"Much to my astonishment, I have not been able to find any law upon the statutes of this Territory regulating marriage. I earnestly recommend to your early consideration the passage of some law that will meet the exigencies of the people. "_Act of Congress against Polygamy._ "I respectfully call your attention to an Act of Congress, passed the 1st day of July, 1862, entitled 'An Act to punish and prevent the practice of polygamy in the Territories of the United States, and in other places, and disapproving and annulling certain Acts of the legislative assembly of Utah,' (chap. cxxvii. of the Statutes at Large of the last session of Congress, page 501.) I am aware that there is a prevailing opinion here that said Act is unconstitutional, and therefore it is recommended by those in high authority that no regard whatever should be paid to the same; and still more to be regretted, if I am rightly informed, in some instances it has been recommended that it be openly disregarded and defied, merely to defy the same. "I take this occasion to warn the people of this Territory against such dangerous and disloyal counsels. Whether such Act is unconstitutional or not, is not necessary for me either to affirm or deny. The individual citizen, under no circumstances whatever, has the right to defy any law or statute of the United States with impunity. In doing so he takes upon himself the risk of the penalties of that statute, be they what they may, in case his judgment should be in error. "The Constitution has amply provided how and where all such questions of doubt are submitted and settled, namely, in the courts constituted for that purpose. To forcibly resist the execution of that Act would be, to say the least, a high misdemeanor; and if a whole community should become involved in such resistance, would call down upon it the consequences of insurrection and rebellion. "I hope and trust that no such rash counsel will prevail. If, unhappily, I am mistaken in this, I choose to shut my eyes to the consequences. "_Liberty of Conscience._ "Amongst the most cherished and sacred rights secured to the citizen of the United States, is the right to worship God according to the dictates of conscience. . . . "Religion was left a matter between man and his Maker, and not between man and the Government.