The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-12-09

statement OF principles that belong to
the constitutional structure of the gov
eTnment.
Under the Constitution the Presi-
dent and heads of departments are to
/ make nominations for Office. The Sen
ate is to advise aud consent to appoint.
ments, and the House OF representatives
is to accuse and prosecute taithess oti-
GERS. The best interest of the public
| service demands that these distinctions
be respected; that Senator's and Repre-
sentativss, who may be judges and ac-
cusers. should not dictate appointments
to Office" To this END the cooperation
| of the legislative department of the gov
eminent is +, CURED alike by the necessi-
ties of the case aud by pub ic opinion
Members OF Congress will not be relieved
| from the demands made upon them with
reference to appojn ments to Office UNTIL
by legislative enactment, the pernicious
practice is condemned and forbidden.
IL is therefore recommended that an
act be passed defining the relations OF
members of Congress with respect to
appointment to Office by the President,
and | also recon mend that the pro-
visions of section 1,767. and of the sec
tions following, of the revised statutes,
comprising the tenure.of- office act, of
March 2, 1867, be repealed.
Believing that to reform the system
and methods of the civil service in our
country is one of the highest and most
imrerative duties of craftsmanship, and
that it can be permanently done only by
the cooperation of the legislative and
executive departments of the govern
ment, again commend the whole SUBJ
ject to your considerate attention.
1t is the recognized duty and purpose
OF the people of the United States to sup
press polygamy where it now exists in
our Territories, and to prevent its ex-
tension. Faithful and jealous efforts
have been made by the United S aates
against it. Experience has shown that
the legislation upon this subject, to be
effective, requires ext nsive modification
and amendment. The longer action
is delayed, the more difficult it
will be 10 &c omplish what is de-
sired. Prompt and decided meas
ures are necessary. The Mormon
sectarian organization which upholds
polygamy has the whole power of max
ing and executing the local legislation
of the Territory. By its control of the
grand and petit iuries it possesses large
influence over the administration OF JUS
lice. Exercising, as the heads of this
sect do, the local political power of the
Territory, they are able TO N Ike effect
i've their hostility to the law of Congress
on the subject of polygamy, and, in fact,
do prevent its enforcement. Polygamy
will not be abolished il the enforcement
of the law depends on those who prac-
ice and uphold tue crime. 1t can only
Je suppressed by taking away the po-
litical power of the sect which enCour-
ages and sustains it. The power OF
Congress to enact suitable laws to
protect the Territories is ample.
It is not case for hallway
measures. The political power OF
tue Mormon sect is increasing; it con-
tros one of our wealthiest and most
pOpulous Territories. It is extend
ing steadily into other Territories.
Wherever it goes it establishes
polygamy and sectafian political
power. The sancity of marriage
and the family relation are the
corner stone of our American society
and civilization. Religious liberty and
the separation of church and State are
among the elementary ideas of free in
stitutions. To re-establish the interests
and principles which polygamy and
MOrmonism have imperiled, and to
emigrants of all creeds that part OF our
domain which has been, in great de
gree, closed to general emigration by il
tolerant and immoral institutions, it is
recommended that the governmental the
Territory of Utah be reOrganiz d.
/ recommend that Congress provide
for the government of Utah by a gov
ernor and judges, or commissioners, ap-
pointed by the President and confirmed
by the Senate--a government analogous
to the provisional government estab-
lished for the Territory north west ot the
Ohio, by the ordinance OF 1887. If,
ho ever, it is deemed hest to continue
the existing form of local government, l
rec ,mmend that the rig ht to vote, hold
Office and sit on juries in the Territory
of Utah, be confined to those who
neither practice nor uphold polygamy.
If thorough measures are adopted, it is
believed that within few years the
evils which now sfiiCt Utah will be
ersdicated, and that this Territory will
in good time become one of the most
prosperous and attractive of the me-
States of the Union.
Our relations With all foreign coun-
tries have been those of undisturbed
peace, and have presented no occasion
for concern as to their continued main
tenance.
NV anticipation of an early reply from
the British government to the demand
of inder,nity to our fishermen for the
injuries suffered by that industry at
Fortune bay, in January, 1878, which
expressed in my last annual message,
was disappointed. This answer was
received only in the latter part of April
in the present year, and, when received,
exhibited failure of accord between
the two governments, as to the measure
of the inshore fishing privilege secured
to our fishermen by the treaty of
Washington, of so serious a character
that | made it the subject of communi-
cation to Con gress, in which recon-
mendPd the adoption of the measures
which seemed to me proper to be taken
by this government in maintenance of
the rights accorded to our fishermen un-
der the treaty, and toward securing an
indemnity for the injury these interests
had suffered. A bill to carry out these
alton by the House of Represt natives
ct the time of the adjournment of Con-
;ress in June last.
Within few weeks I have received
communication from her majesty 3
government, renewing the consideration
of the subject, both of the indie nifty of
the injuries at Fortune bay, and of the
Interpretation Of the treaty in which
the previous correspondence had shown
the two governments to be at variance.
| Upon both these topics the disposition
toward friendly agreement is mani
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