Timeline
1819 Territory Established
In 1819, Arkansas became the new frontier of the United States, as Missouri Territory applied to become a state without its southern five counties or the adjoining Indian lands. The inhabitants of this sparsely settled area, seeking benefits from the federal government, petitioned Congress to be organized as a territory of the United States. On March 2, Congress approved the act creating the "Arkansaw" Territory with the seat of government being the Post of Arkansas. After lengthy debate, Congress refused to limit slavery in the new territory.
To oversee the new territory, President James Monroe appointed James Miller, a hero of the War of 1812, Governor, and Robert Crittenden, a 21-year-old Kentuckian, Secretary of the Territory. By mistake, Miller's appointment was sent to Arkansas rather than to his New Hampshire home, delaying his arrival in the new territory, but not delaying the establishment of government. The executive and judicial branches, consisting of Crittenden and three newly appointed Superior Court judges - Charles Jouett, Robert Letcher, and Andrew Scott, constituted the legislature in the Territory's "first grade" of government. After an initial short session, which made appointments, appropriated funds, and declared the laws of the Missouri Territory to be applicable in Arkansas, Jouett and Letcher left the seat of territorial government, never to return. Crittenden then called the first territorial election for November 20, 1819, seeking to elevate Arkansas to the "second grade" of government with an elected General Assembly. James Woodson Bates was elected over Stephen F. Austin for delegate to Congress. As the sole representative to Washington, this was the most powerful elected position of the Territory.
Anticipating the opportunity a new territory might hold for a printer, William E. Woodruff arrived at the Post of Arkansas in late October with a Ramage press and his printing supplies loaded in a pirogue. The first issue of the Arkansas Gazette appeared on Election Day, November 20.
Governor Miller finally arrived at the Post of Arkansas by keel boat on December 26.
