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Show More Militia Matters. Under :date September liih, 1S70 a year ago to-day Governor Shaffer issued a proclamation prohibiting "all mutc-r, drills, or gathering of milkia of the ; Territory of Utah, and all gathering? of any nature, kind or description of armed persons within the Territory of Utah." This proclamation was revived about the 4ih of July, Anno Domini, 1871, by Acting-Governor Black, with a view of preventing five companies of the Territorial militia assisting in the procession on the National Anniversary. Annivers-ary. Last fall seven officers of the 3rd regt. of infantry, N. L., were arrested and held in heavy bonds, under this proclamation, for participating in an informal parade to receive the new instruments of a juvenile band, on the charge of "insurrection against the United States," so ruled by that most sapient of judicial functionaries C. M. Hawley. About the Bame time a company in Corinne advertised a parade, held their parade, and intimated very emphatically they would "put a head" on Marshal Patriek or any of his deputies who Bhould attempt to interfere with them; and they were not interfered with! We held then and we hold now that the proclamation was absurd, vindictive and illegal; that the Salt Lake men had a perfect, legal right to parade, and that the Corinne men had also a perfect, legal right to parade, in hs despite. And now comes another little matter to prove we were and are correct. Yesterday the initiatory initia-tory steps were taken to organize a company of uniformed militia in this city not Mormons, be it understood. When they organize, their assembling will be in direct opposition to the proclamation; pro-clamation; andshould Governor Woods accord them his permission to so assemble, as-semble, the invidious "distinction as between citizens" would be so glaring that even the most unblushing member mem-ber of the "ring" ought to be ashamed of it. Vet we hold that this proposed company have a right to organize, to obtain and dress themselves in uniforms, uni-forms, to procure arms and exercise in the use of them a right of which no Executive can constitutionally strip them while the Territory is peaceful and the civil arm reigns supreme. |