Show GOVERNORS MESSAGE READ BEAD IN JOINT SESSION OF THE legislature THIS AFTERNOON BY HIS excellency GOVERNOR ELI H MURRAY TERRITORY OF UTAH EXECUTIVE ALT LAKE CITY jan 11 J gen gentlemen clemen of the bouncil Jo uncil and house of indulging in the hope that your families may be blessed with health during your absence from them in performing your duties as representatives I 1 trust the result of our labors maybe may be conducive to the well being of the people of the territory of utah and to the honor of our common country and that our intercourse both personal and official off lelal may be mutually pleasant confronted at the beginning of the session with subjects of of grave importance even to the extent of involving our relations with the general government I 1 congratulate you yon upon the fact that it is in your power to determine upon measures that will establish the greatest good to abe th greatest number under the wise and nd beneficent gul guidance dance of the constitution of our country by virtue of whose laws we are assembled and without which it would be unlawful ua for us to assemble 40 the lawmaking law making power of the territory STATUS UNDER THE LAWS I 1 utah holds the relation io to the general I 1 government that a minor holds to me pi parent rent or guardian guar dlab the territory is ii old iu in years and sufficient according to prece precedent precede dK in population d yet the sovereign voice of a gener generous us government ern ment front the beg tuning fla denied and continues to deny the requests of a major majority of the people jor for majorki gi advancement to 8 statehood chood no probationary period of territorial eki existence stence is declared nor any deflit dennite ite number of population 14 prescribed by law it is not years or numbers that warrants advancement there are conditions precedent other considerations the government of the united states is the combined combine a sp allari of men determined id to 0 con cont tiM iima tree government upon the earth it is not well for us to measure the grandeur cran deur greatness and beamut 3 of its mighty stature and to look it at home lor for the muse cause of the troubles that confront frontus us Is it not well to heed the advice of the pliz parent erit government so often given I 1 while the state of mind and purposes and perplexed surroundings of so bo mavy many people of utah must in a measure be ebaid reflected by you as their representatives therefore I 1 affirm that it aswell for us to heed th the danger signals that executive expression congressional legislation legis laVion and court decisions have given to poor distracted and obdurate utah OJ of the pa stand our bounden duty to consider the present and threatened legislation before congress relating to utah all of which I 1 am sure in a patriotic pope bope and wisdom aby the government at washington and by bv those charged with the execution of those laws here are intended to correct existing evils in the which primarily should be 1 l the legislature of Utah tether than by congress AID TO THE FIRST SETTLERS remember the aid given by the government to the hardy pioneers who settled utah remember that not one life of those who ho settled utah was put in eo pardy in n the batt oese success ful terming hecl gave this vast intermountain mounta ta tf region to the country and to you remember that not one life of those who inhabited utah went out in the battles of the late war which preserved the life of this nation the blood of the leopie ot of utah was not repaired that bt bl others diners secured this lan land a preserved with it the blessings it is your country ry ind and mine I 1 on the mountains and in the valleys aue Ahe government has given given with w ith a 3 si sweltering elter lug and helping hel pine rand hand homes I 1 pi for ali 1 up ie i i it too much to ask that that all should oby the laws and is too mucho expect that your honorable body owing atia it vory existence to a law of longres congress and for your official sery icea paid out ol of the national treasury should write laws in unison treasur with the 1 laws caf the country and to lo repeal all territorial statutes that conflict with national laws our OCR reciprocal DUTY those who engage to say that ajon congress having undertaken to legislate upon certain subjects relieves yoda yon of any obligations to legislate upon them and like subjects subas we are mistake ep th the e argument it Is ipe specious clous and as eang dangerous erous as it is fallacious the express provisions of the law known as the edmunds bill providing for the conduct pi of elections etc announces that the law shoula continue con tinne linne in force until the legislature meets the requirements of congress in passing a proper statute upon that subject it thereto re may not 4 expect expected 00 that aut any law falling short or of expressed requirements quire ments e ants will permanently restore the exercise of the functions of the election bo board to D those jamea named bj territorial I 1 in my message to the legislature two years since I 1 said we are expected ip in dis discharge chargi arx soar 0 r duties as legislators to arl while dab a int daml of laws as shall shall while conserving the local necessities of the territory be ean an assurance of our fidelity to the