The power of Congress to enact suitable laws to protect the Territories is ample.  It is not a case for halfway measures.  The political power of the Mormon sect is increasing.  It controls now one of our wealthiest and most populous Territories.  It is extending steadily into other Territories.  Wherever it goes it establishes polygamy and sectarian political power.  The sanctity of marriage and the family relation are the corner stone of our American society and civilization.  Religious liberty and the separation of church and state are among the elementary ideas of free institutions.  To reestablish the interests and principles which polygamy and Mormonism have imperiled, and to fully reopen to intelligent and virtuous immigrants of all creeds that part of our domain which has been in a great degree closed to general immigration by intolerant and immoral institutions, it is recommended that the government of the Territory of Utah be reorganized.

I recommend that Congress provide for the government of Utah by a governor and judges, or commissioners, appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate—­a government analogous to the provisional government established for the territory northwest of the Ohio by the ordinance of 1787.  If, however, it is deemed best to continue the existing form of local government, I recommend that the right to vote, hold office, and sit on juries in the Territory of Utah be confined to those who neither practice nor uphold polygamy.  If thorough measures are adopted, it is believed that within a few years the evils which now afflict Utah will be eradicated, and that this Territory will in good time become one of the most prosperous and attractive of the new States of the Union.

Our relations with all foreign countries have been those of undisturbed peace, and have presented no occasion for concern as to their continued maintenance.

My anticipation of an early reply from the British Government to the demand of indemnity to our fishermen for the injuries suffered by that industry at Fortune Bay in January, 1878, which I expressed in my last annual message, was disappointed.  This answer was received only in the latter part of April in the present year, and when received exhibited a failure of accord between the two Governments as to the measure of the inshore fishing privilege secured to our fishermen by the treaty of Washington of so serious a character that I made it the subject of a communication to Congress, in which I recommended the adoption of the measures which seemed to me proper to be taken by this Government in maintenance of the rights accorded to our fishermen under the treaty and toward securing an indemnity for the injury these interests had suffered.  A bill to carry out these recommendations was under consideration by the House of Representatives at the time of the adjournment of Congress in June last.