DYERS resignation following is the full text of marshal dyers letter of resignation to president harrison OFFICE OF UNITED STATES MARSHAL OF UTAH salt lake city march 9 1889 I 1 enclose herewith a formal note signing resigning the office of united states marshal for the territory of utah to 1886 aich which I 1 was appointed in april in closing my official career I 1 deem it proper to say something more than to make a mere for formal surrender of the posit position lon I 1 do so partly on my own account for correa rea ns which I 1 shall state and the more so because you in whom is vested the responsibility of designating my successor are entitled to any oy information that I 1 may have which may aid you in the just exercise of that duty it might seem that in making Stu itous suggestions I 1 am assumes somewhat for myself but I 1 assure you that my motive has the unction sanction of my own judgment and will wa be apparent to you as well as justified by what I 1 say it is perhaps proper to say that by y reason of the extraordinary power which by special act of con grem has been conferred on the nAf marshals office in utah that officer exercises authority and has imposed upon him duties the most extensive over er conferred in this government upon apon a like official he performs te functions of united states mar oal elsewhere Ilse where and in addition he is s we the ministerial officer with power t 0 o serve sere process in all he courts in territorial business criminal and is authorized to make arrests without complaint or warrant OB oar arches ches and seizures in the same manner a anner to arrest supposed wit laesser without phout attachment writ or process may sit as a committing magistrate and hold to ball bail persons or witnesses thus arrested and in n y ways exercises by law powers or of the most delicate character and ability these powers inferred nf erred to enable the government toen force its laws among a people insely hellse ay hostile to such laws are such that at in III their execution both diacre on and discrimination find a field for fut their wise exercise which call for qualifications fic actions in the incumbent 40 0 o where else so essential ene energy ir oa vigilance prudence and seaf lal CO MInand firmness and justice ustice ass knowledg ge of the and 3 becu cities of th the strange estrange people amon among whom fing ona he performs his duty all find ample occasion for faithful but cautious exercise compelled to meet a fanaticism fanatic igni that in in its intensity many times stifles all conscience in its devotees and stops at no means which promise ammu immunity laity from the grasp ras p of the law the marshal of utah tah is clothed with powers and charged with duties that call for the exercise of the highest administrative discretion he is police officer fleer of a detective a judge a jailor of criminals before conviction then warden and keeper after conviction the officer who executes the sentence of the court serves process in civil cases and selects often the juries for all the courts of general juristic juris dic tion I 1 do not therefore exaggerate the importance of the office and justify myself in retiring from it for the apparent impertinence of trying to impress upon you the importance of a selection whom you know to be equal to it I 1 may remark that the importance odthe of the position in this territory is such that the incumbent should be able to have not only the support suppo which the faithful performance of shourd ministerial duty should always command from his superiors and that perfect confidence not only in his ability and fidelity which is implied in all officers but also that support which political alliance with the administration dinini alone can give my own success if any I 1 have had in this position has been largely due to the cordial support I 1 have bave had from my superiors and I 1 doubt not a faithful adhesion to duty would bring me if I 1 remained your approval I 1 am conscious that I 1 should often be embarrassed barr assed by a fear that I 1 would not be sustained whilst I 1 would be beset with suspicions and my usefulness impaired by our want of political and partisan accord I 1 believe your administration should be represented in this important and controlling office in utah by one who is not only in political accord with you and will faithfully administer it but who will by well known wisdom and discretion ability and character be a creditable standard bearer in the great work of redeeming utah and purging her of the evils that now afflict her I 1 may seem to exaggerate the importance but my experience in its duties and nay my knowledge of its power and influence prompt what I 1 say so much have I 1 said from a sense of duty to yourself may I 1 not add something in regard to myself for the last two months partisans opposed to me politically have filled the air of utah with imputations upon my official conduct and aspersions aspersion of my character and motives A desire for finding a pretext for removing me from office or to justify asking you for my removal has alone I 1 believe caused these attacks As a sense of propriety and duty has decided we me to voluntarily vacate the office I 1 think justice to myself requires me to give a brief summary of my official conduct without taxing your patience with details I 1 took possession mealon of the marshals mar office in jun june e 1886 1 I had been a citizen of utah for more than ten yea years rs w was as f familiar a with the peculiar character of the mass of its ite population and with the difficulties with which as an officer of the law I 1 would have to contend but my appreciation of their difficulties has been greatly heightened by my official experience I 1 have advocated the vigorous execution of the laws and believe that the record of my work will show that my performance for mance has equalled equal led my professions under my predecessor who held the office for four years prior to myself there were one hundred and forty or one hundred and forty five convictions