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

ca &c, anu ROBERT =. Burton, sergeant
alarms. The convention was COM
poseo OF sixty-seven delegates, and
Closed its deliberations on January %,
after having formulated a constitution
Ior the state of Deseret and a memo
RAJ TO Congress. praying for admis-
SION INTO the Union, and having nomi-
hatea Tor an election to be held the
1olioWlng March 3. Brigham Young to
De governor, Heber c. Kimban, lieu
tenaeht-SoVernor. and John NJ Bern
hisei. representative to Congress for
the proposed state OF DeSeret. The
elecllon was held on the day appointed.
L ne constitution was unanimously
adopted by the people, and the officers
named elected. An election for sena-
tors ana representatives OF Deseret
occurred simultaneously on the l4th of
April pursuant to proclamation by the
governor elect. The first general Iegis-
latIVe assembly of the proposed state
convened at the council house in Salt
Lake city. Following are a. few para
graphs from Governor Young's mes
sage delivered to the assembly:
IN a republican government like
I ours l hold that both justice and con-
Sistency require that citizens in terri
tories, however few in number. should
at least have not only q voice, but also
vote In the representative branch OF
the general government, a vote for the
chlet magistrate, and their choice in
the officers appointed by him, except,
perhaps, the secretary and judges and
other law officers, so far as their Of
neal acts are exclusively restricted to
business pertaining 10 the United
states as a party; and still more just
and consistent would it be were the
people allowed one representative in
- Ill -
hcers with the exceptions already
named. And then. when the people in
territory properly express their wish
to assume the responsibility and eX-
pense OF a state government upon
their presentation of a constitution re-
publican in form. with a petition for
admission, the declaration OF indie
pendence, the constitution. Justice, and
the most ordinary regard for the rights
of their fellow-citizens. ali combine to
counsel Congress to cordially welcome
and at once admit that territory into
the family of states, regardless of the
number Of its population.
California, occupying, like Utah,
cede0 10 the United States by the
treaty OF Guadalupe Hidalgo, February
>, 1875. and having passed a short
period under what may be called g
military-civl government. met by her
delegates in convention, formed a con-
stitudon, ratified it on the 18th OF No
Nem0er, 1872 by very unanimous
vote. at the same time elect
ed governor, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
members OF the legislature and
two members of Congress- On the
10Th Of December, next after the gem
erai election, the legislature convened,
organized, proceeded TO elect the state
officers made elective by the constitu-
ton, two senators 10 congress- and TO
leSislate upon matters, and in such
manner as in their judgment required.
mus California, without having I'M
dergone g. territorial pupilage, stepped
at once upon the platform of state ac-
ton, and was admitted into the union
on the 9Th of September, 1850, and that,
TOO, as cOnstltutionally, lawfully, and
properly as any other state has been
admitted. having a substantial civil
community and a republican govern
ment.'
"On the 1st of September, 1910, the
day the convention began its session,
the largest number claimed by Cali
fornia was some 49 600, a number prob
ably about one-half the present pOpu-
lation of Utah. 1 think this places US
comParad lively on a, very respectable
footing as to numbers, and do not see
to the large number doing what was
sanctioned on the part of so much the
lesser number. 1t may also be proper,
in order to verify an historical event
to here remark THAT the sudden in
crease Of population in California In
1919 from the best information I have
was chiefly due to the previous first
known discovery there of gold by mem
beers of the Mormon battalion, which
battalion also very efficiently aided in
wrestling from Mexico that fertile and
valuable region. Again the census OF
1860 shows the population Of Oregon to
be 81, 464, and she enjoys all the bless
ings and privileges of state govern
ment. on an equality with her sister
states
STATE OFFICERS CHOSEN.
An adjourned session of the assembly
was held on April 10th, when otihel
state officers were chosen as follows:
United States senators to congress
Wilham II. Hooper and George Q
Cannon; secretary Of state, Daniel H
Wells; treasurer, David o. Calder; au.
ditor OF public accounts, William Clay
ton; attorney general, Aurelius Miner
chief Justice Elias Smith associate
justices, zerubbabel Snow and Seth NJ
Buair.
( Blair.
Washington on the Goth Of April, 1861
His colleague, Senator-elect Cannon
who was in Europe at the time Of his
election, Joined him at the capital, ano
DIR. BernAisel was already at the seal
Of government, having been elected tC
represent the territory the previou:
year. Despite every favorable indiCa.
ton. this effort for statehood also
failed of success. The constitution and
memorial carried to Washington by
Senator-elect Hooper, We're presenteC
! in the house Of representatives by Del
egate Bernhisel en- the 9Th of June
and IN the Seuats by Vice-President
Hamlin on the day following. At the
same time Mr.. Latham, of California
moved that the constitution and me-
mortal be printed, and that the senas
tors-elect be admitted to the floor OF
the senate. The motion was referred
to the COMMITTEES on territories. Next
day AIr Latham offered a resolution
to the same effect, which was laid over
No further action was taken with ref
erCnce 10 statehood: but instead, con-
gress raised an act to punish and pre-
vent the practice Of polygamy in the
territories and other places, and dis
approving and aunuling certain acts
of the legislative assembly of the tor
-itory of Utah.
THE FOURTH EFFORT IN 1867.
The fourth attempt for statehood fol
Utah occurred in 1857. The legislature
held in January of that year passed al
act in which it was provided that at G
special eIaction to be held on the first
Monday in February following. a rep
resentative to congress for the state
of Deseret should be chosen and the
constitution of the state. with certain
amendments thereto, be submitted Il
the people for their ratification or re.
lection. The principal amendment
proposed was with reference to the
western boundary line of the state
which was fixed to conform to tht
Yrestarn hn11ri1arT line of the tarrritn1-I