By the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, concluded between the United States and Mexico in 1848, the country now embraced in the Territory of Utah was transferred from the jurisdiction of the latter to that of the former, and on the 9th of September, 1850, Congress passed an Act to organize the Territory of Utah.
The Mormons arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on the 24th of July, 1847, while the Territory yet belonged to Mexico. When the peace between the United States and Mexico was concluded, the Mormons were left without a government. They took advantage of this opportunity to set up an independent government.
Early in 1849 they met in convention to frame a constitution for "the State of Deseret." The following is an abstract of the minutes of that convention:—
On the 15th of March, 1849, the convention appointed the following persons a committee to draft a constitution for the State of Deseret, to wit: Albert Carrington, Joseph L. Heywood, William W. Phelps, David Fullmer, John S. Fullmer, Charles C. Rich, John Taylor, Parley P. Pratt, John M. Bernheisel, and Erastus Snow.
March 18, 1849, Albert Carrington, chairman of the committee, reported the following constitution, which was read,
and unanimously adopted by the convention: [The preamble only is here given.]
"Constitution of the State of Deseret.
"Whereas a large number of the citizens of the United States, before and since the treaty of peace with the Republic of Mexico, emigrated to and settled in that portion of the territory of the United States lying west of the Rocky Mountains, and in the great interior basin of Upper California; and 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 and law are necessary for the security, peace, and prosperity of society; and whereas it is a fundamental principle in all republican governments that all political power is inherent in the people, and governments instituted for their protection, security, and benefit, should emanate from the same:
"Therefore your committee beg leave to recommend the adoption of the following Constitution, until the Congress of the United States shall otherwise provide for the government of the Territory hereinafter named and described, by admitting us into the Union.
"We, the people, grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuance of those blessings, do ordain and establish a free and Independent Government, by the name of the State of Deseret; including all the territory of the United States within the following boundaries, to wit:" [Here follow the boundaries of the proposed new State.]