History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

PROCEEDINGS OF THE ASSEMBLY. 451
Perhaps the most remarkable feature in the proceedings
of the assembly is the liberality with which
valuable timber and pasture lands and water privi-
leges were granted to favored individuals. By act of
December 9, 1850, the control of City Creek and
canon was granted to Brigham Young, who was required
to pay therefor the sum of five hundred dollars.
A month later the right to the timber in the canons
of the mountain range that lay to the west of the
Jordan was bestowed on George A. Smith. To Ezra
T. Benson was granted the control of the timber in
the canons and mountains at the entrance of Tooele
Valley, of the canons between that point and Salt
Lake Valley, and of the waters of Twin and Bock
Springs in Tooele Valley. To Heber C. Kimball
were given the waters of North Mill Creek canon—all
these grants, with the exception of the first, being
made without consideration. 27
On his arrival at Washington, Babbitt met with a
somewhat cool reception. That the Mormons, not
deigning to pass through the years of their political
minority, should now ask admission as a state, and
meanwhile constitute themselves a free and independent
community, an imperium in imperio, issuing fullfledged,
as did Minerva from the cranium of Jove,
into the society of republics, was a proceeding that of
course failed to meet with the approval of congress.
The memorial, accompanied by the constitution of the
state of Deseret, was presented to the senate on the
27th of December, 1849, by Stephen A. Douglas,
who moved that it be referred to the committee on
territories, 28 and about one month later it was so
27 Utah, Acts Legist, (ed. 1S55), 63-4, 72-3.
28 On Dec. 31st, Joseph R. Underwood of Kentucky presented a memorial
from William Smith and Isaac Sheen—the former a brother of the prophet
representing themselves to be the legitimate presidents of the church of Jesus
Christ of latter-day saints, and from twelve members of that church. It is
there set forth that, prior to the migration from Nauvoo, 1,500 of the Mormons
had taken the following oath: ' You do solemnly swear, in the presence of
almighty God, his holy angels, and these witnesses, that you will avenge the
blood of Joseph Smith upon this nation, and so teach your children; and that
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