The Library of Congress provides access to House of Representatives Bill 357 (37th Congress 2nd Session) "a bill to provide a temporary government for the Territory of Arizona" which was to be formed from the western portion of the existing Territory of New Mexico. ...the Arizona Bill was again introduced, and this time the north and south boundary was fixed where it now is on the 109th meridian.... [The bill] was reported from Committee on Territories, House of Representatives, by Hon. James M. Ashley, March 13, 1862; passed that House May 8, 1862; passed the Senate Feb. 20, 1863; and became a law February 24, 1863, recognizing the Territory of Arizona.