Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-29
NJ

SOM tlme ago the New Northwest raised
the question as to the origin of the name o.
this Territory, and unearthed from the
Congressional Globe the discussion ia Con.
gress at the time the Territory was set
apart from Idaho. 1t mentioned a report
that Senator Sumner was credited with the
suggestion That las Montana was the first
Territory to be admitted after the Emanci.
patton proclamation it should be named
Montana, after Montanus, a liberated
Greek slave" The Senator was one of the
most erudite classical scholars that ever
adorned the United States Senate. and
could; il he had a mind, have suggested
from his store Of knowledge a name that
would more generally have been recognized
as carrying out the idea ascribed to him.
But the Territory was spared this infection
and the course of the debate on it's adnis-
sion gives no color to such a theory. The
matter from the report of the Congressional
proceedings republished by the New North
west showed that a more natural and sless
reconcile origin of the name is to be found
Tor 1t. According to our authority, the
Legislature OF Idaho, of which the present
territory was then a portion, on Dec. 23,
1868 adopted a memorial TO Congress ask
ing that the eastern portion be erected into |
a Territory to be known as Jefferson, On
the 18th OF December, previous, however |
James NJ. Ashley, of Ohio, had introduced |
lnthe House OF Representatives of Congress |
Tor the Territory OF Montana" In the dis
IN the House when the bill WAS "a.
ported back from the Committee on Terri.
torres and put on it's passage, Mr.. Ashley
explained IN answer to inquiry, that Mon-I
Tara IS IA Spanish word meaning noun.
Some dissatisfaction was ax.
pressed by members with this word. and
t'iohs the names suggested were Shoshone
Jefferson and Douglas. The discussion was
more humorous than earnest, and resulted !
"''i'nise het"een several members with. I
''' any mango in the name recommended c
y ,he committee on reporting the bill, and '
he bl!l passed as introduced on the 17,b 80 1
larch, 1864. l.
Colonel L. Il. Dolman, of this civ was ~
in arriving at the authorship ~ I
'na'"e' ana seeing that among the names
members of the Committee on Terri.
riss o, 'at day that of Joseph W. y
cClury ~ Me. Nuri, he enclosed the slim y
,m the New Nortbr "st to his father.in. y.
W, Thomas NJ. Carroll, o. louisiana, Mo-, G.
It'll ii request that he send it t. ex-Gover- to
n McClurg and get the facts intt;.'e case. 81
Ils was done and the following is the e.
tiers reply which settles the authorship ~
Mr.. Ashley: tn
-EaANoN, Mo-, December 5, 1887. ar
nafor IHos. Nj. CARROLL-DEAR FRIEND: MI
= $ The slip enclosed to me by YOU ne
Ken from IL Montana paper gives as rood FL
d correct a statement as to how Mon As
ma got its name as can, think, be found. FC
ie naine was given by the House Com an
ttee on Territories in view OF the real,
then supposed, features of the country.
re name seemed appropriate and was
d is euphonious. The House therefore
not change the name but passed the Or
as introduced by the Committee. l had
honor to be one OF that Committee:
t the credit for the beautiful name is due S
Hon. James NJ. Ashley Of Ohio. May pa
beauty never be furnished. e.,
Truly your friend, ..'
j. w. MCCLURG.
>ouiN " W d "OTt dDDFODTlaC e L
ne selected to individualize this Terri. one
y, although several other territories oa'
INT with equal propriety have been ant
ned Montana from their mountainous iDg
racteristics. But it should be a matter T.
gratitude on the part of the ma
dents here that such an appropriate LII
mellltiuous name was selected by Mr.. acr
ley on introducing the bill, as none of oal
other names suggested in the debate tne
compare with it for individuality or D;a
uty. The name is instinct with the ton
fresh mountain air that invigorates the
inhabitants and that ensures, as far ar doll
ate goes, a hardy, self-reliant, vigorous
ulation that as the years roll by will A
'e the State OF the future noted for it's the
men and women. reve