New-York daily tribune., 1858-04-05
THE TERRITORIAL LAWS or UTAH.
pSvv. On spstiAs Uns Csr.sposdent
WASHINGTON, d. c., March 26, lsos.


..A4r matters. il may be well 70 try outside Tao
Csngrsssicnal circle the importance u '''''
these matter, cannot be appreciated. :.
Brigham Young and bic Mormon Leg'''. ~
tA.,, recent memorial to Congress- maze "0
a.,;rr e.rese statement of their position; ~.
Nv. e. ., ssos ssy. sx 9' ISs .sa ais
.sSS M Eaase , S1J reg 60, p..s for
80 % sas, ss'' AZ we want ia me ;ra'n ana '~' rS
c...,;no them "trutb and fair play" lie, me eI-
,olume Of their laws which has been before
"A. Iyt.h pubic ever since 1855, but o. which hall
aozeu copies, nave good reason 10 believe, DO
-. .,ist on this eide Of the Rocky Mountains.
They have never Transmitted copy to any one OF
Ae Departments nor is one to be found in the Con
sreseional library The volume froro which
quote, was fortunate enough to find few days
ago in a private library in this city.
Before the passage by Congress oi the Organic
act Of Sept. 9, 1850, the Mormons had instituted
Provisional State Government and enacted laws
which were declared TO remain in full force and
irtue by the first Joint resolution adopted by the
frst Legislature convened under that organic act,
On Oct. 4, 1851. Ofthese laws, the most important
10 the following:
A OspnscE aeOyJoratia9 the Church Of Je'a' Ch'' Of
srerros BE It ordained by the General Assembly Of the
STATE Of Dsere That all that portion Of the inh.e' Of SAID
srd which are Inown and Church Jesus
c. S L. Day s9 saSS seSs6ra ore nsIscy @ sSi
.sssr e oSsSsa name and .e c The q Car't
:.Scy ss .Se and .d defend and BE- @ led
.o . s aa Ss stS saa .ad
and use seal which they m,y alter a, pleasure .1
religious society may general special conference elect
sSe uee Tus and not to exceed twelve assistant Tru'
ana personal prop ny of said church Which sad property 'tnH
nal by
Ispsion beqees in any not Incompatible with the
Es sIne shall used managed disposed benefit,
~. .sd ths s5sGsGn Of Hs sS OH'
SIC And be it farther ordained tha ssid Church hold
.ssoas ecmm.uitie. to worship COD according
conscience to communion sgreeaoy 10 the primer
ss,saa, Chyi,t for the security and iu enjoyment of
q s,t: ss % c that at a @ ci So
sAsAp and eyoye entnaaHv the poUey and artaory 1"
ssss edfssaees dos ne good CSde,
% SssS % M S"sm or e2 gS sS Sc on a e. aa
Ssans or'hO according to Church tbst the
subnc association happiness temporal pausiou
spiritual i9ce,,e upon the earth may not legally he que.
% established adopted for law shalt relate soen
ssi... marriages fellowship OF the religious duties Of man 70
hs Hser inssmuch the doctrines principles practices
si.tent with or rrusn.nt to the Constitution Of the United
States Of this State aud are ounoed in the revelations of the
By this ordinance the Mormon Church is en-
lowed with absolute and perpetual sovereignty.
Under it the whole system of pOlygamy is CON
Quoted, for plural marriages are sanctioned by the
church covenants the whole Dante organization
receives legal sanction, for it is instituted for the
convenience, comfort and control of the Church,
and for the punishment of offences relative to fell
lpwship the burden of the taxes is thrown IN u
yeary-increasing ratie upon the Gentiles, for the
church property exempted from taxation already
amounts in value to several millions OF dollars, aud
may augment dd nfnitum Under this ordinance,
ahc. the filthy ceremonies of the endowment are
celebrated and the inferior members of the Church
are titbed and pillaged unfortunately by the First
Presidency and the Twelve Apostles. In short this
ordnance creates a State within a State, and It's
provisions are elastic enough to cover any abomna-
BE practices whatste ever
Passing by various other extraordinary acts of the
Provisional State Legislature, the first laws which
attract attention among the Territorial epactmens,
are the two following, establishing African and lu-
dian Slavery:
..mns 10 hi. Territory and bringing with them servants justly
bound them arps from special eOnae; Or othe.wiTs laid
kvs Of the Tsrory PrOrded That he .h. file III the once Of
Ss Probate Court written and satisfactory evidence that such
SIC That the Probate Court receive evidenc. any
en wherein party parties serving received
e .s'SSs s Ss P n % The %. Of nf Ss
service for longer period than will satisfy 1e
ssc Tk. bringing ,eTvsnt servants. and his
As their shdI from P. of he United sts;s other
6este any court record SEAL properly sested tina;
r. sAs they entitled lawfully the service Of such
ss shs record the and the master mTe's and h
Asr OF their heirs shall be entitled TO the services Of the said
esryan or unless forfeited hereinafter provided II /.
M appear that such servant or servants came into the Territory
o. their free will and choice.
SEC. That any master mistress shall have seKas or
Afcan race she shall forfeit all claim claim, said
servants TO the Commonwealth and white person sha De
subject conyton thereof to hne Of not exceeding
elo less than $500 to the use Of the Territory aud
tnpsisonment not exceeding three years
Sse. shall be The duty e masters snd mstre.ses to Pro
eide for his their comfortable hsbsons cloth
s bedding sufficient food and recreation Aud shall be the
duty Of the servant IN return therefor to labor faithfully at all
ssesopabe hours aud do such service with fidelity may be e
SIC II shs duty punish
reasonable when be necessary,
ssns sseed o prudence and hamsn and he .h. be guilty
wants proper the Probate may declare the
contract between master and servant servants void sccordu
% the provisions Of the 9th section Of this act
SKc Thai servants be transferred from master
another by the consent and appreciation OF the Pro
bate Court who shs keep record Of the in his oce but
% shall be made without the Of the
given the Probate Judge in the absence Of his master m,
Any transferring servant servants
% TIE Il. q .S ,n. s Ss, S 81 aT
fs,v: nom lsso' aha. be- On cSnSeon iAsT"o :aesei to
scedps yers both the discretion of the Court anu
shan forfeit all claim TO the services OF such servant or servants
- provided In the fourth section Of this sct.
1sc 1t shal further be the duty OF all mc''e'
% send their servant servants 10 school not less ssp eighteen
months between the ages Of 'x and twenty years Approved
AP,s.rsrs An ACT for Tie further 'e'f Of fada" Sac"
and Pgis0aers
WAesa. by the acquisition Of UPpcl California aud
NewMexioo, and the subsequent organization OF the Trritoa
ress Of the United sate. these Territories have o.snsd
nnen,s vthn and what would otherwise be coude,ed
right of coil Involved thereby p,sen the move. stG;e
white lesaized government on indsn lsnds; ana
fhsta Init af