OUR SALT LAKE CORRESPONDENCE.
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, U. T.
January 2d. 1859.
The Message.
The principal items of news since my last, are the arrival of the express with the President's message; the action of the Legislature; and local items of the city and territory.
The message arrived in this city on the evening of the 25th Dec., and was issued from the press of the Valley Tan on the evening of the 27th. In this city it was received with satisfaction. The citizens are much pleased with the idea of a Land Office in the Territory, and the extension of the pre-emption laws. The time made from St. Josephs to this place was short, when the nature of the roads are taken into consideration, and the excessively cold region through which it was obliged to be carried, and the snowy mountains over which it had to be brought.
The Valley Tan.
On Tuesday morning, the 28th Dec., a copy of the message was sent to each member of the Council and House, by the editor of the Valley Tan, through a boy employed in the office of the Hon. J. Hartnet, Secretary of the Territory, and by him distributed upon the respective desks. Upon the assemblage of the Legislature, the members seeing the copies of the Valley Tan before them, made inquiries as to whom they came from, and upon being informed, they collected them all together and sent them to the office of the Territorial Secretary, and appointed a committee to wait upon Mr. Hartnet to inform that gentleman that the papers were sent back "out of no disrespect to him or the message," but that the Valley Tan was by them considered a scurrilous sheet, and that it was evident the editor of that paper had used his endeavors to cause strife and discord in their midst, for which reasons they wished nothing to do with his paper in any way or form. The Deseret News having no copy of the Message, it was not republished in that sheet, nor will be until one is received from their correspondent. The action of the Legislature upon their course meets with contrary opinions. Since the first issue of the Valley Tan in this city, no notice whatever has been taken of it or of its articles by the News. Some of the articles as published by Mr. Anderson in his paper, have been considered objectionable by this community, and his general course, as regards his paper, has not generally met their approval. A paper in this Territory conducted upon liberal principles, and pursuing a course contrary to the Valley Tan, would be liberally supported.
Court and Legislature.
The U. S. District Court for the Third Judicial District, adjourned from the 24th Dec. to Monday, Jan. 2d, 1859, at which time several cases of criminals now in custody, will be tried, after which the Court will probably adjourn until the session of the Legislature is over, as there are several important acts to be passed in the judiciary code of the Territory, to enable more perfectly the present term of the Court to go through its sittings.
The Legislature met in this city on the 20th Dec., in pursuance to its adjournment from Fillmore city. They have been mostly occupied by parties contesting seats, all of which are now arranged. The amendments to the Judicial code of the Territory are now before them, and will probably occupy their attention for the present week. As a body, the Legislature of this Territory is a model, for everything goes on harmoniously, without the jars of political parties, and with an end to the public good.
Holidays and Public Worship.
During the present holidays the city has assumed a busy appearance, the stores have done a thriving business, and almost all the desirable goods have found purchasers; the streets are lively with repassing sleighs filled with pleasure-seekers, and every variety of amusement inducive of recreation sought for ; dinner parties with happy reunions, and social parties, where in the giddy whirl of the dance the hours pass swiftly and pleasantly away.
The Tabernacle was reopened for service this morning, for the first time since April last, the stand being occupied by Orson Pratt. His subject was: "The Authenticity of the Book of Mormon." His address lasted for near three hours before three thousand people.
The mail from California arrived yesterday afternoon, and the Eastern mail to-day noon. The road eastward is reported bad; but one small mail bag arrived from California.
The weather at present is fine and pleasant, the health of the city and Territory good; every one is evidently pleased with his neighbor, and peace and harmony prevail.
