Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1872-01-11
VIRGINIA. Cry, January 2, 1872.

VIRGINIA CRY, January 2, 1872
To the Editor of the Herald: r
The bargain between His Excellency, the
Governor, and the Democracy, with reference
to apportioning the several Territorial offices
in his gift as between Republicans and Dem
ocrats, has not, up to the present writing,
been definitely settled. The positions to be
filed are Auditor, Treasurer, Superintendent
of Public Instruction, and three Commits
sioners of the Insane. Of these, / under
stand, Gov. Potts has rendered to the Demo-
Gratis the Superintendency of Public Instruc-
ton and two Commissioners, reserving, as
yet, the Auditor, Treasurer, and one Com
missioner for his own family The policy
which the Governor seems disposed to pursue
in this matter, while it displeases Republicans,
is looked upon coldly and with little favor by
many Democrats. 1t has been, apparently,
portion of the business of His Excellency
to court as much as possible the good will of
the Democratic Council, in order that it might
not stoutly rebel against the nominations he
has thus far delayed in sending in for its con-
firmation or rejection. The Superintendency
of Public Instruction is one of the most in
fuential offices at the disposal of the Govern.
or, and in rendering it to the Democracy, to-
gether with the two Commissioners, who viii
have large sums of money to halllle, an adj
vantage and preference is bestowed up-
on that party scarcely justified by the
pretentions of his Excellency to political
consistency and decency. Good Republicans
here and elsewhere are regretting the tenden-
cies toward log-rolling on the part of the Gov
ernor, and see nothing in it except discom.
future TO the party and disgrace to himself.
New Years day was celebrated here in va
rious ways-by calls, private dinners and
euchre parties; q dance for the little children
in Virginia and hop for the big ones at
Junction; blowout at "Robbers' Roost."
and pow-wow at "Saints Rest" All ap-
peared happy, some tipsy, and few con-
siderably more so; and when the Legislature
convened this morning with full seats and
only three or four full members, I put it down
as body temperate somewhat over the
average of Democratic assemblages.
The session draws to a close, and before
too late your correspondent wishes to express
his thanks for the universal courtesy extended
to him by the Legislature, both individually
and as bodies. In both houses ] have had a
desk on the floor at my disposal, and at one
or the other have taken notes every day of
the session. While ] have been careful to
not misrepresent, either by dispatch or cor
respondence, the speech of any menber or
act of either house, and believe / have not
done SO in any instance, yet / have censured
more than commended, and know that the
journals, when published, will give testimony
to the business of my remarks. In forming
an estimate of the real worth of the present
Legislature, the people should neither Judge
from the sometimes oyerdrawn and visionary
Typographical sketches" of the M0utansan,
or from the opposite as given by "Buz"
through the Courier. But my own state
ment early in the session, "that the body as
a whole is thoroughly competent to enact
good laws, and if it fails so to do it can be
blamed only to superabundance of Demo-
cracy," is now, after thorough acquaintance
with that body, thought by me to be the basis
by which the people should decide the merits
and demerits of the acts of this Legislature.
Wilkinson is doing some heavy lobbying
for the passage of the bill which provides for
the publication of the laws of this session in
three newspapers of the Territory, with what
success remains to be seen.
1t is officially announced that Mr.. Mills,
editor of a peripatetic sheet on the western
slope, is expected on the next coach, he hay
ing been telegraphed for, l learn, to aid in
lobbying through the House Council bill 81,
and to consult with about procuring tax re-
ceipts, etc. JUDGE.