It will be noticed by the phraseology of the foregoing preamble that this government was to be "free and independent," and was intended to remain such until the new State, thus constituted, should be admitted into the Union. In other words, they intended, through the machinery of this independent State, to harass and annoy the government, and the gentiles, until the "saints" could force themselves into the Union upon their own terms. This theory is fully sustained by the subsequent history of this inchoate State. The very
first steps taken were independent of, and in hostility to, the officers appointed by the Government of the United States, as will more fully appear in the following pages.
The formation of this government for the State of Deseret was the first effort to throw off the yoke of the Federal Government,—an effort which has been persistently persevered in to the present time.
There never has been a time since Brigham Young crossed the Rocky Mountains, when he has honestly entertained the idea of being a good and loyal citizen of the United States.
The following were the first officers of this infant monarchy:—
- Governor, Brigham Young.
- Lieutenant-Governor, Heber C. Kimball.
- Chief Justice, Daniel H. Wells.
The Assembly met, and after listening to the Governor's Message, proceeded to frame a code of laws. This pseudo State government remained in force until the 22d of September, 1851, when the Territorial Legislature convened.
In the mean time Brigham, having been appointed Governor of the newly organized Territory, and Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and seeing a fair prospect of lining his pockets from the treasury of the United States, concluded to forego for a time his ambitious projects, and consented that the new "State" should be merged into a United States Territory.
The federal officers were appointed during the session of 1850-51, but owing to the difficulty of transportation, did not arrive until July, 1851. Young, who had been appointed Governor, had, on the 3d of February, 1851, taken the oath of office before Wells, Chief Justice of Deseret.
The first session of the Territorial Legislature was convened, in pursuance of the proclamation of the Governor, on the 22d day of September, 1851, and continued by adjournment from time to time, until the 18th day of February, 1852. This was succeeded by a special session, called by