the State of Deseret.-Proceedings of the Utah Legislature.-Brigham's Proclama

now embraced in the Territory of Utah was transferred from the jurisdiction of the latter to that of t

ged to Mexico. When the peace between the United States and Mexico was concluded, the Mormons were l

stitution for "the State of Deseret." The following

tion for the State of Deseret, to wit: Albert Carrington, Joseph L. Heywood, William W. Phelps, David Full

ported the following constitution, which was read, and unanimous

n of the Sta

d whereas, by reason of said treaty, all civil organization originating from the Republic of Mexico became abrogated; and whereas the Congress of the United States has failed to provide a form of civil government for the territory so acquired, or any portion thereof; and whereas civil government

tution, until the Congress of the United States shall otherwise provide for the gover

ce of those blessings, do ordain and establish a free and Independent Government, by the name of the State of Deseret; including all

words, they intended, through the machinery of this independent State, to harass and annoy the government, and the gentiles, until the "saints" could force themselves into the Union upon their own terms. This theory is fully sustain

first effort to throw off the yoke of the Federal Government,-an e

e Rocky Mountains, when he has honestly entertained the id

e first officers of t

, Brigha

overnor, Heb

ice, Danie

to frame a code of laws. This pseudo State government remained in force u

n Affairs, and seeing a fair prospect of lining his pockets from the treasury of the United States, concluded to foreg

of transportation, did not arrive until July, 1851. Young, who had been appointed Governor, had

2. This was succeeded by a special session, called by proclamation of the Governor, commencing the following day, and continuing until the 6th day of March, 1852. What there was in the political condition of this community, subject

the published proceedings of t

s' Hall, Tuesda

sembly met in joint session, according to previous a

his Excellency Brigham Young, Governor of Utah Territory,

that they had visited the Hon. Perry E. Brochus, and Mr. Secretary Harris. But the answer returned by them was so vague and indefinite that they did not know whether they would respond to the in

wed to themselves and the government and people whom they represented, would not permit them to be present at the first meeting of th

then informed his Excellency the Governor, that the two Houses were

presented his Me

uncil and House of Represe

notice than may appear desirable, I will proceed without delay to lay before you the chief reason for so doing, a

c weal; for, however much the honest pride of gratuitous public service may flatter its humble recipient, yet whilst it impoverishes

ssed them, Jan

me. Draw from the native elements the necessaries of life; permit no vitiated taste to lead you into expensive luxuries, wh

tions of public money, and divided up the canyons, ferries, pasture-lands, woodlands, water privileges, and, in fact, all the most valuable portion of the publi

e same, by fencing in the mouth of the canyon completely, and thus preventing all ingress or egress, except upon the payment of toll. General Connor, upon his arrival in Utah, in t

ht proclamations. The following is the

tory o

or a Day of Prais

administered; and through which medium the Holy Ghost has been communicated to believing, willing, and honest minds; causing faith, wisdom, and intelligence to spring up in the hearts of men, and influencing them to flow together, from the four quarters of the earth, to a land of peace and health, rich in minera

ous to, and do, proclaim Thursday, the 1st day of January, eighteen hundred and fifty-two, a Day of Praise and Thanksgiving, for the citizens of this our peaceful Territory, in honor of the God of Abraham, who has preserved his children amid all the vicissitudes they have been called to pass; for his tender mercies in preserving

ir children ready to receive it in cleanliness and cheerfulness; then let the head of each family with his family, bow down upon his knees before the God of Israel, and acknowledge all his sins, and the sins of his household; call upon the Father, in the name of Jesus, for every blessing that he desires for himself, his kindred, the Israel of God, the universe of man; praying with full purpose of heart and united faith that the union of the United States may be preserved inviolate,

o need of priests to teach them; that all may be well, and have no need of doctors; that all may cease their quarrels, and starve the lawyers; that all may do as they would be done unto, so that perfect love, which casteth out all fear, may reign triumphant, and there shall be nothing to disturb the quiet of an infant in all the Territory of Utah; that there be no con

the day in the same order, and on the same principle that you commenced it; that you eat your supper with singleness of heart, as unto the Lord, after praise and thanksgiving, and songs of rejoicing; remembering that you cannot be filled with the Holy Spirit, and be prep

