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Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1877,
By Thomas B. Corbett,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.
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The first edition of the Colorado Legislative Manual isherewith presented. While designed for the use of the General Assembly,it cannot fail to interest all classes—the lawyer, the merchant,the aspirant after political honors, and even the young who are ripeninginto manhood and soon to share its grave responsibilities. It containsinformation which cannot be elsewhere acquired without a great expenditureof time and patience, in the examination of records, the reconciliationof numerous discrepancies, the supplement of omissions andthe correction of errors. The pre-State history is necessarily brief.Sketches of prominent characters, and comments on events and theacts of individuals are not introduced, for the reason that the periodof the narrative should be removed some distance from the present ageto secure the historian from undue prejudice and partiality. The settlementof Colorado, now a flourishing State, began scarcely twentyyears ago. A sense of propriety, therefore, demands that only a plain,accurate and truthful statement be made of what occurred in connectionwith that settlement. In the preparation of the Legislative Annals,much labor and care have been expended. The Annals are as completeand correct as it was possible to make them, considering the removalsof members from the Territory, the inaccuracy of the recordsand the imperfection of the journals. To the novice in legislation, theManual of Customs, Precedents and Forms will prove of great value.I have sought, and indeed have spared no pains nor expense, to makethis an improvement upon all other Legislative Manuals yet published.
This Manual will be published biennially with such changes as circumstancesmay require, and such improvements as experience maysuggest. That I am anxious to receive the commendation of an appreciativepublic, I do not deny, and hope that their fullest sympathy withmy effort in this direction will be freely accorded. It is a satisfactionto know, and should beget a praiseworthy pride, that Colorado is notivbehind any of the oldest, most populous and wealthy States in thecharacter, style and completeness of this publication.
It gives me great pleasure to confess, that from the inception tothe completion of this work, I have received much kind and cordialassistance. My warmest thanks and acknowledgments are extendedto Robert Berry and William W. Webster, experienced legislators,for their good offices and valuable help. The courtesies of JudgeAmos Steck, whose memory of facts, dates and persons deserves specialment