nation and satisfy the exactions of public bublic opinion on questions in which utah I 1 is regarded as not in harmony with the rest of our common country whether we shall do this or not will chiefly depend upon you with you will be the initiation of df measures looking lookin gib lib this result if to you it should seem advisable and if we be fortunate ir in perfecting these laws by mutual matual consultation sul tation and by reaghan reaching common ground we may in concio 1 0 U ke ja alon bof of our labors congratulate bursel upon the colsum consummation mhoon of a 4 greata great am d patriotic work foreseeing af ae troubles tron bles that would old come command co me and W which ch nave e beset I 1 I 1 f the people of the territory t hen en ear earnestly desired to cooperate co operate with that body bo to etsoe saw IV them by mano addye wise ati and essentially necessary te territorial mure you waa t shall now be grating to do so with all the and capacity I 1 possess boutmy but my appeals and warnings in were edas others had bad been by bi previous legislature and that body left a heritage oud and strife painfully ily welt well k known to 0 an all which in my opinion it was their highest and first I 1 duty uty as citizens and representatives to have avoided that failure wasa wave grave poll blunder far and one has not failed t to 0 apo appreciate la and condemn the of a 7 Tn lold nr toil toral form of government are no loag unknowns ni and what are rishel subjects of df legislation consistent constitution of the united states and of af the tha f 1 undefined ed th rights of the people under the law are now witti some degree of certainty the powers of the territorial government and the rights of all the people and their political privileges should be jealously guarded by us as as by all citizens and this may be done only in yielding unfaltering allegiance to the UnIt united ert states by giving aad and comfort t to the he government and in bi conforming legislation and our actions as citizens not only in yielding belding obedience to bat in uphold ing ins anTa and aiding illing in the eleca execution tion of all laws laipis iii WR AD VIVE the afie people of the united states irrespective of party for at no time have the questions ox or difference here been party questions and the government i have lime time and again and in express terms erms declared that practices of the people and theories of legislation indulged in by your predecessors pr were wron wrong and hurtful an anaf debasing the president will not re recede e from his high nor permit a stay of the vigorous execution of t oe laws nor will delay deloch passing necessary additional legislation leg it is idle for any ny to hope otherwise and a grievous wrong in those wh who I 1 3 would counsel the people to tg hold out against the enforcement pi of the laws of their cour country itry or who would stay your hands and mine from the performance for lor firmance mance ok oi our direct duty the man who in practice holds to theories of a construction oi of the constitution and laws adverse to the construction placed upon them by the courts endangers not only himself but all who are misled by him in view of the situation in utah and the prevalence og 0 advice the duty is the more imperative upon us as the lawmaking power ower to conform our statutes to the adjudications adjudications of the courts and thereby shield the people who by our silence may be misled and eventually will feel the penalties of outraged law THEOS THEORIES 1 the history of national legislation n demonstrates the manifest reluctance of congress congre s to legislate in purely local aff lairs the fact that congress has disapproved of much of the legislation of utah and from time to time has gone further and dealt directly with the purely local affairs of the territory and that more extended legislation dionis is now pending before that body impels me to ask your serious attention tp the fact and your considers tion of the reasons in my opinion the cont controlling roling element in utah has fallen into and has persisted in a groove of mistaken thought subjects held by them as of vital importance are mere shadows principles instilled into the people ople are to unlearned be by them the ph prime fact that their highest alle biance is due to the government has been and continues to be held as see secondary to other considerations and that rights and duties have py by many been ho honestly confounded with franchises and principles as laid down in the constitution so prevalent has become this line of thought that very many whose pu purposes ones in life are hon est cst and who believe believe themselves to be faithful citizens are zealous in withstanding by argument and action and in cases have conspired to defeat the plainest provisions of national law I 1 WHAT WE SHOULD DO therefore affirm that it is our plain and unmistakable duty to supplement and aid in carrying carr into successful application every law faw passed by congress which has been determined by the melCourt to be constitutional that we wd should endeavor to keep the people from wasting their strength in crying out against the gov eminent and its laws laws and the courts i for that will but prolong hate bate and dis cord i we should see that the territorial government