The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-01-17
THk MoRMoys.
Gov. Murray's Message to the Legis;
latUre.

Gov. Murray's Message to the Legis-
lature.
SALT LANE, Jan. l5.-Gov. Murray in his
| message In the Utah legislature, said; by n
| iPw ~ Congress approved March -, lss2. this
session OF yOtir honorable bosy IS 1nede one OF
, ,,,,,, 49,, .--'''trv at large. The manner OF co'i-
Quoting ectiOHs in the Iu,uI. - n.i.ue uepetiu'
| ent on the action we may take. II Is my era
| est desire that the measure devised shall meet
| the reasonable expectations of Congress and
| the country, and the REQUIREMENTS OF 5he peo-
! PIE OF Utah. We are expected, IN dlsehafSnS
The duties Of eEIsst&s e Tff fh sS a eSe ee 81
sites of the Territory, be an ;iSStrsn-e CT orr
| fidelity TO the nation and satisfy Congress and
publ opinion on questions when IIan mas re-
! of our country. Whether we shall do tins or
| not Will depend upon you; with you VIII be
measures looking to this result. 1t has neen
charged before the country and Congress that
| the ecclesiastical power which eStaDllShet the
| Territorial statutes are held by many as soEer-
eign and would not permit the legislature 10 pass
! certain laws intended TO be effected in har-
| mOny with the national law. This Is 4 fearful
| charge here i'll free America. eSpecIal'y IN
| reference to legislature deriving ltS exist
ence from Congress- and which IS paid Tor ITS
services by congressional appropriations from
| the public funds out of the national II eaSury.
To silence so grave charge viii gladly CO.
| tire Utah affairs from the halls OF Congress
| forever, and bnry out of sight the charge that
ecclesiastical power dictates legislation IN
Utah. | am sure Congress and the eoun-
| try will be gratiiied TO see that our
affairs may be settled at home -
settled on the basis suggested. l made an
appeal to the last legislature to pass laws rs
| necessary 70 assimate Utah with the country
| in SO far as laws and business are concerned:
| 1t was my purpose to avoid the necessity OF
| Congress extending correcting hand in the
| matter. The legislature seemed best not 10
| act, whereupdn congress promptly passed the
Edmrnds bill: BY this Law MANY citizens are
4k.aa pfU iaul
| iOyed by them; the election machinery was
| suspended. and the privileges exercised by cit
| liens of the territory were delegated 70 otner
hands. This legislation, was warning voice
| of the sovereignty of tho government OF the
| United States. Men who see in the gov
eminent, or in those who differ With
wise wise. Such counsel followed to conclusion
| means alienation. Tie present condition OF
affairs cannot longer continue in safety 10
| either the United States or the people OF Utal;
| l know The difficulties in the way OF many good
people and appreciate them. lin my power
| would relieve them OF their arrangements,
morality must prevail or the nation must fall.
| Representatives OF the people, you hold tne
| future in your hands. Allow me TO strenglnsn
them IN their right, stay them in the wrong
| and apprehend the wrong, say, when the
| clouds are sect. Wise men devise measures
| for public good. | ask the repeal OF chapter 8,
| Ofthe complied laws of Utah, because of the
unwarranted and dangerous powers granted
the church corporation; because OF the law re
speeding the establishment OF religion; because
| it vests ecclesiastical courts with authority
that slnay be only exercised in the United
| States by civil courts and for no other reason;
because Congress expressly In the statute APP
proved July l. 1862, diSapproYed 1t, yet the leg,
iSlatUre IT Utah rp-enacted it in the compiled
laws Of 1876. The law of the territory having
been disapproved by Congress, it should mol
be allowed to remain on the statute book. !
repeat the recommendation made to the last
legislature, that Justice demands the right OF
dover for wifehoOd; the uIjust discrimination
unrest and untold suffering OF the followers IL
denied IN no state OF territory except where
something better is giy' II. To beStoW Inc
right Of suffrage upon them and deny tht
right OF dover is an anamoly, | earnesti3
urge that this right be no longer withheld iron
WIVES of this territory. In fact there IS no law
upon our statute books denouncing polyg any
Oigamy, adultery, fOrnlcatiOn, incest, Illicit III
tercOuSe as public offence. submit 1t Is no
creditable to Utah. trust the legislature VII
not fail to put the seal OF condemnation mat upol l
these offences. Congress In 1862 passed
an anti-pOlygamy act denouncing olgaml.
as an OffeDse and prescribed q penalty
Charged with the violation of this law, Georg
taken in obedience to the section, was trie,
| and convicted in the courts OF Utah. The con
J stitutiOnality OF the act of CONGRESS was IN
main issue. After the evidence was heard thi
| was made test case. The supreme court q
the United States, i'll an elaborate decision, DC
clared the act constitutional: Reynolds pal
the penalty for his trans rreSSion. In the llgl
! of this pronounced constitutional law, suomi
to you, representatives of the people OF Utaf
4 | Ill Justice 10 yourselves, Dc uOI ulliliti"Ll
: to the supreme law, and so cruel TO thos
f you represent, in falling to pass hnal laws
9 the subject with effective measures. ask yo
to repeal the law incOrp Grating the perpetu;
emigration fund. Repeal all laws maxim
: escheats result in this company; because D
| the law the whole system OF elntg alton
| placed under the control Of the church autho
ity which is subverSlon Of Republican COVE
ment, and because laws respecting the e>ta
. lishment OF religion which are forbidden by u
| federal constitutions; because eScheat5 ma
properly result only co a sovereign power
Z | commend the establishment OF Il oured
= Of immigration entirely Tree lfo
= | ecclesiastical court under the supervision
: officers of the territorial government. Now
a the time for the government to educate u
Z children of Utah by establishing public sehoo
= free in every sense 10 every child and no
% Sectarian i'll every particular: do not regal
I the public schools OF Utah free schools,
many OF them are maintained partly by tultlt
fees. This makes ella distinction in a gre
i majority of thr III. Sectarian tenentS are tillg
~ and Sectarian songs sung. rms Is maj
n testify wrong where It takes the money palu
= those who are not willing to consent to sect
= rianiSm in public affairs. as public schoS
!, should be free; SO school houses should be Il
connected from churches; marriages should
made by civil compact, to be entered into on
= by persons competent to do so and the &C
u tract TO be valid only as between one man a
- one woman, any other marriage under a
- circumstances should be declared VOID Ire
~ its lIeginins Should individuals, denOmiT
- lions. or a SOciatiOnS desire 10 imDOSe a
" | other additional requirement OF Solemnlt
Il; | upon civil contracts. they should be regard
81 as religious obligations only and not be
~ forced or a.lnulled by process OF civil law"