Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-12-14

| authentic expressions OF public opinion
upon this all-important subject, are the
statement Of principles that belong &c
the constitutional structure Of the gov
eminent.
Under the Constitution the Presi.
dent and heads of departments are 10
make nominations for Office. The Sen
ate is TO advise and consent to appoint
ments, and the House oi Representatives
is TO accuse and prosecute taithless Off
GERS. The best interest of the public
service demands that these distinctions
be respected; that Senators and Repre-
/ sentatives, who may be judges and &C
| cusers. should not dictate appointments
/ 10 Office" To this en- the cooperation
| of the legislative department of the gov
/ eminent is required alike by the necnssi-
| ties of the case and by pub ic opinion.
/ Members OF Congress will not be relieved
| from the demands made upon them with
reference TO appoin 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 o.
! members OF Congress with respect to
! appointment TO Office by the President,
I i
! visions of section l,767. and Of the sec
/ tions following. of the revised statutes
/ comprising the tenure-of-oflice act, of
March ?, 1867, be repealed.
Believing that TO reform the system
and methods Of the civil service in our
/ country is ore OF the highest and mos.
| IMPERATIVE duties OF craftsmanship, and
/ that II can be permanently done only by
/ the cooperation of the legislative and
eIecu i've departments of the govern
mont, | again commend the whole sub
| jcct TO your considtrate attention.
IL is the recognized duty and purpose
OF the people OF the United States t. sup.
press polYgamy where il now exists IN
our Tern Dries, and 10 prevent its eX-
[ tension. Faithful and Jealous efforts
/ have been made By the United Safes
authorities IN Utah 10 enforce the laws
against it. Experience has shown that
tie .egis alton upon this subject, 10 be
effective. requires ext nsive m obligation
and amendment The longer action
/ Is delayed, the more difficult IL
viii be 10 nc omp.ish what is de
sired Prompt and decided meas
urcs are necessary. The Mormon
/ sCclaria1 organization which upholds
/ po.ygamy has the whole power OF max
! IN aud executing the local legislation
/ OF the Territory. BIZ its control of the
grand and petit iuries IL possesses large
/ influence over the administration OF JUS
/ tice. Exercising. As the heads OF this
sect do, the local political power Of the
/ Territory, they are able 10 M Ike effect
| i've their hostility 10 the lsw OF Congress
on the subject OF polygamy, and, in fact,
/ do prevent is enforcement. POlygamy
viii no, BE- abolished ii the enforcement
/ of the law depends on those who prac-
I ice and uphold the crime Ii can only
/ be suppressed by taking away the po-
| litical power Of the sect which encour-
ages and sustains IL. The power Of
| Congress 20 enact suitable laws TO
protect the Territories Is ample.
/ II is not case for halfway
; measures The political power OF
/ the Mormon sect is increasing; Il con-
/ troS one OF our wcaithiest and most
/ popU.ous Territories. 1t IS extend
/ ing steadily INFO other Territories.
/ Wherever II goes it establishes
! po.y-lmy ana sectarian po.ilica,
power. The sarc.ty of marriage
and the family relation are tie
/ 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
/ sti;u.ions. To re-establish the interests
aud principles which polygamy and
| MormoniSm have imperiled, and to
/ fully reopen TO intelligent and viriuous
emigrants of all creeds that part OF our
| domain which has been, in a great de.
7 gree, closed 10 general emigration by =
/ tolerant and immoral institutions, it is
/ recommended that the governmentoi the
| Territory Of Utah be reorganiz d.
/ | recommend that Congress provide
for the government of Utah by gov
Z ernor and Judges, or commissioners, ap-
pointed by the President and confirmed
/ by the Senate-a government analogous
/ TO the provisional government estab-
/ iiShed for the Territory northwest OF the
/ Ohio, By the oidinarce OF lIS7. II,
| no ever. il is deemed hest 10 continue
the existing form OF local government, l
recommend that the III ht to vote, hold
Office and sit on juries in the Territory
of Utah, be confined to those who
neither practice nor uphold polygamy.
/ II thorough measures are adopted, it is
/ believed that within few years the
evils which now affiiCt Utah will be
/ eradicaled, and that this Territory will
/ in good time become one OF the most
prosperous and attractive Of the new
/ States Of the Union.
Our relations with all foreign coun-
| tries have been those Of undisturbed
peace. and have presented no occasion
/ for conc m as to their continued main
/ tenance.
Nv anticipation of an early reply from
the British government TO the demand
OF indemnity 10 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 MAS
received only in the latter part Of April
in the present year, and, when received,
exhibited a failure of accord between
| the two governments, rs 20 the measure
of the inshore fishing privilege secured
TO our fishermen by the treaty OF
! Washington, of so serious u character
| that | made il the subject al . commune
| cation 10 Congress, in which recon-.
mended the adopt on OF the measures
| which seemed TO me proper to be taken
| by this government in maintenance OF
the rights accorded to our fishermen uu-
der the treaty, and toward securing an
indemnity for the injury these interests
! had suffered. 4 bill to carry out these
recommendation was under co slider
alton by the House of Repras natives
st the lime Of the adjournment OF Con
gress in June last.
Within few weeks | have received
a communication from her majesty S
! government, enewing tue consideration
! % the subject, both of the indenlity OF
the injuries at Fortune bay. ana OF the
Interpretation Of the treaty in which
the previous correspondence had shown
the two governments 10 5e ct variance.
Upon both these topics the disposition
toward q friendly asreement is mani.