day to day, until you arrive unto one of the days of Kolob, [where a day is 1000 of our years,] the planet nearest to the habitation of the Eternal Father; and if you do not find peace and rest to y

hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Territory to be affixed, this 19th day

he Go

HAM

pro tem., appoint

inted by the General Government were then in the States, or at Washington, representing truly the condition of things in Utah, and the conduct of Brigham and his associates, which effectually obliged them to leave the Te

in relation to African slavery, fully indorsing it, and prescribing regulations for its establi

t we should not fall into the other extreme, and make them as beasts of the field, regarding not the humanity that is in the colored race; nor e

e Territory, and it has existed in full force and effect to the present time. There are now a consi

eciting the formation of the provisional government of Deseret, and complaining that "all the authorities of the Territory, including the g

ed to this petitio

. Brochus and Zerubbabel Snow, Associate Justices; Seth M. Blair, Attorney General, and B. D. Harris, Secretary. These officers did not arrive in Utah until July, 1851. Previo

uthority, and on this ground refused to pay over the m

ugatory, as the court had no power to enforce its judgments. This, of course, enraged the Mormons; and the Governor instructed Blair, the District Attorney, who was a Mormon, to sue

Territory. Brigham and his tools, the members of the Legislature, attempted to appropriate this mone

Mormons and the gentile officers; and this was in nowise

women upon the subject of spiritual wife-ism; pointing out to them its wickedness and the unhappy results that must follow to them and to their children, if the practice should be p

asion. When the Judge sat down, he rose, and by one of those strong, nervous appeals, for which he is so famous among his brethren, restored the equilibrium of the audience. Those who, but a moment before, were bathed in tears, now responded to his broad sarcasm and keen wit, in s

finding his life threatened and in d

Brigham preached th

pled the Constitution under their feet with impunity, and ridden recklessly over all law, to persecute and drive this people. Admit, for argument's sake, that the Mormon elders have more wives than one, yet our enemies never have proved it. If I had forty wives in the United

on, so called, and what do you find? If you tell them a 'Mormon' has two wives, they are shocked, and call it dreadful blasphemy. If you whi

ighbors into the large carriage, and rode down to Father Chase's to eat watermelons. When driving out of the gate, in the evening, Brother Babbitt walks up, and I invited him into the carriage, a

he right hand and on the left; and shall soon be able, Abraham-like, to muster the s

he used the foll

I will do again. I did chastise the poor, mean ruffian,-the poor, miserable creature who came here by the name of Brochus,-when he aros

d up. But I did not bend it. If I had, the sisters alone felt indignant enough to have chopped him in pieces. I did

r a State government, and to ask leave to adopt it, he requested that I should not sign my name to it as Governor; 'for,' said he, 'if you do, it will thwart all our plans.' I said, 'My name will go as it is in that document, and stay there, fr

erritorial Government, and I am and will be Governor, and no power can hinder it, until the Lord Almighty

ke City, June 19, 1853, and is published in

he departure of Secretary Harris. So the saints had fairly succeeded in ridding themselves of the

udges. He tried and convicted several Spaniards of buying Indian children for sla

e pursuing the gentiles, and prepare to defend themselves against the "Lam

rus H. Reed, of New York, was appointed Chief Justice, to succeed Judge Branden

n, he is a straightforward, judicious, upright man, and a good adjudicator in the law. He an

s office until succeeded by Jud

saints until his death, and w

was considered a "hail-fellow well met." There was, however, some difficulty between the Judge and the Prophet, the nature of which was not distinctly known. The difficulty increased, and one morning the Judge was found dead in his bed. The h

ther persons is too notorious to be denied. To say nothing of the Mountain Meadow massacre, in which he is distinctly implicated by evidence of a

ble conversation, at which Judge Waite and the writer of this were present. On that occasion, after making some remarks to impress upon the minds of those pres

ey do not, if they undertake to interfere in affairs that do not concern them, I will not be far off. There was Almon W. Babb

h the federal officers, will doubtless be able to put an innocent construction upon the foregoing language. But to the minds of those who heard it,

cessors. They therefore treated him with marked consideration. They hoped, through his influence, to reinstate themselves with the authorities at Washington, and they partially succeeded. The Judge formed quite a favorable opinion of