The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-07-07
TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT OF
TTTAH

The act of 1850 creating the Territory
respects. and reserves to the United States
| Government the right of effectually abolish
ing the Territory SO created at any time.
This fact has not been adverted to, and
many writer's and speakers on the subject
have been puzzled to devise means of get
ting rid of the Territorial Government,
should it become nuisance, as it undoubt
eddy threatens to be. Some have doubted
whether the act itself could be repealed.
after rights under it had become vested
Others have argued that it would only be
done in case of overriding moral necessity.
The fact is, however, that Congress has
reserved the right to do it at pleasure, and
when they see fit.
The Territory. as constituted by this act
is bounded on the north by Oregon, on the
east by the Rocky mountains, on the south
by the 9th parallel of latitude, and on the
west by California and it is provided that
the Territory may be divided into two or
more Territories; and that the rhoLe or any
part Of said Territory may be attached to
any other State or Territory whenever Con-
gress may see fit. Thus the Territory
may be cut up and attached to the border
ing States or Territories.
In creating a government for so vast a
region of country, Congress appears to
have exercised unusual caution, as if they
ho1 hot - foil int
friendly hands. The same act extended
over this Territory the Constitution and laws
of the United States.
1t is, well known that the Mormons, when
they emigrated from Illinois into the will
derness, and chose it for their home, thought
that they would hold undisputed and ex-
elusive possession over it. not dreaming
that the United States would extend its laws
over that region. They considered it
sort of derelict.
But travel to California began to render
| the country more known, and the Mormons
themselves sent agents to Washington to
apply for the protection of the United
States, and for the establishment of the
Territorial Government. 1t was with some
reluctance and miSgiving that Congress
granted their request, and then only upon
the positive assurances of these agents that
polygamy was not one of their institutions.
Of late Brigham Young has set up a
claim to the Territory as belonging to the
Mormons, and has refused to recognise the
TTnitad States land curyayS ;S ba
widest pretension that could oe imagined,
and Brigham is too shrewd to advance it
seriously. Utah is subject by law to the
same land system which is applied to Ore
gon. Kansas, Nebraska. New Mexico, &c.
The act creating the Territory extended
over it the Constitution and laws of the
United States; and what is more, Brigham
Young accepted this act, and when he was
commissioned as Governor of the Territory,
he took the requisite oath to support the
Constitution of the United States, which
! embraces the laws made in pursuance there
of
The Mormon claim to a title to the lands
in the Territory is mere humbug. Trea-
sonable resistance to the laws of the United
States is one thing, and a claim which is to
be legally adjudieated is another. The
advance of such claim as this by the
Mormons would be mere farce. But an
attempt to assert right of eminent domain
in the Territory by force, would be treason
and would be punished as such.
u The following which is said to be re-
corded in an Irish graveyard, is excellent
i'll its kind:
Here lies the body of John Mound,
Lost at sea and never found.'
The following is better in its kind. how
ever, as specimen of sharp shooting be-
tween a coquette and her lover:
You men are angels VIII, you WOO the maid.
But derHs when the marriage VOW is said.
The lover. not to be outdone, replies as
follows:
The change, dear girl, is easily forgiven
Va Er,N alxyoc AaH 4