| As a new election season began, my thoughts once | | | | On November 6, 1894, 107 delegates were elected |
| again turned to our founding fathers and their | | | | from across the territory to frame a new constitution. I |
| impassioned efforts to secure for us, the succeeding | | | | find it interesting that this is only three more than the |
| generations, through the formation of a Constitution, the | | | | number of current legislators. Like our current |
| inalienable rights and liberties won through years of | | | | legislature, the convention delegates represented |
| struggle and battle. Likely, it was the re-dedication of | | | | every part of the state and many walks of life from |
| the newly refurbished Utah State Capitol Building and | | | | agriculture to finance to business owners and |
| the legislature's return to their historic chambers that | | | | educators. And, like our current legislature, the majority |
| has caused me to reminisce and think more of the | | | | were Republicans. Bringing with them varying opinions |
| founding fathers of this great State of Utah. I hope you | | | | and life experience, they set aside egos and |
| will indulge me as I share briefly the lesser-known | | | | differences and for 65 days from March 4 to May 8, |
| history of our own Utah Constitution. | | | | 1895, they worked to formalize our state's constitution. |
| As early as 1849, a constitutional convention was | | | | Ratified in the general election that fall, the new |
| organized in the hopes of obtaining statehood. Of | | | | constitution took effect on January 4, 1896 when Utah |
| course, the dreams were a bit loftier back then as the | | | | was proclaimed a state by Pres. Grover Cleveland. |
| first convention created the state of Deseret which | | | | The Constitution of Utah, although patterned after the |
| encompassed all or part of the current states of Utah, | | | | U.S. Constitution and several state constitutions, |
| Nevada, Arizona, California, Wyoming, Colorado, New | | | | contained provisions unique to our state including: |
| Mexico, Oregon and Idaho. Lacking the required 60,000 | | | | • Giving women the right to vote |
| eligible voters (free and male), the federal government | | | | • Banning lotteries |
| gave little consideration to this attempt. | | | | • Requiring a balanced budget |
| Five subsequent constitutional conventions and | | | | • Establishing public schooling "free from sectarian |
| attempts at statehood in 1855, 1861, 1872, 1882, and | | | | control" |
| 1887 met similar fates. I can only imagine the hope, | | | | I express my gratitude to the great founding fathers of |
| anxiety, and eventual frustration that accompanied | | | | our state and to modern-day patriots among us for |
| each request. Finally, in 1894, some 45 years after the | | | | whom the motto of the convention, "Our liberties we |
| first convention was convened, Congress passed the | | | | prize and our rights we maintain" still has great |
| Enabling Act which provided specific steps the | | | | meaning. |
| Territory of Utah must take to achieve statehood. | | | | |