Mountain Democrat., 1857-08-22

from the fearful unsatisfactory and ter
| rible defence and protection which the re-
volvcr, the bowic-kniic and other deadly
weapons may afford us.
Even in the spring, summer and fall
months, We are destitute of all power and
means of enjoying the benefits of the To-
cal Territorial Government of Utah to
which the most Of US belong, as well as
the local and neighboring Governments
Of California, Oregon, Washington and
New Mexico The distance between the
Great Salt Lake City and the innumcra-
bic fertile valleys which lie along the
eastern spurs, and foothills of the Sierra
NevadaS,- where tAe-moSt- OF the -popula--
tation of this region reside, is nearly eight
hundred miles, and over this immense
space there sweep two deserts. On this
account no intercourse or communication
of a legal or political nature is or can be
held with the civil authorities of Utah.
The only authority acknowledged in this
part of Utah Territory, by any class Of
people, is that which the church of the
cr-Day Saints, whose members are
generally known under the sobriquct of
MormonS, exercises over its votaries and
disciples. Neither they nor the Gentiles
appear to look to the territorial govern
mcnt Of Utah for any statutory laws for
the regulation Of their business, or for the
government of their conduct. The Nor
mons, in all their social affairs, conform
to the general voluntary rules and habits
of life among the Gcntiles, but they reg
ulatc all their business affairs, dealing and
intercourse with each other, by certain
established rules of the Church, and not
by any laws passed by the legislative de-
partncnt Of the Territory.
These are but part of the grievances
under which VIC labor. Nearly one.half
of the county in which the most of your
petitioners reside, has but two Justices of
the Peace and one Constable, and while
no one even respects their authority,
there are not, perhaps, fifty men in the
whole county who know, or care to know,
who they arc or where they live. Should
they attempt to exercise any authority,
thoy would be regarded not only as inter-
mcddlcrs but intruderS. Nearly the
whole region in which the most of your
petitioners reside, was once erected into
u county called Carson" by the Terrific
rial Legislature of Utah, but for some rea-
son or reasons unknown to your petition
crS, the same Legislature has abolished
the county organization and has cstab-
lishcd in lieu of it an election precinct
a precinct, too, in which nobody votes for
an officer, and nobody cares to vote.
The present number of white inhabi-
tantS who reside within the limits Of the
proposed new Territory, can. be far from
seven to eight thousand sous, and their
numbers arc rapidly increasing. AS the
country has no less than two hundred in
tcrmediate valleys, which run into one
another, Of the most fertile grazing and
| agricultural lands, as well as foothills,
mountain spurs and mountains in which
are found gold, silver, copper, lead, iron,
coal and other minerals, metals and pre-
ciouS stones, VIC have good reason to sup
pose that, when they are properly Oxplo-
rcd and developed, it will bo found that
we possess, for its extent, one Of the rich
est and most productive regions of the
globe. AS the evidence in support of
these Facts is KNOWN and can be known,
now, to but few individuals, VIC do not
propose here to discuss the subject, but
rather to wait until future explorations
shall dcyelopc all the necessary evidence
in support of the truth of our statements.
For these, and many other reasons, there
will soon be rush of population to this
new Territory, like that which rapidly
poured into Texas and California in days
passed; and, unless Territorial Govern
mcnt or some other form of Government
shall be established during the coming
session of Congress, we may expect to
witness scenes of n tragical character, SO
appalling and startling in their nature as
to mako every man feel that no law can
or Sho1ld rule but that which is enforced
by the iron and savage rule of unrcstrain-
cd violence and bloodshed.
There are some portions of the Great
Basin of this continent claimed by the
State of California, in which reside con-
siderable number of people who, in the
winter time, can have no connection with
it. This is the case with those who re-
side in Honey Lake Valley. That Valley
lies east of tho Sierra Nevadas and within
the Great Basin, and from this cause the
people living in it have no intercourse
with other parts Of the State during the
rainy season, for nearly four months
every year. They, therefore, naturally
belong to the eastern side of the Sierra
Ncvadas, and on this account, they desire
to join us in this movement. II they are
forced to remain with California, they
can never know anything about the al
fairs of their State during tho whole time
its Legislature may be in session. 1t is,
therefore, folly and worse than folly, to
attach the people of this Valley to State
about which they know nothing, and care
nothing, for one-third of the year, and
that third the most important part of it
to them. They, therefore, cordially unite
with us in this prayer and memorial to
Congress, asking not only that they may
be attached to tho proposed new Terri
tory, but that they may add their united
voice in support of the great necessities
for the organization of the aforesaid Ter
ritory.
There are others residing in the south
crn part of California, on the eastern side
Of the Sierra Nevadas, who are similarly
situated during portion of the winter
months of each year. That part, also, of
New Mexico lying near the Colorado Riv-
er and its tributaries and within the Gads-
den Purchase, adjacent to them, have the
same difficulties of communicating with
the civil authorities of New Mexico, at
Santa Fe, or any other local and neigh
boring Government, that large portion
of your petitioners have to encounter in