness and cupid
ity, unrelieved by a single public i'm
provement. To crown this great out
rage with a suitable consumation, as
one of their last performances they
passed an act for large extra compensa-
ton to themselves. The pay of the
ample il is believed for all
the ordinary expenses of lite, was
deemed by them insufficient in amount.
while profiigate dissipation and an extra
which the people were
taxed TO pay, was the salient
feature of the first session. We shame
To saw, there were some who figured in
that notable body who did not hesitate
to accept of any additional amount that
might come to them from the places
seekers and charter brokers that throng-
ed the lobbies. The credit of the Terri
tory was not established. Its treasury
WAS unsupplied, and its Indebtedness,
of course, must be repudiated. These
charter makers knew this, bu: it furn-
ished no reason why they should be de-
prived of their luxuries. The people
had sent them there, and the people
must pay them for their services. They
had given them an adequate revenus
law, and license law, which taxed every
thing in, or that might come in, the
Territory, and that would enable them
to paw the extra compensation of twelve
dollars per day. To be sure, they could
get but six dollars for it. but then it
supplied the place of gold dust and
at ti'e faro bank. while the
= 1a1 ha hr,a rA
And so. by a sort of logic, which sym
pathy in occupation and dissoluteness
rendered plausible, they persuaded
themselves that the extra cons
was not only convenient,
but exceedingly proper. This act
still disgraces the statute book,
after having supplied the incidental ex-
penses of two genuine and two bogus
and will probably remain
lnrepealed through the approaching
session. We shall see ..r
Let the history of the Territory tell
ihe remainder of the story. Five years
have nearly elapsed since our first Leg
stature. Our Territory is supplied with
roads, ferries, bridges, placer companies,
ron companies and quartz companies.
rom which the Territory receives the
simple revenue derived from ordinary
axation-all the remainder goes into
he pockets of corporators who own
hem, and bought them from our Legis
ators. The money that paid for this
Infamous disposition OF Territorial
wealth is now bonded. and draws from
,ur treasury fifteen per cent, payable
in New York City, and
he bonds themselves are hawked
through the country at seventy-tive
,ents on the dollar. One of the great
.auses of this humiliating spectacle is
he extra compensation. which the
office holders voted 10 them. !
elves when our Territory was in it's in !
ancy, and dependent upon them for
aw.
We hope, for its own honor, and the I
redit OF our crippled treasury, that the
lext Legislature will wipe this stain /