Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/213

 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 153 an able mau. He was a native of Connecti- cut, received a good education, became a law- yer, and in 1804 removed to St. Louis, where he continued in the practice of law. He held a number of positions and was held in highest regard by all who knew him. His term of service in Congi-ess was marked by no par- ticular achievement, but he was regarded as an able and conscientious man, and his retire- ment, for he declined to serve a second term, was regretted by those with whom lie had served. He was the author of the Act of 1812 which confirmed the titles and the holders in the Spanish grants, and provided for the sup- port of schools by the Government of the United States. The first General Assembly of the territory of Missouri was held in the house of Joseph Robidaux between Walnut and Elm streets in St. Louis on the 17th day of December, 1812. Southeast Missouri was represented by the fol- lowing persons : George BuUett, Richard S. Thomas and Israel McGready from Ste. Gene- vieve; George P. Bollinger and Spencer Byrd represented Cape Girardeau ; and John Shra- der and Sanuiel Phillips represented New Madrid. Besides these members there were two from St. Charles and four from St. Louis. The house of representatives then nominated fourteen persons from which the President of the United States selected nine members of the council. The members of this council from Southeast Missouri were these : John Scott and James Maxwell from Ste. Genevieve ; "William Neeley and Joseph Cavinor from Cape Girardeau; and Joseph Hunter from New Madrid. The first meeting of the legislature was held in St. Louis in July, 1813, on the first ilon- day. It is not possible to give a full account of the acts of this legislature. No account of the proceedings was officially kept, but a part of the laws were noticed and published in the Missouri Gazette, the first paper estab- lished we.st of the Mississippi river. From its files it is discovered that one of the first sub- jects which received the attention of the leg- islature was that of establishing and regulat- ing weights and measures. Of course this was an exceedingly important matter, one which had never been adju.sted in the territory of Louisiana. Some of the other matters which received the attention of the legislature were laws concerning the office of sheriff, taking of the census, the fixing of the seats of justice in the various counties, the compensation of members of the legislature, the incorporation of the bank of St. Louis. Besides these a crim- inal code was adopted and a law defining forcible entry and detainer was enacted, as well as one establishing courts of common pleas. The legislature also made provision for the organization of the comity of Washing- ton. This county was erected from a part of Ste. Genevieve, and Potosi was selected as the county seat. The second session of the first general as- sembly was begun in St. Louis, December 10, 1813. George BuUett of Ste. Genevieve county, was elected speaker of the house and Wash- ington county was for the first time repre- sented by Israel McGready. Among the sub- jects considered by the legislature and upon which laws were passed, were the suppression of vice and immorality on the Sabbath day, public roads and highways, and the regulation of the financial affairs of the territory. The offices of territorial auditor and treasurer, and county surveyor were created. The leg- islature also defined the boundaries of the counties and created a new county known as Arkansas county. The first session of the second general as-