The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1868-01-11
AFFAIRS IN monuoNDoM.


For some time the affairs of that q indie
pendent government to the southwark
of Montana, distinguished for its msthe-
matical proficiency in the multiplication
Of children and the division of other pro-
ducts, have ran along placidly as the
waters of its own Jordan. The indi-
cations are for more lively times. Wade's
Jury Bill, originally introduced June 80
1866, after nourishing slumber in the
arms of the Territorial Committee, was
reported by Senator Cragin, Dec. 13, and
will probably be acted upon at this ses-
sion. Mr.. Hooper, Delegate from Utah,
introduced in the House of Representa-
tives. on the Cd of December, memorial
praying the establishment of the State o.
Deseret and The draft of an act for it's
admission. T4ie President also appointed
and the Senate confirmed, on the 21st OF
December, Edward Higgins, of Michigan
as Secretary of Utah, to succeed Hon.
Amos Reed, who has been the incum-
bent of that position since 1868. All
these things augur a lively winter for
our Mormon neighbors. The memorial
recites that the people of Utah had rati-
fed, at an election held for that purpose
Feb. 4, 1867, constitution and State
government, formed by convention of
lowing petition, signed by the presiding
officers of the House and Senate, had
been adopted by the Legislature of the
proposed State of Deserct, and approved
jan %. 1867:
To the honorable the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of Amer
iea In Congress assembled:
GEsTLEMEN We, your memorialists, the
members OF the general assembly of the State
of DeseTet, respectfully state that pecu-
liarly isolated position the well proven made
quacy of u territorial organization Co meet
the wants of numerous and rapidly iucreas-
ing population, a disposition 10 lessen govern
mental expenditures, and an earnest desire to
enjoy those inherent, inalienable, and consti-
tutional rights guaranteed to every American
citizen, have induced the citizens of Utah to
unanimously and constitutionally organize q
State government, preparatory 20 their adj
mission into the Union as the State of Deseret
Wherefore your memorialists most respectful
ly solicit your honorable body to favorably
consider this, our petition, aud, at as early a
day as other important duties will permit,
take action admitting the State of Deseret in
to the Union, on an equal footing with the
original States. And, as in duty bound, your
nemorialists will ever pray. I'd, .-
To read the above, one would infer
that the State of Deseret was only
proposed government and its orgBni-
zation of recent date. There is nothing
in it adverting to the fact that State
government has existed and been in ac-
tive operation, so far as the power of the
people of Utah extended, for nearly
twenty years. In March, 1s49, less than
two years after the arrival of the Nor
mons in Salt Lake Valley, a convention
met and organized State government,
of which Brigham Young was Governor,
Heber G. hihlball, Lieutenant Governor,
and Daniel II. Wells, Chief Justice A
clause ia the preamble to the Constitu-
ton declared that until Congress should
admit Utah in the Union, they do or
dain and establish free and indepen-
dent government by the name of the
State of Deseret." The bill for It's adj
mission as State was read, referred and
ordered printed. twill probably come
up again, and, after a general ventila-
tion of Mormonism, be indefinitely post
poned With it's 1O0,OOOpopulation, and
other requisites for State government,
there is not probably a member who
would have the audacity to favor it's ad-
mission while the people of Utah prac-
tice polygamy in violation of the act of
Congress and IN conflict with the opin-
ions of the civilized world. The Jury
Bill of Senator Wade is not the first at
tempt made to amond the Judicial sys-
tenn in Utah. In 1868, the Federal
Judges in Utah drafted a bill amenda-
tory to the Organic Act of 1850, and for
warded it to Senator Browning, who in
troduced it in Congress. The result was
that the people of Utah rendered it too
hot for the Judges, and they were com
PEELED to leave the Territory. It is a
fact in which the United States govern
ment can find no source of qualification
that since the Mormons entered Utah in
40. until the present day they have
been masters of the situation, carrying
every point they have undertaken. and
maintaining their Institutions in de-
iance Of laws, armies and the protesta-
tation of mankind. IL is humilisting,