"Having called you from your various avocations to convene in general assembly at an earlier day, and upon shorter notice than may appear desirable, I will proceed without delay to lay before you the chief reason for so doing, as well as such other suggestions as to me shall appear necessary and proper, and as shall occur to my mind." . . .
"Through the munificence of the General Government, we have extended unto us increased facilities for spending our time for the public weal; for, however much the honest pride of gratuitous public service may flatter its humble recipient, yet whilst it impoverishes all but his honorable name and his country's cause, his anxieties will scarcely be lulled, his daily supplies but rarely replenished."
He again addressed them, January 5, 1852:—
". . The enjoyment of a free and independent people can be accomplished only through this principle: produce what you consume. Draw from the native elements the necessaries of life; permit no vitiated taste to lead you into expensive luxuries, which can only be obtained by involving yourselves in debt. Let home industry produce every article of home consumption." . .
This Legislature, besides passing a code of laws for the government of the Territory, sent some twenty memorials to Congress, most of them calling for appropriations of public money, and divided up the canyons, ferries, pasture-lands, woodlands, water privileges, and, in fact, all the most valuable portion of the public domain, among prominent "saints," giving always to Brigham the "lion's" share. To this he was entitled by his recognized appellation of "the Lion of the Lord."
To this day he holds, by virtue of an Act of the Legislature, the most valuable canyon, near Salt Lake, called City Creek, or Brigham's Canyon,—having taken actual possession of the same, by fencing in the mouth of the canyon
completely, and thus preventing all ingress or egress, except upon the payment of toll. General Connor, upon his arrival in Utah, in the fall of 1862, was justly indignant to find himself fenced out from one of the national thoroughfares, but thought it prudent not to add to the causes of irritation by interfering.
During this session Brigham issued eight proclamations. The following is the most celebrated of these State Papers:—
"Territory of Utah.
"A Proclamation for a Day of Praise and Thanksgiving.