AFFAIRS IN UTAH.
The Legislature—The Application, for Admis-sion into the Union—Special Committee on the State of the Nation—The Court Troubles—Trade Matters, &c.
Correspondence of the New-York Times.
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, Tursday, Dec. 19, 1861.
The Legislature is getting into the run of busi-ness, and begins to take hold of things important. A late telegram informs us that the Utah Delegate to Congress, Dr. BERNHISEL, had presented a memorial in Congress praying for the admission of Utah into the Union as a State. If the boon be not granted upon that petition the matter is not to rest there. The means which prevailed with the "unjust Judge" are to be adopted, and maybe Congress will ultimately grant the prayer of the Utonians, "lest by their Con_tinual coming they weary" out the resistive patience of that honorable body.
It will be remembered that the Message of Gov. DAWSON referred almost entirely to the "state of the Nation," and expressed great anxiety on the part of he author to learn the bearings of the sentiment of Utah on that momentous question. In response, the Legislature are giving that portion of the Message in_to the hands of a Special Committee, for sage consid-eration, together with the question of the propriety of immediately calling a Convention of delegates of the people to draft a State Constitution, and another me-morial to Congress for admission into the Federal Union, and to take such other steps as may be deemed advisable for the accomplishment of that much-de sired object. So Congress will hear somebody knock ing at the door again by and bye, for, of course, the Committee reports favorably concerning holding the Convention, the Legislature acts favorably upon the report, and the whole matter is presented to the Governor, that he may, if so disposed, make a favora ble return on the question, though as to the matter of that it will likely make little difference whether he does or does not, for I rather "guess" that the active parties are pretty well decided to have a Convention and a big talk in such state upon the point desired.
The "assembled wisdom " is evidently considera-bly exercised in regard to the "lion in the path "—the national direct tax. This appears to them a formida-ble thing to shoulder in a territory so remote from the ordinary avenues of trade and commerce, and de-pendent so greatly on its own resources, which re-sources, mostly for want of a competent market, pro-duce but little cash, and that little, in the generality of cases, finding its way with remarkable celerity into the hands of the merchants. The general sentiment, however, seems to be in favor of the Territory assum-ing the responsibility of the tax, and collecting it "in its own way."
The jurisdiction conflict is still vindicating its claims to the title of "irrepressible," and in this in-stance Judge CROSBY has come to the grief of antago-nism toward the Territorial Court procedure. Some time ago one JONATHAN HOOPS was convicted, by the action of the Probate Court of Utah County, of an af-fection for horseflesh not countenanced by the law, and consequently was safely lodged in the Peniten_tiary. He was released therefrom the other day by writ of habeas corpus, granted by Judge CROSBY, on the ground of "no jurisdiction." This has the effect of making the Judge unpopular with the Mormon pillars of the State, and just as popular with their op-ponents.
But this is not the only case of late which has caused the Judge to fall below par in Mormon esti-mation. A fisticuff affray occurred the other day, in the street, for which one BAKER, rough and ready, found himself minus $15 and costs, at the instance of Alderman CLINTON. During the quarrel, Judge CROSBY happened by, and authoritatively commanded peace. BAKER, not knowing His Honor, inquired if he was a policeman. Thus interrogated, the Judge declared his name and station; upon which, the unsatisfied BAKER promptly, angrily, unceremoniously, inele-gantly and defiantly commanded His Honor to march direct to regions immensely torrid. Disobediently, the Judge made over to the office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court and issued a warrant, under the seal of said Court, for the arrest of the defiant BAKER, who, as soon as released from the presence of the Alder-man, found himself In the custody of the Territorial Marshal, and under way for Judge CROSBY'S "cham-bers," otherwise said office of Clerk of Supreme Court. Making short work of it, the Judge sentenced the belligerent BAKER to forty-eight hours' confine-ment in the County Jail, for "contempt." However, while the Clerk was making out the mittimus, and the Marshal was talking to somebody at the door, BAKER quietly slid out the back way. Of course, the Judge, on hearing of the escape, was terribly angry, and threatened that LAWRENCE, the Marshal, should suffer the punishment awarded to BAKER, if the proper pris-oner were not promptly found. BAKER, however, has since reappeared and saved the Marshal's bacon. The next thing is a writ of habeas corpus to release BAKER.
Some of our Merchants are fetching goods from California to replenish their stores, this not being the season to freight from the East, but the best in the year to freight from the West by the Southern route, and a smaller profit, owing to a greater prime cost, being preferred to empty stores and funds in a nap-kin. Mr. J. M. BROWNE and Mr. JENNINGS are active in this line.
Last night Mr. ALEXANDER OTT gave a lecture on "Air," at the Seventies Hall, and at the same place last week Mr. J. V. LONG enlightened a crowded au-ditory upon the subject of "Phonetics."
On Tuesday evening was held the first ball the present season at the Social Hal), perhaps in the way of a partial rehearsal for the grand Legislative, Muni-cipal and Evangelical affair appointed for the even-ing of Christmas.
By dint of untiring energy and unflagging persever-ance, the theatre is at length covered in, though a portion of the roof is but temporary. The interior is now the scene of hasty finishing exertions, and the next thing we hear will probably be of the doors opening to the public.
