, 1884-01-24
Governor Murray's Message.

SALT LAKE, Jan. IS Governor
Murray, in his message to the Utah
Legislature said, ''by law of Con
gress approved March y, 1882, this
session of your honorable body is
made one of extraordinary interest
to the people of Utah and the country
at large. The manner of conducting
elections in the future is made de
pendent upon the action we may
take. It Is my earnest desire that
measures be devised which shall
meet the reasonable expectations of
Congress, ana the country, and the
requirements of the people of Utah.
We are expected IN discharging our
duties as Legislators to write such a
code of laws as shall, while conserv-
ing admitted local necessities of the
territory, by assurances of our tide lity
to the nation, satisfy the e1actions of
public opinion on a question which
Utah regards IN harmony with ot.er
portions of our country. Whether
we shall do tins OF not depends on
you. With you will lie the initiation
of measures looking to this result. 1t
has been charged before the country
and Congress that the ecclesiastical
power established by territorial stat
utes and held by many as sovereign,
would not permit the Legislature to
pass certain laws intended to be eff
fectiye and in harmony with the
national law This is a fearful
charge to hear in free America, es-
pecially to Legislature deriving
(NA,, md
which is paid for its services by Con
gressional appropriation from public
funds out of the national treasury
To silence SO gross charge l will
gladly cooperate with you in pass
ing laws which will retire the affairs
of Utah from the halls of Congress,
and forever bury out of sight the
charge that ecclesiastical power die
tates the legislation of Utah. l am
sure that Congress aud the country
will be gratitied to see that our af
fairs may be settled on the basis sug
gested. Imade an appeal to the last
Legislature to pass such laws as
were necessary TO assimilate the Ter
ritory of Utah with the country, in
so far as laws and business are coz
eerned- 1t was my purpose to avoid
Congress the necessity of extending
a correcting hand in the matter. The
Legislature thought best not to act,
whereupon Congress promptly pass
ed the Edmunds law. By this law
many citizens We're deprived of the
exercise of political privileges, enjoy
ed by them, election machinery was
suspended, and privileges exercised
by citizens of the Territory were del
egated to other hands This legisla
ton was warning voice of the SOW
ereignty of the Government. Men
who see in the Government, or in
those who differ with them, only an
enemy are unwise. Such counsel, if
followed to its conclusion, means
alienation. The present condition of
affairs cannot longer continue in
safety either to the Unito,i States or
the people of Utah. I know the DIFF
ticulties in the way of many good
people. l sympathize with AID APP
preciate them. If in my power l
would relieve them from their en-
tanglements, burthrens and dlsabii-
tiles, but constitutional morality
must prevail, or the nation must fall
As representatives of the people you
hold power in your hands. Allow me
to strengthen the right TO stay the
wrong; to apprehend the wrong, and
say when clouds are seen wise men
devise measures for the public good |
l ask the repeal of chapter five. con-
piled laws of Utah, because of the
an / dangerous powers
granted TO the corporation, because it /
is u law prospecting the establishment /!
of religion" because it vests ecc.e>i- I
astical courts with authority which .
may only be exercised in the United /
States IL .ivil courts, and if for no
other reason, because Congress by /
express statute approved July 1st,
1862, disapproved of ii. Yet the
of Ttah re enacted IN the
laws of 1876, law Of tho (
Territory that having been disapprov-
I'D by Congress should not be allow