Safford and Territorial Delegate to Congress Richard C. McCormick had successfully lobbied for a replacement to General George Stoneman as commander of the District of Arizona.
[3] On a more private level, Governor Safford and his wife Jenny had experienced a public falling out of their marriage following the death of their infant son.
The situation had escalated to the point where she had printed and distributed pamphlets claiming he had committed marital infidelity and contracted a venereal disease.
[5] In regards to the Apache situation, he stated "The hostility of Indians strikes at the life of our people, retards immigration, prevents development of our resources, and impoverishes the masses.
"[5] In more mundane matters, Safford reported on the need to revise the territorial legal code, build a prison, and make provisions for the care of the insane.