| 116 We further represent, that in accordance with the foregoing statement of belief respecting all governments (except their own) being illegal; it is held, that oaths administered by officers of such courts, or governments, are not binding upon jurors, or witnesses; and to this may be attributed the well-known fact that not one criminal in fellowship with that "ecclesiastical government," in Utah, has ever been found guilty and punished by jurors in the same fellowship, however clear the evidence has been; and that it is the cherished design, and hope of these leaders, to throw off, what they call the shackles of the United States; and to this end they urge the immigration to Utah of all their adherents, which are mainly of foreign birth, and from the humbler class; who, on arriving in Utah, are sent into the far-off settlements, that they may not come in. contact with any who entertain other views. The results are, that communities are forming, and the young are growing up, all over the Territory, with just such sentiments respecting the governments as its sworn enemies and haters inculcate. And, while no Territorial statute law exists in Utah regulating marriage, there do exist Territorial laws respecting property; which, by the ruling of the probate courts, places the wives of Utah, and their children, upon a level with mistresses and their illegitimate children; and, under certain circumstances, discriminating in favor of the latter, against the former; the design of which, is apparent; viz., to disarm and discourage the wife, and protect polygamy. Further; that the mail service is practically abridged to publishers of newspapers and periodicals opposed to this polygamous oligarchy, at some post-offices through which it is impossible to transmit such mail matter, with regularity and certainty; preëminent among them, is the post-office at Ogden.
We, your memorialists, while representing the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, throughout the United States; we, also, represent those members of the said church now resident in Utah, which constitutes no inconsiderable part of the population of that Territory, as before stated, in common with those of other sects, and of no sect; have felt, and still feel, the pernicious effects of this unwarranted and unnatural union of church and state, sought to be forced upon us by an oligarchy of priests; who, declaring against human governments, assume to be the government of God, and rule the Legislature and Territorial courts to the detriment of all law-abiding citizens.
We ask on the part of your Honorable Body:
Firstly; An examination of the statutes of Utah; and the disapproval of all such enactments as are inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the United States, justice and republicanism in its true sense.
Secondly; To provide for the untrammeled exercise of the right of franchise, by disallowing the present practice of so marking the ballot, and numbering the votes as to show how each votes.
Thirdly; To so amend the jury law, as to exclude from the jury-box, such as are confederates with criminals on trial; this would, among other results, throw open to actual settlers thousands of acres of land now
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