WONK: Little History...Federal land in Utah NEVER belonged to the state of Utah. It is a gross misnomer to say Utah wants ITS land back. When Mormon pioneers arrived in Utah in 1847, they arrived to Mexican territory. Early in the Mexican-American War in late 1846, the United States captured New Mexico, California and Utah, plus the whole Southwest became U.S. territory upon the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, February 2, 1848. With the treaty, Mexico gave the land to the USA--not Utah. From there, Utah signed an agreement with Washington DC to govern the the acceptance of Utah as a state. It is called the Enabling Act. It was signed, on July 16, 1847, unanimously, by Utahs representatives. Section 2, Paragraph 3 leaves no doubt about who owns the land. It also unambiguously gives Utahs aquessience as to the Federal land. NO ambiguity at all. Let me quote from our states founding document. That the people inhabiting said proposed State do agree and declare that they FOREVER disclaim all right and title to the unappropriated public lands lying within the boundaries thereof; and to all lands lying within said limits owned or held by any Indian or Indian tribes; and that until the title thereto shall have been extinguished by the United States, the same shall be and remain subject to the disposition of the United States, and said Indian lands shall remain under the absolute jurisdiction and control of the Congress of the United States: How does Utah claim it wants its land BACK--it never had it in the first place.
Posted on: Mon, 08 Dec 2014 16:43:33 +0000
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