The governor of Kansas, in 1859, had issued a proclamation that Arapahoe county be established, and that a representative be elected. The Arapahoe county election for Kansas officials was therefore also held. Captain Richard Sopris was elected representative, and was the first member from Arapahoe county admitted to a seat in the Kansas legislature. An event, worthy of relation, is the arrival of the Leavenworth and Pike’s Peak express, May 17th, 1859. This assured direct communication with the capital of Kansas, and thence with all the States. It was a day of congratulations, and one to be remembered. Another noticeable matter of record is the visit of Horace Greeley, editor of the _N. Y. Tribune_, who witnessed, with extraordinary interest the operations of gold mining. A letter, to which he attached his own signature, was published June 6th, 1859. This letter set forth in strong language the large returns of the mines and placer diggings. As a consequence, another immigration that fall largely increased the population.
At the October election above mentioned, B. D. Williams was chosen delegate to Congress. He was the exponent of the August convention, and entrusted with the mission to memorialize Congress to separate the Pike’s Peak region from Kansas, and organize it into a territory under the name of Jefferson. The other delegates chosen were instructed to form a Provisional Government. Eighty-six delegates met in convention. They entered upon their duties with great earnestness. A new constitution, called the “Organic Act of the Territory of Jefferson,” was framed and adopted. Other important measures received their approval. The territory was divided into legislative districts. A full state ticket was nominated, and an election ordered for the fourth Monday of October, the same month in which they had been elected, had convened, had acted. The election took place; 2,000 votes were cast in twenty-seven precincts. The Provisional Government was adopted, a full corps of legislators chosen, and, indeed, all but one of the entire ticket elected. The purpose of the parties who had determined on a Provisional Government ran swift to its fulfillment. The legislature thus suddenly and questionably brought into existence, met and began their session. The message of the governor, R. W. Steele, was received with the usual formalities, and the session was passed in diligent legislative labors. Many general and special laws were enacted; nine counties were organized; a poll-tax of one dollar was imposed, and a committee appointed to report full civil and criminal codes to an adjourned session, January 23d, 1860. In each of the nine newly organized counties the governor appointed a Probate Judge, to hold office until the regular county election on the first Monday in January, 1860. The legislature met pursuant to adjournment, and for the remainder of the session devoted their attention to the report of the committee. Full civil and criminal codes were finally adopted. An _imperium in imperio_ was now fairly established. Right in the midst of the Kansas Government stood the Provisional Government. The first resistance to the authority of the latter, and protest against its legality, arose from the Arapahoe county officials, who were elected according to Kansas territorial law, and were, therefore, beyond a doubt, legal. Besides this, a remonstrance against the per capita tax, signed by seven hundred miners, was sent down from the mountains. In the valley, therefore, the Kansas and the Provisional governments held divided sway; and in the mountains the Miners’ Courts and the Provisional Government contended for the mastery. Golden was the only settlement that wholly submitted to the Provisional Government. In truth, the authority of the Kansas officials was never fairly recognized, and they soon ceased to have even a nominal existence.