JOINT RESOLUTIONS AND MEMORIALS.

JOINT RESOLUTION.

WHEREAS, The disgraceful state of affairs existing in the adjoining territory of Utah; the utter insecurity of the lives and property of "Gentiles;" the determination of the Mormon leaders to prevent all others than those belonging to their peculiar faith, settling on the public domain within the boundaries of Utah; the open derision in which the general government is held; the notorious defiance of laws passed by Congress; the anti-republican form of its government; its so-called Church controlling the people in their temporal, as well as spiritual matters, thus introducing a theocratic power repugnant to the whole spirit of our institutions; and whereas, all the surrounding circumstances and facts leave no doubt of the complicity of the Mormon authorities in the numerous murders and outrages committed within the territory, from the Mountain Meadow massacre down to the recent assassination of Dr. Robinson, in the public streets of Great Salt Lake City, rendering it worse than useless to attempt to bring the perpetrators to punishment. Now, therefore, deeming it the bounden duty of the general government to protect its citizens in all portions of its dominions, and believing a prompt and energetic remedy should be applied to this disgrace to civilization and the United States:

Be it resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Colorado, That our Delegate in Congress be requested to use his influence to obtain the enactment of a law appointing a military governor for Utah, with authority to raise five thousand (5,000) volunteers from the Pacific coast and adjoining territories, if deemed necessary.

Resolved, further, That the governor of the territory be requested to forward a copy of these resolutions to Hon. A. A. Bradford, Delegate from Colorado in Congress.

Approved December 29th, A. D. 1866.

JOINT MEMORIAL AND RESOLUTION

OF THE COUNCIL AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF COLORADO TERRI

TORY.

Your memorialists, the Council and House of Representatives of Colorado Territory, would respectfully state that to-day the population of Colorado Territory is almost entirely located from the main dividing ridge of the Rocky Mountains eastwardly, except in five counties; that this population extending from the 37th degree north latitude to the 41st degree north latitude, have no good main road over the vast volume of mountains that separate the settled part of Colorado Territory from the rich valleys, mines and forests on the west slope of the waters of the West Colorado; and whereas, it has always been the custom of the general government to appropriate money for the purpose of opening military roads and building bridges over the streams crossed by these roads, your memorialists would respectfully request Congress to give this territory some portion of the public revenue, under such restriction as to them may seem fit, in order to carry out the opening of the several roads which our increasing population and the demands of wood and mining as well as agriculture demand for our continued prosperity. And your memorialists would also further state that the routes over the mountains to Salt Lake, California and Oregon, do not lie in our territory, but north of it, and except one road built at private expense, there is to-day no road by which we can cross the Rocky Mountains, in the west part of Colorado territory, and that route is only now open into Middle Park partially. Your memorialists, therefore, ask that Congress appropriate an amount sufficient to open the following public roads in Colorado Territory, viz.:

1st. A road from Canon City, by the Puncha Pass, to Saguache Creek, over the Coochetopa Pass, by Coochetopa Creek, Gunnison river, Grand river, to the Salt Lake road.

2d. A road from Hamilton, in South Park, north over the main range to Breckenridge, on Blue river; down Blue river to Grand river in Middle Park; thence north to Milk river, or White river, where it enters Grand river; thence to the Salt Lake road opened in 1865 to Grand river in said park; thence north on the main trail to North Park, through said park, and to the Salt Lake road near Bridger's Pass or North Platte.

3d. That a road be constructed up the valley of Vasques Fork on Clear Creek, to the Vasques Pass, or any other pass at the head of said stream; thence to the Middle Park at the Hot Springs on Grand river; thence northwest to intersect road No. 2, near Gore's Pass in the mountains west of Middle Park,

4th. That a road be constructed from Gore's Pass in Middle Park range northwest to Bear river; thence across Bear river, Elk Head and Snake river, to the Bridger's Pass and Salt Lake route; and your memorialists would also furthermore state that the opening of these routes is of vital importance in order to enable those wishing to mine or engage in agriculture in the public domain west of the Rocky Mountains, in our territory; therefore,

Resolved, That a copy of this memorial and joint resolution be sent to the honorable Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate, and to our Delegate in Congress, who is requested to exert himself to obtain from Congress the above mentioned appropriation. Approved January 11th, A. D. 1867.

A JOINT MEMORIAL AND RESOLUTION

OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF THE TERRITORY OF COLORADO. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled:

Your memorialists, the Council and House of Representatives of the territory of Colorado, respectfully represent and show to your honorable body that since the organization of this territory no appropriation or pecuniary benefit hath been received by this territory from the general government of the United States, save for the payment of the ordinary expenses of the legislative assembly; that this appropriation has at no time been sufficient for this purpose; that during all of the six years since the organization of this territory, the people thereof have borne a large part of the legislative expenses thereof; all the expenses of maintaining the courts therein, save the salary of the judges thereof; all the expenses of maintaining the local governments of the counties and cities; the expense of opening roads through the mountain regions thereof, and a large part of the expense of defending the people thereof against Indian hostility. Your memorialists further show and remind your honorable body that in this regard the experience of this territory has been exceptional; that by joint resolution of Congress of June 28th, 1832, the sum of five thousand dollars was appropriated for repairing the public buildings of the territory of Florida, at St. Augustine: Stat. at large, Vol. IV. p. 561; by joint resolution of Congress of July 7, 1838, the sum of twenty thousand dollars was appropriated for the erection of public

buildings in the territory of Iowa: Stat. at large, Vol. V. p. 266; by joint resolution of Congress of August 29, 1842, the sum of fifteen thousand dollars was appropriated for the erection of a penitentiary in the territory of Iowa: Stat. at large, Vol. V. p. 288; by joint resolution of Congress of September 30, 1850, the sum of twenty thousand dollars was appropriated for the erection of public buildings in the territory of New Mexico: Stat. at large, Vol. IX. p. 532; by joint resolution of Congress of August 10, 1860, the sum of two thousand dollars was appropriated for the erection of fireproof vaults for the safety of the archives of the territory of New Mexico: Stat. at large, Vol. XI. p. 114; by joint resolution of Congress of June 25, 1860, the sum of sixty thousand dollars was appropriated for the completion of the capitol of the territory of New Mexico: Stat. at large, Vol. XII. p. 110; by joint resolution of Congress of July 7, 1863, the sum of two thousand dollars was appropriated to pay the expense of collecting and codifying the laws of the territory of Florida: Stat. at large, Vol. V. p. 288; by joint resolution of Congress of March 11, 1862, the sum of five thousand dollars was appropriated to defray the expense of printing the laws of the territory of New Mexico: Stat. at large, Vol. XII. p. 364; by joint resolution of Congress of March 3, 1863, there was appropriated the sum of eighteen hundred and fifty-five dollars, to pay the expense of a board of commissioners appointed by authority of the legislative assembly of the territory of New Mexico, to compile the laws of that territory: Stat. at large, Vol. X. p. 198.

Your memorialists, therefore, pray your honorable body that in conformity with the usage so established and evidenced, the sum of two hundred thousand dollars be appropriated to defray the expense of erecting a capitol and a penitentiary for this territory; and that the further sum of fifty thousand dollars be appropriated to defray the expense of codifying and printing the public statutes of this territory. And as in duty bound, &c. Resolved, That his Excellency, the Governor of this territory, be requested to transmit one authenticated copy of the foregoing memorial to the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, and one like copy thereof to our Delegate in Congress.

Approved January 11th, A. D. 1867.