AFFAIRS IN UTAH.
Organization of the Legislature—Governor's
Message—Theatricals—Miscellaneous.
Correspondence of the New-York Times.
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY,
Wednesday. Dec. 16, 1863.
Last week the country members of the Utah Legislature began to assemble at the seat of Govern-ment for the session, and on Monday the Legislature met in the Council House, the several members tailing the oath prescribed. After organization, both houses adjourned till the next day, DANIEL H. WELLS Having been ejected President of the Council, and JOHN TAILOR Speaker of the House.
On TUESDAY his Excellency, AMOS REED, Secretary and Acting Governor, presented his message, which was read by the Chief Clerk. His Excellency ex-pressed his pleasure in concurring in all proper meas-ures designed for the benefit of the people of the Territory, congratulated the members upon the wealth and prosperity of the people the past season, the beautiful harvest of the year, and the ready and tight market for produce, occasioned by the mineral discoveries north and west. In my judgment the harvest was but a moderate one, and the health of the people but so-so, previous to cold weather.
The Governor congratulated the Legislature upon the successful efforts of the General Government toward quelling the rebellion of the slave-hold-ers, and the prospect of an early peace, and announced with pleasure the burying of the toma-hawk and the smoking of the pipe of peace with the Indians of the Territory and Southern Idaho.
He thought a revision of the laws of the Ter-ritory desirable, but an immediate codification inex-pedient. Considering the expense and the peculiar transition state of the Territory. Evidences were accumulating that Utah would rival her near sisters in the production of the precious metals, and surpass them in that of baser minerals. These interests and also those of agriculture required especial attention. Every available fertile spot of land should be secured to the people, and brought into cultivation. In this connection he recommended petitioning the Presi-dent to throw open the Spanish Fork and San Pete Indian Reservations for occupation and cultivation by the people, and for the removal of the Utah or Southern Indians to the Reservation in Uintah Val-ley, hence southeast.
His Excellency advised memorializing the Post-master-General for daily mail services between this city or Territory and Eastern and Western Bannack and Virginia cities; also a daily mail hence through the cities of Utah Valley, south, and for mail service to San Bernardino and Los Angelos.
The Pacific Railroad claimed attention. It was hastening from the regions of ideality and poetry to those of reality and prose. In this connection Utah was destined to be the highway of the commerce of the world, and the great resting-place and depot of the nation. Early action was advised, to induce the company building the road to develop the resources of the Territory for the production of the iron needed in the central portion of the road.
Recurring to the mineral promises of the Terri-tory, the Governor advised legislation to encourage miners, and to preserve the rights of settlers, and re-commended California mining legislation as a model.
The Governor concluded his advice by adverting to the necessity of maintaining decent bridges over the Provo and Sevier rivers.
The following are the Territorial financial figures for the fiscal year, ending Oct. 31, 1863:
Taxable property of the Territory…….$5,048,200 00
Balance in hand commencement of year
……………………..$5,439 68
Receipts during year……….32,845 12 — 38,284 80
Disbursed during year……………… 11,485,37
Balance in hand close of year……….. $26,790 43
It was voted that a thousand copies of the Message be printed in pamphlet form, and that it be published in the Deseret News.
The theatre is too good a thing to be kept in the dark in festal times. After a short fortnight's interim the Fail season is followed by the Winter term. On Saturday the establishment reopened with the "Mar-ble Heart." The forthcoming season will probably reach far into April. Meanwhile the usual fantastic trippings of the Winter are in course of inauguration at the Social Hall. This present evening the juvenile concert comes off in the theatre.
The regular term of the Probate Court commenced on Monday. As this Court, under the peculiar work-ing of the Organic Act, assumes criminal jurisdic-tion, it is taking cognizance of the late murder. A grand jury has been impanneled, which indicted JASON LUCE for murder. “Jase?” is now under trial, prosecuted by AURELIUS MINER, Esq., and defended by the notorious WILLIAM A. HICKMAN, ESQ. If the prisoner be convicted he will doubtless taste advant-age of the "jurisdiction conflict," current here, and appeal to the United States Court.
On Monday half a score of C. Vs., traveling with a wagon near Parley's Canon, met Mr. AKZA E. HINCKLEY and a youth named SMITH, who were driving a flock of Sheep. Some of the C. Vs., it is alleged, were "tight," and one of them approached the boy unexpectedly and planted a blow on his face, which sent him staggering down the "dug-way." Mr. HINCKLEY, indignant, rushed to the assailant and sent him unceremoniously after the boy. Several of the C. V's then advanced and proved too much for Mr. HINCKLEY, for by dint of sundry kicks and stamping on the face and body they left him in a very quiet condition, yet alive. Mr. HINCK-LEY is apparently one of the last of men for a row, being of that sober, mind-your-own-business sort, who have "nothing to say to nobody" if “Nobody says nothing to them."
Owing to further purchases for the Idaho market, flour and wheat have again an upward tendency. Flour is now $8 to $9 per hundred: Wheat and corn not being obtainable in sufficient quantity, the dis-tillers are calling loudly for barley and oats, which will induce stiffer prices for them. Barley is now $1 50 per bushel. Oats, rising of $1.