is organized in all of its parts arts in con conformity or ltv with ith the laws of congress angress on gress that t the system m of plural wives or poly polygamy my is denounced by territorial s statute t te an and that the marital and property rights of women are made secure and ample that the exercise of political power by ecclesiastical authority which is not tolerated in cl we e slightest decree elsewhere should should ae oe abolished in Utah consequences IF WE DO BO NOT we may spend the days of this important in session in dealing with the lesser jesser but still A important questions osing arising in our everyday every day affa affairs irs but until we meet fully fally and fairly a and a d definitely darence settle the questions of organic difference between the people orthe united states and the people of 61 utah legislate as we may labor and strive and build as we may there vet will be imputations against us as and there cap be no bastin lasting g peace bace or that growth to the territory that fly resources and loca location war warrant rafi tase W wi q shall lind in the future as we have fead in the past that year after year alne grow cowf ip 41 age and numbers instead off of a fuller manhood we shall be curtailed in are now new under the law rightful subjects of legislation and perhaps stripped by the handsol hand the parent government of that cal er r w which hieb strengthens an and q is so Q wel ft lorns ans amerlean american citizenship and cannot and has had not been 9 stripped A p froth from any who rightfully and toy oy ally wear it ft colt ate ata f thy lipmer vin places eo in w which hh le OBest q L s mobs lons lane lay 1 be 11 an and a the eights ats W vi duals charged alth auses properly ro perly defended jia uan by the e one side e lu in execute the laws of congress directed against polygamy and unlawful cohabitation and an organized and determined effort to defend the system of plural marriage marriaL 6 upon the other the int ghods and arguments presented unfortunately have riot not been confined to the courts FRUITS OF I 1 have in my possession a circular signed by the presidency of the church ot of latter day saints which in set terms designates the territorial central committee of the peoples party as the instrument through winch which to raise funds to defeat the laws in ut utah ah idaho and arizona thus in making aking the polities politics of the people subject to the direct dictation of ecclesiastical authority the instructions contained in this circular have been followed in the main so far as defenses before the courts are concerned these instructions and other and like teachings having reached those intended to be reached have produced a feeling more intense and wore inore united than ever the press which represents the church party intensified their inflammatory denunciations denunciation i of the courts and indulged in coarse and unwarranted i denunciation nuncia tion of faithful officers charged with the administration of public j justice us abating ito nothing thing even after their actions had been sustained by the supreme court and allt the president acts of disloyalty nastiness and violence naturally followed and the inflamed tone of the press which defended these acts tended to provoke riot and bloodshed in the absence of afan an available militia to support if necessary the civil authorities ties in preserving the peace ve very ry proper and prompt orders were e given to and disposition made of the troops of ane united states under general mccook by reason of which daeger ous excitement was allayed the quiet that followed and that which now prevails furnishes full justification till cation for this action and demonstrates the wisdom of the president in promptly acting in the premises QUESTIONS REQUIRING ANSWERS the financial and educational education all inter ests and the public institutions of the territory are imperilled imperil led and the happiness and general welfare of the people are involved in these matters which 1 I 1 have presented for your consideration in the interest of all classes and of the people eo ae of every religious and political belief this condition of affairs should be quickly terminated with this end in view I 1 respectfully sub submit it for your consideration with an earnest earnest request for an early expression of legislative isla tive opinion upon them four questions lor for the reason that amneh or of important elation lest may be dependent upon or advanced by your expressed will upon the vital issues contained in them first that the organization of any part of the territorial government in a manner samanner other than that prescribed by congress is unlawful find and that all laws la vs ot of the territory co conflicting with the laws of congress should be repealed second that the laws of congress are paramount and should be obeyed b by all citizens and that it is the duty cfall or all territorial county and precinct officers aud and citi citizens zenh of the territory to aid in the enforcement of all laws including those directed against bigamy polygamy and unlawful cohabitation third that it is the duty of the legislative isla tive authority of the by pro proper er and supplementary lelis legislation laYon to aid d 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