The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-01-07

Rocky mountains ara IN tne great III
terror basin Of Upper California; and
Whereas. By reason of said treaty
all civil organization originating from
the republic of Mexico became abro-
gated: and
whereas. The Congress of the United
States has failed to provide form of
civil government for the territory so
acquired. or any portion thereof; and
Whereas. Civil government and
laws are necessary for the security,
peace and prosperity Of society; and
Whereas. It Is q fundamental prin-
ciple IN all republican governments
that all political power is inherent in
the people, and governments insd-
tuted for their protection, security and
benefit Should enanate from the same;
Therefore. Your committee beg
leave 70 recommend the adoption Of
the following constitution until the
Congress of the United States shall
otherwise provide for the government
of the territory hereinafter named and
described by admitting us into the
union. We. the people. grateful 10 the
supreme being for the blessings hither-
TO enjoyed and feeling our dependence
on him for a continuation of those
Blessings. 90 ordain and establish a
free and Independent government, by
Guiding all the territory of the United
States within the following bound
aries. to-wit; Commencing at the S3d
degree of north Ia titude where it
crosses the 10Sth degree Of Longitude
west OF Greenwich: thence running
south and west to the bop diary Of
Mexico; thence west to and -Jwn the
main channel OF the ella river (or the
northern line Of Mexico, and on the
northern boundary of Lower Califor-
MIA 10 the Pacific ocean; thence along
the coast northwesterly TO the 1i9th
decree and both minute of west iongi-
tude: thence north TO where said line
intersects the dividing ridge of the
Sierra Nevada mountains; thence
north along the summit OF the Sierra
Nevada mountains to the dividing
range of mountains that separate the
waters flowing into the Columbia from
the waters running into the great
basin; tr5Ece easterly along the diYid-
ing range OF mountains that separate
said waters flowing into the Columbia
river on the north from the waters
flowing into the great basin on the
south. to the summit Of the WIND river
chain Of mountains: thence southeast
and south Of the dividing range of
mountains that separates the waters
how!rS into the gulf Of Mexico from
the caters flowing into the gulf OF
California, to the place Of beginning,
as set forth in a map drawn by
Charles Preuss and published by order
Of the Senate OF the United States in
1898"
The constitution provided that the
seat Of government should be at Salt
Lake city, and the other provisions
were not essentially different from
TT
Of officers for the provisional state
government took place at Salt Lake
city On Monday. March L. 1S49 when
the following ieket was elected:
Brigham Young governor; Willard
Richards. secretary: Newal K Whit
Tey, treasurer: Heber himball chief
justice: John TAYLOR and Newal K.
Whitney, associate justices; Daniel H.
Wells. Encouragement: Horace S
EldredSe. marshal: Albert Darlington,
assessor and collector; Joseph L. Hey
wood. surveyor of highways. Almon
W. Babbitt was appointed a delegate
TO Washington to present the public
documents to Congress, with Gre
dentials as delegate to the House Of
REPRESENTATIVES. from the provisional
stdte Of Deseret. and late in the year
1919 lie arrived at the nations capital
and procured the presentation of the
documents to the : nited States Senate
by Hon. Stephen a. Douglas. on the
9th of December Of that year. The
House OF REPRESENTATIVE. however,
declined 20 admit Delegate Rabbit to
"A seat in that body. The committee
on elections il It's report upon his pc
tition asking to be admitted, said:
'-The admission Of Mr.. Rabbit would
be d quest recognition Of the legal ex-
5stence OF the state of Deseret; and no
act should be done by the House,
which, even by implication, may give
force and vitality to a political organ
fzation extra constitutional and lnde-
pendent Of the laws Of the United
States"
TERRITORY ORGANIZED.
The committee therefore recon-
meaded the adoption OF a resolution
stating that il was inexpedient to sd-
nit Mr.. Rabbit TO a seat in the House
as a delegate from the alleged sta &c
of Deseret." BY a majority vote the
resolution passed. and Colonel Babbirt
was accordingly denied admission. The
Senate. however. after a delay of near
~ nine mon rs. on September :, 1853
passed a bill providing for the organ
ization OF the territory OF Utah, and
Two days later the bill passed the
dent Fillmore This was the origin OF
The organic act" under which cur
territorial government has been con-
ducted literally from that day 10 this.
THE SECOND ATTEMPT.
The second effort for statehood was
made through the legislative assembly
o. 1854-5. II was the fifth annual SEES
sion and convened at Fillmore, in Mil
lard county. then the capital of the
territory. Heber c Kimban was presi-
dent Of the council. and Jedediah NJ.
Grant, speaker of the house. The leg
islatDre passed an act authorizing an
election OF delegates to a territorial
convention which was to prepare a
state constitution and memorabilia
Congress Tor admission into the Union.
The convention assembled at Salt Lake
city. on March II, 1855. Ten days later
the constitution and memorial were
adopted. and Hons. George A. Smith
and John Taylor were elected dele
gates TO present the same to Congress.
The delegates proceeded to Wash
3ngton, and presented the memorial TO
Congress, but the record makes nc
mention Of any action thereon.
THE THIRD MOVEMENT.
The third movement for statehood
began early in December. 1861. On the
9th day Of that month the Utah legisia-
tdre convened in regular session al
SAT- La.e ~, ana organized by
eleeting Daniel II. Wells president OF
the council, and John Taylor, speaker
O. the house.
At the beginning Of the session a bill
was introduced for an act providing for
{. convention OF delegates for the for
nation Of a constitution and state con-
Vention. The bill being passed by both
branches Of the legislature. was pre-
scented o Governor Dawson, and by
him vetoed. The governor gave as his
principal reason for disappearing the