general welfare of Kansas, as of paramount importance; and in view of the fact that the Territorial Legislature is the only legal, law making power in Kansas acknowledged by the General Government, we can not consent to set aside the form of the Territorial Government until further development may seem to render it necessary. "Submitted, B. HARDING, "C. K. HOLLIDAY." Mr. Mead, from the same committee, made the following minority report: "The committee to whom was referred the petition in the form of concurrent resolutions, from the State Legislature, now in session in Lawrence, ask leave, respectfully, to state that they have had the same under consideration, and can not concur in the views of the petitions expressed, and said concurrent resolutions, respecting the position of the present Territorial Legislature, declaring it to be an obstruction to the successful execution of the will of the people; and, in view of the complex character of the various questions which are now before the people of this Territory, your committee feel that there is great necessity for wise and just legislation; and further state, that it is the opinion of your committee, any action at the present time favoring the policy embodied in said resolutions, would be unwise, and in conflict with the legitimate purposes of this Legislature. 66 Respectfully submitted, ANDREW J. MEAD." In the House, Mr. Cooper, chairman of the select committee, to whom was referred the concurrent resolutions of the Free State Legislature, submitted the following report: "The select committee, to whom was referred the concurrent resolutions of the Free State Legislature, under the Topeka Constitution, would, in accordance with the instructions of the House, respectfully report the following resolution: "Resolved, That we have every confidence in the wisdom, patriotism and prudence of the Free State Legislature; that we believe the movement it represents originated in a pub lic necessity, and, that it is their province to take such action in their own capacity, as they may think legitimate and proper they being responsible for their own action, and we not for them. And, as the Territorial Legislature is not, legitimately, in a position to dictate or concur in their acts, we have only respectfully to reiterate to them the course of action which we shall pursue, as clearly indicated in the resolution passed by this body, to the effect that we would proceed to the enactment of an entire code of laws, which shall supersede all laws or pretended laws passed prior to the special session of this present Legislature. "S. S. COOPER, "JOHN SPEER, "W. P. BADGER, "E. N. MORRILL, "II. MILES MOORE." The report was adopted, and ordered to be spread upon the journal, The State Legislature, after remaining in session about ten days at Lawrence, and having received the above replies to their communication, adjourned. Several of its members were also members of the Territorial Legislature, and thus their duties in both branches conflicted. On this account, and there being nothing for them to do until the Territorial Legislature should take favorable action on their request, they adjourned, with the understanding that, should measures be taken for the effective operation of the State government, they would meet in regular session on the 4th of March. General James William Denver was born on the 23d day of October, 1817, in Frederick County, Virginia. His parents emigrated to Ohio in the year 1831, and located in Clinton County, in the spring of 1832. The family consisted of four sons and six daughters, all of whom lived to the age of man and womanhood, since which period two of the daughters died. His father was a farmer, and brought up his son on the farm, giving him the advantage of the neighborhood school, (being very fond of books himself,) of a much better library than is usually found in farm houses. At the age of twenty-one James had a severe attack of rheumatism, caused by exposure and hard labor on the farm. This induced him to look around for some other means of making a livelihood. Having acquired a pretty thorough knowledge of civil engineering, theoretically and practically, he went to Missouri in the spring of 1841, to engage in that profession; but being unable to get a contract for surveying public lands, he took charge of a school in the north-western part of Clay County, in that State, at what was known as Hartsel's School-house, and while there boarded with Mr. John Eaton. Here he spent one of the happiest years of his life, and left it with sincere regret, his associations with parents and pupils being of the most agreeable cheracter. Having determined to enter the legal profession, he returned to Ohio in 1842, and commenced the study of law with Griffith Foos, Esq., of Wilmington, Ohio, and graduated at the Cincinnati Law School in the spring of 1844. Soon after, in connection with R. H. Stone, now of Cincinnati, he opened an office at Xenia, Ohio. In the spring of the following year, he returned to Missouri, locating first at Plattsburg and subsequently at Platte City. In the spring of 1847, he was appointed a captain in the 12th Regiment, U. S. Infantry, and served to the end of the war under General Scott in his campaign in Mexico. After its close he returned to Platte City and remained in Platte county until 1850, when he crossed the plains to California and located in Trinity County, in that State. In 1851 he was elected to the Senate of that State. In 1852 he was appointed by the Governor, a commissioner upon the part of the State to carry provisions across the Sierra Nevada Mountains, for the relief of the emigrants, who were found to be in great distress. In 1853, he was appointed Secretary of State of California, which office he held until November, 1855. In 1854, he was elected Representative to the Thirty-Fourth Congress, and took his seat, December 1855. Whilst there, he was appointed Chairman of the Special Committee on the Pacific Railroad, and prepared a bill which relieved it from the opposition it had met with before from the most prominent railroad men of the country and which was substantially the plan subsequently adopted. At the close of the sessions of the Thirty-Fourth Congress he was appointed Commissioner of Indian Afiairs, and entered upon the duties of that office in April 1856. He made an important treaty with the Pawnees that year. Subsequently he was sent out to make treaties with the Indians in Kansas, but before he could conclude them, the President became dissatisfied with the administration of Hon. F. P.Stanton, Secretary, and acting Governor of Kansas, (Governor Walker being then in Washington) and removed him, appointing General Denver his successor. In the Spring of 1858 Governor Walker resigned, and the General was appointed Governor-Hugh S. Walsh succeeding him as Secretary. In October following he resigned, and returned to Washington, arriving in November. Upon his return to Washington the President again tendered to him the position of Commissioner of Indian Affairs which he accepted, but becoming dissatisfied, he resigned the office and returned to California in the spring of 1858. He entered the canvass of 1860 very warmly in favor of Mr. Douglas, and was always opposed to secession. In 1861, the Legislature of California appointed S. B. Smith, Esq., and General Denver, Commissioners on the part of the State, to settle and adjust certain claims arising out of the Indian difficulties in that State. In June, 1861, he left California, and on the 14th of August following, he was appointed by President Lincoln Brigadier-General of Volunteers, and was ordered to Kansas on duty in the follow ing November. In January, 1862, he was ordered to West Virginia, and in March of the same year was ordered back to Kansas. In the following May, he was ordered to report to |