The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-01-17
A SOUND MESSAGE.
Governor Murray ON the Mormon Cues
ton.

Governor Murray on the Mormon Cues
ton.
SALT LAKE, JAN. 15,-In Governor
Murray's message 10 the Utah legisla
ture he said: By law of congress ap.
proved March %, 1882, this session o.
your honorable body is made one of ex
traordinary interest to the people O.
Utah and the country at large The
manner oil conducting elections in futlrC
is made dependent on the action we may
take. 1t is my earnest desire that the
measures devised shall meet with the
reasonable expectations of congress
and the country, and the requirement.
of the people of Utah. We are ex
pected. in disoharging our dutIe:
as legislature, to write such 6
code of laws as shall, while covering
all the admitted local necessities Of
the territory, be an assurance of ouI
fidelity 10 the nation, and satisfy the ex.
actions of public opinion on. question,
with other portions of our country
Whether we shall do this or not depends
upon you; with you will be the meas.
ures looking TO this result.
1t has been charged before the c1un.
try aad congress that the ecclesiastical
power which established the territorial
statutes IS held by many rs sovereign
and that it would not permit the legs.
lAture TO pass certain laws Inteaded &c
be in harmony with the national laws
This is fearful charge here in free
America, especially in reference to 8
legislature deriving its existence from
congress, which is paid fol-
Its services by congressional appro
prIatIons from the public funds out o.
the national treasury. To silancc SC
grave charge will gladly cooperate
with you in passing such laws as viii
retire Utah affairs from the halls o
congress forever and bury out of sigh
the charge that ecclesiastical power die
tates TO the legislature of Utah ! an
certain congress and the country Will bt
glad TO see that oar affairs may be set
lied at home and settled on the basil
suggested. 1 made an appeal 10 the las
legislature to pass sach laws as were
necessary 20 assimilate the territory o.
Uiah with the country.
The legislature il seemed would moi
act, whereupon congress promptly
passed the Edmunds bill. By this law
many citizens have been denied the ex
ercIse of political privileges previously
enjoyed by them. The election ma
chinery was suspended and privileges
exc: eised by citizens were delegated "a
other hands This legislation was the
warning voice of the sovereignty of the
government of the United States. Men
who see IN the government or In those
who differ with them only an enemy are
unwise Such counsel followed t. q
conclusion meant alienation. The
present condition of affairs can
not longer continue in safety
either to the United States or the people
of Utah. I ask for q repeal Of chapter
compiled laws of Utah, because il give
unWarra1ted and dangerous powers to (,
great church corporation; because I
vests ecclesiastical courts, with author
Efy which may only be exercised IN tht
United States by civil courts, and for ont
other reason, because congress in "a ex
press statute approved July i, 1862, disap
proved Of il. Yet the legislature Of Utal
re-enAcsed IL IN the complied lsws OF
1876. A law Of territory having been
dIsappToved BY congress should not b
allowed 70 remain On the statute books
Justice demands the right Of power foi
Wifehood. Unjust discrimination, I'M
rest and untold suffering will follow il,
denial. To confer the right Of suffrage
and deny the right Of dover is 80 anon
ally. earnestlY urge that this right 81
no logger withheld from wives Of Thu
| territory. The fact that there are NJ
laws upon our statute books deuouucIng
| polyganY. bigamy. adultery, fornicasion
| incest or Illicit intercourse, is q public
odense. submit that il is not credita
I bic to Utah, and trust the Legislature
will not fail 70 place the seal of condem.
uAaiOn upon these Offenses.
I ask for repeal of the law ineorpoE
| ating perpetual emigration fund, be
cause By this Law the whole system d
emigration Is placed under the contro
Of The church authority. recommsnd
the establishment Of buresu of emil
grafton entirely free from the ecelesias
teal court. and under the super
vision Of an officer Of the sTri
tnrfal government Now Is the time FOL
the government TO educate the childreE
Eof Utah By establishing public schools
| free In every sense 20 every child