[1] The sessions chief accomplishments were creation of Pah-Ute County and establishing Arizona as a community property jurisdiction.
The American Civil War was still in progress and military troops to deal with Apache and other tribes hostile to white settlement was limited.
As Territorial Secretary Richard C. McCormick stated, "The hostile Indian is scarcely more inimical to the progress and prosperity of a new country than the mail contractor who by his faithlessness interrupts the business and social intercourse of the people, and deprives them of their only means of communication with the outer world.
[6] During the address he called for general legislation, as opposed to special enactments, to clear up legal problems dealing with mine ownership within the territory.
Other issues involved creation of jails to hold law breakers and encouraging agriculture by settlers and "tame Indians" to provide food to the territory's population.
Upon the recommendation of Acting Governor McCormick, the county was created to serve the needs of a rapidly growing population of farmers along the Colorado River.