proclamation of the Governor, commencing the following day, and continuing until the 6th day of March, 1852. What there was in the political condition of this community, subjected as they were, in almost all the relations of life, to a complete and comprehensive system of religious government, to require a continuous session of the Territorial Legislature for nearly six months, has never yet been explained.
The following is extracted from the published proceedings of the first Legislative Assembly:—
"Representatives' Hall, Tuesday, Sept 23, 1852.
"10 o'clock, A. M. Both houses of the Legislative Assembly met in joint session, according to previous arrangement. The President of the Council in the chair.
"The committee appointed to that duty appeared, escorting his Excellency Brigham Young, Governor of Utah Territory, who was seated immediately in front of the Speaker's chair.
"The joint committee appointed to wait upon the Judges of the Supreme Court, and the Secretary of the Territory, appeared, escorting the Hon. Z. Snow [Mormon], one of said Judges. They reported that they had visited the Hon. Perry E. Brochus, and Mr. Secretary Harris. But the answer returned by them was so vague and indefinite that they did not know whether they would respond to the invitation or not. The committee also reported that they did not see the Hon. Judge Brandenburg. The United States District Attorney, Seth M. Blair, Esq., [Mormon,] was also seated within the bar."
The hostility to the federal officers had already been so openly and offensively manifested, that the respect which these gentlemen owed to themselves and the government and people whom they represented, would not permit them to be present at the first meeting of the Legislative Assembly. It will be noticed that one of them was not seen at all, and the reply of the other two was not even reported!
"The House was called to order by the President of the Council, who then informed his Excellency the Governor, that the two Houses were now ready to receive any communication he might be pleased to make."
The Governor then presented his Message, as follows:—
"Fellow-citizens of the Council and House of Representatives of Utah Territory:—