Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-05-14

the globe where written constitutions are OBJ +
served; and the Congress of the United
States thus far, does not " disapprove " it.
On page PIT of the laws, will be found
" Sec. So The battalion Of life-guards in
Great Salt Lake County shall be an indopcnd.
ent battalion, not attached to any brigade or
division, and shall be subject at all times to
the call of the Governor and Lieutenant Cen
eral"
This corps aspires to Napoleonic model
"a Swiss body-guard- whether for pur-
poses of offense or defense, or for the pomp
of military displays, is liable to all the sr.s-
picions republicans have ever entertained
against usurpers and against standing army
in time of peace. 1t is not enough that the
Governor is commandments Of the Maui
VOC Legions, spread over eleven districts, that
all elections for filling the office of Lieuten-
ant-General shall be ordered by the Govern
or (see Laws, page 207), but he must have
battalion of life-guards attached to nobody
but HIMSELF and at all times subject to his
call
only all control over the manufacture of
"spiritual aoipes," but the manufacture of all
other " ardent spirits" On page l0S of the
Laws section 2, will be found as follows:
"Be it further ordained, That when the
Governor shall deem it expedient to have ardent
spirits manu- featured within this State he may
grant license to some person or persons to
make and vend the same. and impose such res
trictions thereon as he may deem requisite
There is a wide latitude of power here,and
a confidence that might suffer some loss should
change occur in Governor. Undoubtedly it
creates monopoly from which princely
revenue may be derived, and of which no le-
gal returns are provided for.
Ina new country like Utah, there are few
bridges, and the rivers are either to be ford
ed or passed by ferries. These ferries and
bridges seem to be monopolized by the Gov
ernor and the leading elders who are thereby
enabled to extort very considerable tribute
from the emigrant travel passing through to
California. On page 267 of the Laws, will
be found an act granting to the Governor ex.
elusive privileges over two of the principal
rivers, and which might be supposed to afford
the best chances for the largest amount Of
tolls, as follows:
SEC. l. Be 1t enacted by The Governor ana
Legislative Assembly Of the Territory of Utah
That Brigham Young is hereby empowered t.
establish, regulate and control ferries anC
bridges on Weber and Bear Rivers, east of thu
main range of the Wahsatch Mountains, anc
to specify the rates of toll for the use thereof
All other acts are repealed, and all Other
persons are to be subject to costs and dana
ges if they operate, in any manner, ferrie
and bridges on those rivers. The act is I'm
limited as to time and as to rates of TOLL
That these rates are and will be oppressive
emigrant travellers furnish ample testimony
When similar grants are bestowed upon Jesse
lights of the church, such as brother josef
Young, John Young, Joseph Busby, William
P. Empy, Charles Hopkins, A. Wordsworth
0. Hyde, D. H. Wells, or others, the gran
is restricted as to time; 10 per cent is to b
paid over to the perpetual emigration funt
and the rates of toll are fixed. On page "a
of the Laws will be found an act of this sor
which | will give as a specimen:
SEC. l. Be il enacted by the Governor an
Legislative Assembly Of the Territory of Wal
That Joseph Young and VIM. Y Empy ha,
the right to establish a ferry or ferries acros
Bear River for three years during the ferryin
seasons of each year) from the passage of tn
act, at a place which will best subserve tt
public interests between the mouth of said ri
o,,do G,o &c i,
the Kanyon."
Sec. 8. The said Young and others shall pa
ten per cent of all they receive as toll on sal
petual Emigrant Fund Company, OH oath
affirmation, on or before the LIST day of Septer
Der, annually"
The rates of toll are, for one man,
cents; one animal and hack, 81 wagon al
two animals, So with four animals, Sc, &
These rates would appear little initiate
but then it is to be noticed that these pril
favorites are put under bonds to disgorge
per cent Tin most cases not but per cent?
any such excess for the benefit of proselyt
foreigners, Or the Perpetual Emigrating Flu
will give section Of another similar
ION page 244) of the Laws:
SEC. l. Be II enacted By the Governor
Legislative Assembly Of the Territory of u
That Joseph Busby have the exclusive RICH
erecting ferry or ferries on Hams Fork I
er, for the term of five years, from and a
the passage Of this act, at some point vii
this Territory, for the accommodation of
emigration from the States to California,
gon, and this Territory. provided he pay u
oath five per cent of all moneys collected
said ferry or ferries, into the Treasury of
Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company, for
benefit of said Fund, on or before the LIST
of September, of each year"
When these persons fail to establish fe
or bridges, power is given to the Govern'
appoint some other person to establish Il
(See Laws, p. 247.)
TO BE CONTINUED.
From Washington.