Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1867-02-13
The Annexation Of Utah.

DlEr0m the Carson Appeal OF this morning.
The subjoined communication rals
| tive to the question of the annexation
of the Territory of Utah to the State of
Nevada is, although at variance with
some of our preconceiyed notions, well
| worthy of our respectful consideration;
and, as presenting the subject in a new
light, we ask for it, by u readers, q
careful perpsal: vrt-
VIRGINIA, Feb. 18th, 1867.
EDITOR APPEAL:-I saw in your paper
received this morning, a leader opposing
the Utah Annexation Memorial now
pending before the Assembly. While l
admit the force Of your objections to q
| simple consolidation of the two domains
under one State Government, | am sure
that you mistake the object and effect
Of the memorial, and that / can con-
| vince you in a very few words that it
| ought to pass. The memorial is only
IN earnest request addressed to Con-
gress, that IRE be offered the Territory of
Utah. AS you know, this Territory is
the property Of the United States. So
far as it is concerned Congress may
make discretionary disposition Of it
But Congress cannot annex to Nevada,
unless Nevada choose to accept. All
this is regulated by Article 4, Section
2, of the Constitution, which reads:
"No new State shall be formed or erect
ed within the jurisdiction Of any other
State, nor n State be formed by the
junction of the two or more States or
| parts of States, without the consent Of
the Legislatures of the States concerned
rs well as of the Congress. The Con-
gress shall have power to dispose of
and make all needful rules and regula-
tons respecting the Territory or other
property belonging to the United
States"
1t was under this authority that Con-
| gress at its last session offered for the
acceptance of this State, portions of
Utah ana Arizona. The parties to::this
proposed transaction are the Federal
Government owning the subject matter,
and rendering it to the State, and the
| State, which accepts or rejects AZ its
option. I think it exceedingly probable
that Congress in order to get rid Of Il
national nuisance, may be induced to
offer US Utah Territory, and to accom-
pany the offer with certain terms and
conditions imposed for our protection.
These terms no one viii! question the
power of Congress to impose, and GER
tainly its friendship for US together with
the sagacity Of our Representatives, will
ensure such rs our interests and safety
will suggest. Besides, and it seems to
me that this is absolutely conclusive OF
the whole question-if when Congress
\ offers us this Territory we conclude that
! we had rather not have it, we are ut
full liberty to say so, and that ends the
matter. Suppose Mormonism did not
exist in Utah, would any SANE inhabit-
ant of this starvcling State oppose an
nexation? Would not our power to tax
the real estate of Salt Lake City, the
coal beds, manufactures, cotton and
grain fields of Utah, and eight hundred
miles of Pacific railway, enable us to
see very plainly, that which NOW we be-
hold darkly indeed-au honorable and
prosperous perpetuaion Of our State
Government
This Territory of Utah would be a
good thing to have. The Federal Gov
eminent may give it to us on such terms
as would make it safe fon US to take it.
Before it can become our it must be
formally offered to us, and we must for
mally accept. The memorial then can
not by any possibility do any harm. 1t
may and | feel sure it will lead to the
establishment Of the independence and
| prosperity Of Nevada. Give us the area
now embraced within the jurisdiction Of
Utah, in addition to our " territory,
and the State of Nevada in dignity Of
dimensios, in variety and wealth Of re-
\ source, in population, in every material
respect, will be the first Commonwealth
Of the great Northwest.
With regard to the merits of this
scheme much more might be said. In
this article l have only attempted to
show that it might, if backed by the
Legislature, be productive Of good to
the State, and could by no possibility do
any harm. A. W. b.