for polygamy unlawful cohabitation and crimes growing out of the social institutions of utah since my entrance into the office there have been about nine hundred convictions for these crimes when it is understood that these arrests for these offenses are made almost exclusively on information furnished by the mar office the charge of want of vigilance and fidelity on my part will be fully answered in in less than three years I 1 have been instrumental in securing the conviction of more than five times the number of such offenders anders than all my predecessors combined and this is my answer to those who would defame me and while I 1 have been vigilant active and faithful I 1 have believed and still insist that mercy and kindness in the enforcement of these laws are in their proper place beneficent and fruitful of goodin good in their effect however wrong and mistaken ale may be and in my opinion they are they are a law abiding people except only as to such as affect their peculiar religious convictions many of them are honest and sincere and whenever moderation in enforcing that law can be used to effect I 1 have not hesitated to recommend its exercise and when old or infirm persons have been arrested and convicted of these utah crimes and I 1 could lawfully aid to mitigate the punishment and secure respect for the tie laws at the same time I 1 have done so BO humane regard for the fanaticism of many to my certain knowledge has advanced the cause of reform in utah where harsh measures though strictly legal would have had the OD opposite DOsIte effect t f believe in punishing the of offense lense but not in hounding the offender and I 1 believe a firm regular consistent enforcement of the laws without vindictiveness or in malice alice will if faithfully continued secure final submission from this people and while I 1 have striven faithfully to aid in this my most important duty I 1 have equally endeavored to impress upon the me mormon people e my desire that submission to the be laws was the end in view and not persecution of them as a sect or class claas this policy I 1 have advocated as the proper one to be pursued and I 1 wish to give my in testimony now as I 1 retire fi atom am 0 office ce to my firm belief in its wisdom and justice before closing I 1 wish to refer to another matter also personal to myself in november 1887 in the suit brought by the attorney gener gene r al of the united states against the corporation called the church of jesus christ of latter day saints to forfeit the property as provided by the act of congress of march 2 1887 I 1 was appointed by the supreme court of utah territory to be the receiver of the property of the corporation pending the the sale the hostility of the mormon people to this law and the proceedings to enforce it are well known it was believed that in anticipation of its passage large amounts of property really owned by the church but held in the names of private parties in trust in its favor had been convened to evad eythe enforcement of the law it seemed to the supreme eme court that the means P and r powers which as marshal I 1 had at command would greatly facilitate my acquisition of this property as receiver and thus to the duties of marshal were superadded super added those of receiver thus imposing upon me labors and responsibilities or of the most extraordinary character I 1 accepted the post with hesitation though had I 1 then known of its mag magnitude ni tude I 1 should have declined it altogether I 1 gave a bond for a faithful performance of my trust in the sum of a quarter of a million dollars and although there was voluntarily del delivered vered to me by the church authorities property to the amount of in value in less than eight months I 1 had with the aid of persons I 1 had in my employment unearthed of property held in secret trusts and reduced into my possession as receiver receive r a further amount oil of property aggregating nearly in value i will not detail the di me u aties and annoyances of the position it demanded constant vigilance attention and labor on the part of my solicitor and employee and myself I 1 know that my duty was faithfully done I 1 believe it was well done but I 1 did not escape censure the success of your administration though not of your political faith I 1 most earnestly desire especially do I 1 hope that in naming from among your many supporters in utah a man to take charge of this its most important office in your gift in the territory you will choose one who will be able to do honor to you and the government which he is required to represent A stranger to the masses of the people I 1 e and their methods of opposing the the enforcement of the law against their peculiar culiar institutions would until ve he had learned by experience peri ence what was required find the office a burden to which he would be unequal fortunate for the officer whoever he may be the ordinary divisions of politics prevailing elsewhere will not be found republicans and democrats who are not mormons cormons Mor mons find substantial agreement in all local matters I 1 have been sustained in the discharge of my duties by men with whom politically in national questions I 1 totally disagree and my successor will find when he discharges his with the single purpose to ro do ao his nis duty as aa hearty sup support nort from myself S if and men of my DO political I 1 heal faith as if we are were one the redemption ul ui utah from priestly control and its restoration to lawful government the reformation of its people and the final exaltation into the american union as a redeemed and a regenerated community is the common wish and hope of all true american citizens in all your efforts to accomplish this end you will have the hearty support sympathy and commendation of one who now begs leave to retire from office and return to pursuits more pleasant and congenial than holding any official position again tendering you my best wishes for the success of your administration I 1 subscribe myself very respectfully FRANK H