Governor's Message, To the Legislative Assembly of Utah Territory, January 5, 1852
8pp. Octavo [20.5 cm] This work has not been sewn. Corners dog eared. Split at the fold between the first and last leaf from the foot. Small stain at the lower left corner of the front page. We are able to locate five institutional copies. Rare. Item #62390
According to Crawley "After a short first sitting, September 22-October 1, 1851, the first Utah territorial legislature convened for its second sitting on January 5, 1852. That afternoon Thomas Bullock read Brigham Young's second message to the joint session, after which the legislature ordered 1,000 copies printed "for the use of the two Houses, and for distribution." Hosea Stout notes in his diary that the forenoon of January 7 "was spent in reading Gov message and referring the same to the appropriate Committees," suggesting that the message had been printed by that time. It was reprinted in the 'Deseret News' of January 10, from the pamphlet setting, and in 'Journals of the House of Representatives, Council, and Joint Sessions of the First Annual and Special Sessions of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Utah.
In his second message, Young notes that "the laws should be revised, and published in some more tangible form; as no facilities for binding have hitherto existed among us, they have been distributed on loose sheets, and soon lost, misplaced, or worn out." Referring to a report of the adjutant general, he observes that the laws regulating the militia are deficient and suggests some areas where they might be improved. He recommends that the laws regarding the judiciary, elections, and revenues be redrafted consistent with a territorial government, and he encourages the legislature to appropriate funds for the promotion of home manufacturing and education. He notes that plans are underway to relocate the seat of government at Fillmore City and that one wing of the State House should be finished in time for the next legislative session. Commenting on the Indian slave trade, he asserts: "My own feelings are, that no property can or should be recognized as existing in slaves, either Indian or African." "With the exception of the Indians on Mary's River," he reports, "peace prevails among all tribes, toward the whites within this Territory." Near the end of the message he reviews the auditor's report for the preceding year." Crawley 653. Flake/Draper 9349. Auerbach 1509. Fales & Flake 57.
Price: $3,000.00