The New York herald., 1872-01-10


Governor Woods Message TO tho Recall
citrant Mormon Legislature-The Crlml.
nal Trials Suspended.
Governor Woods yesterday forwarded his
annual message to the Utah Legislature. AZ
an executive document 1t sets forth the affairs
ofthe Territory in a remarkably clear and con-
else manner, and exhibits to the Elders Of tho
Mormon Church composing the legislative
body the view of their concerns from purely
worldly pointer, in other terms. shows them
through secular mirror those things they
have hitherto seen only from their own mar
rowed religious reaectors. Starting from q
common standpoint, he intimates that the Ter
ritories are the wards Of the republic, and
as such are subject to the will OF
Congress; and he makes this remark an
Introduction to one more important, 'srhe
constitution of the United States guarantees
freedom of conscience in religion, but It ID
presumed that all religious convictions will be
in harmony with the constitution, which Is the
supreme law of the land. Aught else
than this would be national suicide"
This sentence of course touched the con-
science of the Assembly; but the Governor
leaves them in no doubt as to what he Intends,
for he followed this up by stating that bigamy
was prohibited to the country generally,
that no exceptions could be taken, and
that plural marriage as practised In
Utah was direct violation of the con-
stitution. eff one class OF persons can
violate one law with impunity and shield them
selves behind the bulwarks Of religious tole-
ration another class can do the same with
some other law, and 80 on till religious
dogmas are made to take the place Of tho
constitution and laws, and anarchy would
ensue.' This is the old, old doctrine, and
preached from reliable authority but still
the difficulty of dealing with polygamy
remains as irksome and stupendous as before.
Doubtless the appeal the Governor makes to
part Of his message, to take the matter in hand
themselves and enact such laws during the
present session as will enable them to obviate
the embarrassing circumstances that other
wise must arise from a conflict with the gen.
eral government, is the right method, and
should have the desired effect in arousing
them to legislate for their own interests. But
the beligerent attitude of the members of the
Assembly, their cool Indifference to the recon.
mendations of the Governor, their sneerlng
commentary on the question of printing the
document by substituting hundred for the
usual thousand copies, and the attempted In
suit to the chief of the Executive, the hurry
ing Of Delegate Hooper from the House a.
though the verbiage of the annual document
was an insult to his religious sensibilities. and
the known and expressed determination of tho
Church officials to thwart the government Ia
every conceivable way-all these things leave
but little hope of an early termination Of tho
struggle; but rather warrant, as our despatch
states, the assertion that they intend to mako
it the stKingdom versus the United States,
until the government determines 10 take
measures other than those hitherto en-
ployed.
The direct course Of justice is also consider
ably endangered. District Attorney Bates ap-
peared before Judge Mexican yesterday, and
after explaining the impecunious condition Of
the judicial treasury, from which he anticf-
pated drawing funds to carry out the criminal
prosecutions already entered upon the court
calendar, he moved to have the causes dis.
continued until March. In the meantime he
is ordered to Washington to explain the state
OF affairs to Attorney General Williams, and
endeavor to secure funds to carry out the laws
in Salt Lake. The motion was granted, and
Brigham Young and the others indicted for
murder are to remain in the custody Of the
Marshal until brought to trial.