The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-02-26
MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS-.
Setting Forth ths Reasons As.
signed by the Legislature for
Asking An Investigating
Committee.

Following is the text of the me
mortal to Congress adopted by The
| Legislative Assembly on Saturday
To the Honorable the Senate ana
House Of Representatives Of the
United States Of Americ0 in Con-
greSs Assembled:
We, your memOrialiSts, the Legis-
latlve Assem- bly, of the Territory of
Utah, respectfully represent that in
consequence of baSeless rumors and
mOnstrOus exaggerations, the people
whom we represent have been placed
in jeopardy, and are now threat
ened with the deprivation of the
right Of local self~gOvernment. Per
sons whose aim is TO gain control
OF this now wealthy and prosperous
Territory and manipulate its
finances, have succeeded in arousipg
the ire of the clergy, and through
them the anger of MANY peOnle
against the large majority of the
citizens Of Utah, and thus a pres
sure has been brought to bear upon
your honorable body, which shows
It's effects in proposed measures
containing provisions utterly at va
rance with the fundamental princi-
pies of republican government.
and which, while oStensibly aimed
at the marriage relations of but a
small portion of the people will, if
carried into effect, deprive the
whole Territory of the vested rights
secured to it by the Organic Act,
and the Constitution of the United
States.
For many years the people of
Utah have patiently endured the
misrepresentation and ISLANDERS of
INSCRIPTIONS persons who have 10
Gated at different times in the
Territory, and who from various
unworthy motives have formed
themselves into political and re-
ligious cIiques, aVOwedly to repre-
sent the liberal and progressive
element Of the Territory, but really,
as the history of their transactions
plainly shows, to vex and annoy
the majority Of the people, and de-
prlve them, if possible of their
civil, religious and political rights.
Tie executive and judicial powers
of the Territory being vested in the
hands Of government appointees
and the legislative trammeIed by
the absolute veto power of the Gov
ernOr, it is not difficult to realize
how comparatively powerless the
people have been when attempting
to foster the interests of the Terri
tory.
While bearing all the burdens i'm
posed under influences created bv
officials wholly irresponsible to
them, the people of Utah have
waited, hoped and prayed for better
things, under Il government less
like the colonial bondage to which
their fathers were subjected. and
more IN harmony with true repub-
lican institutions. When accused
of exercising undue influences over
the female portion of the popuIa-
ton, and the idea was advanced that
If women IL Utah were granted the
right to vote, a REMEDY would at
once be found, the Territorial L egis-
lature promptly anticipated the pro-
posed action Of Congress, and passed
an act comforting upon women in
Utah, over u years Of age, and with
other proper qualifications, the cleo
tive franchise. Again, when ac-
cused Of making the church dOmi-
nate the state, by permitting eccles-
iastical influence or priestIy !
authority to assert influence at the |
polls by means of the marked ballot |
which had been approved, and |
which many still believe to be the |
cheapest and best means of prevent |
ing illegal notes.-the Legislature
enacted law providing for the
registration of voters, repeating all |
election laws requiring numbered or |
marked ballots and MAX
ing them strictly secret.
The registration law having failed |
to change the vote Of the people i'm |
favor of their accusers, Congress is
now urged under pressure of public |
opinion melted by unscrupulous per
sons, to enact laws DISTINGUISHING in |
this Territory many native born and |
other loyal citizens Of the republic. |
The fraudulent certificate issued by
Utah's present Governor having
thus far failed to disfranchise the |
people, Congress is asked to do what
and unbluShing fraud have
failed to accomplish, and we call the
of your honorable body to
the fact that previous to the passage
Of the anti-polYgamy act of 1862,
there was no law in force, local or
Congressional, against the marriage
Of plural wives in Utah. There are
many persons who contracted plural
before that time. who
have never violated that statute,
and who have remained unmolested
in their family relations. They can
not be convicted of crime because
they have broken no law, yet the
legislation proposed to your hon
orable body would disfranehise
them Of the inalienable rights of
which, we submit, is both
unnecessary and unjust. Under
these cruel circumstances the future
can alone develop what unhappy
events may yet be in store for a
people so long subjected to the evils
growing out Of usurpatiens and the
abuse OF power by officers of the
general government wholly irro |