History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

446
UTAH AS A TERRITORY.
The remarks made in this memorial on the danger
of failing to provide a civil government, at a time
when California was occupied by thousands of armed
and resolute men, seem the more pertinent when it is
remembered that, between 1846 and 1849, occurred
the great struggle in congress on the question of
slavery or no slavery in the ceded territory. When
congress adjourned on the 4th of March, 1849, all
that had been done toward establishing some form of
government for the immense domain acquired by the
treaty with Mexico was to extend over it the revenue
laws, and to make San Francisco a port of entry.
Thus ' Upper California,' as the entire region was still
termed, had at this time the same political status as
was held by Alaska between 1867 and 1884, at which
latter date the national legislature placed that territory
within pale of the law.
It is worthy of note, also, that, in September 1849,
the people of California, incensed by the dilatory action
of congress, followed the example of the Mormons by
framing a constitution of their own. On the 6th of
that month, by order of President Taylor, General
John Wilson, then United States Indian agent, held
a consultation with Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball,
Willard Richards, and others, with a view to the
temporary amalgamation of the states of California
and Deseret, in order to avoid possible difficulties on
the slavery question. It was agreed that a memorial
should be drawn up, asking for a convention of all the
people of Upper California, both east and west of the
Sierra Nevada, for the purpose of consolidating the
two states in one that should include all the territory
acquired from Mexico. At the beginning of 1851 the
union was to be dissolved, each state retaining its own
constitution, and the people being allowed to determine
for themselves to which they would belong.
John Wilson and Amasa Lyman were sent as dele-
nals, and other documents pertaining to the organization of the state, be
printed and furnished to members of congress. Id., 90-1.