Arizona weekly citizen., 1888-08-11
A STIRRING ADDRESS
Fly Governor SafisTd on the Troublesome Times in the Early History
 of Arizona.

FELLOW PIONEERS, LADIES AND GEN
 TLENES:-I, was my intention to conti-
 nue my journey last night, but. on sug-
 gesting that as much as I regretted Co
 leave the place that had afforded ms a
 home Tor So many long years, mud
 friends, who, by hardship and peril, hg .
 so closely twined around my affections
 the suggestion was met by stern pro-
 test from our old comrade, Sam Hughes.
 On meeting thIs opposition. few things
 l had learned ID early days, proved no doGbt of practical benefit. One WAS that when friend Hughes sets his head on having anything done, be is general | y about rlght; but nigh. or wrong, the eLslest aud best way to settle the mat ] Ter IS 10 let him have his own way: other "isf, you may prepare to have R long | pampHlgn. Another was, when arrested | and brought before Judge Meyers. uu- less youcould show clean record beyond
 all question, the best thIRg 10 dc, Was 10 own up, and you would be quite sure to get 10 more than you deserved.
 1 arrived Iu Tucson about the 2Oth. of July, lS69, with n team had purchased n CalIioruiR. On my arrival at Yuma. had letter from General Ord to the commanding officer of that posi, direct ing hlm 10 x V ne Rn escort to Tucson. pr scented She letter. and told tine oili Ger did not desire an escort, unless it was considered necessary for the prcte 20 fIon or any prIvate citizen: ID other
 words, l wanted to take equal chances vita the citizens; but, he deciIei that ought to have an escort. and that # any. thing should happen tC me. he would be
 blamed for the catastrophe.
 After several days preparation, Ve started out and travelled about fifteen miles and csm ped for the night. | was then informed by the officer 10 commard shat this would be about an average of each days travel. The next morning l hitched up my team. End that night I
 vas fully twenty miles ID advance of ny escort, aud l arrived lu Tucson eight days ln advance of the escort,
 4 few citizens met me at the Point of the Mountain. where We stayed all night. and the neX, day a. tho Nlne Mile Wa ter Hole. IE seemed as thought The whole town had turned ont, and 1t re- quirsd bu, glance st the people to sal Isiy me thet 1 WRs being welcomed by that urjy cl-ss Of Pioneers, who from Pl mouth Rock to the Golden Gate of California. have, without fsltering or hInchinC, carTiad the standard of civil Iz ItIon. conte~tIBg with and driving back ssvBgery and barbguRnism. inch by incl. and ss comrade alter comrads was stricken down others stepped to the front and took their places.
 After shaking oT the dust, began to look into the condition of the affairs o. the territory.
 There was but one federal territorial officer ID the territory, Judge Turner. located a. Prescott. ana myself. 'o-ni thg. o-e Of the arsociats judges, Backus by name, had immortalIz1d his judicini career. by deciji1g the ac,s of tsu Legislatures ;lleRsl, end the law of no force. This decision had created chsotIc condition tlat practically left us without territorial goveru3eut except 70 name. The regular term for holding the territorial le- ,a.u-s had gasseo hence there vas BIO appropriation for csrrying on the government. The sey- erRl boards Of su, u,csFIsors hcd ordered taxes levied il OUT counties, according 10 The nets Of one legislature, and iu another according to the acts of another legislature, according a. they approved ,t Backus' decis ion, and 50 ihs. ;ae money should not become distur:irg element it was generally converted into ;hs county fund. The territory vGs indebted $26l,- 600, and there were no fllGs to meet it. obligations. There was hardly foot of land in the territory safe from the de predstious of Apaches, and Mexican out lsvs were almost g e. kiy TnGrdering and pillaging nlong and near tbe line.
 saw at once tbE. We c1uli pot swBlt tue slow process ot tla courts Co defin- itely determine I.a validity of the Backus decisi pn, ari with off 'ers every Ebefe plsyIng a lone hand, ! found j. uas essential that . sh0u-d have more power to put She wheels Of government 70 motion aud keep them in place uUtil the le2isl ture csg.i be convened. ] ! therefore drglted two bills and went Co Washington and fEi them introduced. ] and passed one l-gs lziuE all the acts uf he leRi-lstu aud tEe other provided ! for tbe elfcti,n aul zcs sion of lcC'Els- l 'uEe, and ve me power Co remove hUd l appoint, as ! deemed proper. any county ] or precinct officer In the territory for the | period of two yegrs. II gBs very Rrbi- ! t.sry act, and could orly bs excused by 1 the extraordinary condition oi the affairs 1 ID the territory. I appreciated that It l was a power, which If judiOIously used | by ne. would be Of great service 10 the 1 people. but If arbitrarily, selh=hly and | uujustly ezercised, would work great in- | justice to the people and render myself i forever infamous. l used the power 90 l mildly that do not suppose there are l nOw living in the territory, dozen | people who have any knowledge that l | ever had such power. Inever informed | aryc"e of # except a few officers wbo | were TO. disposed to obey the lav. Very | soon all co-opersted ID enforcing it. SO | that | was never compelled to remove 0 | sirgl. officer by virtue of this arbitrary | uowrr s3 gvsn to me.
 Until the first legislature met I or dered the legitimate expenses to be met l xittout any nppTopristiOn having been l made. l referred the whole matter 10 ] the legislature. and informed it, .hEt l upon The same ground that c man hes a | right tn defend hiE own lie. l had sus- tainei the life of the territory without l the shadow ot territorial law, that if a | single dollar had been mic appropriated, l they should hold me to the stricsest &C., uu'. I am glad Co be able to say that I DO word of criticism ur complaint was | ever made that an unnecessary dollar 1 had been expended by me during that ] par'ri.
 You vii pardon ms for suoh lengthy l reference 70 our territorial history, when l | appear chef actor. l have been l compel ed to do this. in order to show l that even amid anarchy, bad officers, ] Grd no officers. our people never 'sl'er- l ed, aud Q majority could always be found l on ;he side of right In justice, should !. say that ID sii ny efforts during th.s period. to sustain tha life of the terr'. l tory. was ably sud nobly assisted by | our delegate in congress, Hon. R. C. Mic C1rmick.
 Now Comrades. having briefly alluded l tn some of the difficulties that Obstruct- | ei our pathway, politically speaking. l | am lead to approach the harder ani | upare earguinary struggles through 1 which we were obliged to pEss-sni 1 what a volume of experiences rise uP | bs:ore ne. Iu this paper can only |