OCR Text |
Show liut it my bo snil,"lf these piUlis' fetid other inuenthkl people of dan d tot desire the passage of Mils bill wbj have thev not ia person or by a commute or by petition couie to tbe IIous and urged tbat it be not panned?" Tlie reason is obvious. These men lmve imIf they buve portant interests ift Utah. not cues in court, they do not know It would rehow soon they may hare. quire more than ordinary courage, therefore, for mich men to come forward . nnd lake part wiih i lie weak tile, in lean r Btroualy tluir feelings way that direction, especially with such a julge in the third judicial district as now gits there. It will be observed also that the parlies who are here urging the passage i.I ihitf bill are those who ure interested If this bill should become in its success u law, the ofiice of the United State district attorney in Utah would be worth as much as that of the President the otlice of marshal tj the United States;would be equally of Utah Territory What does this bill do 7 In the section it sweeps uway twenty-onfor tlieiu a Burr lift, und United Slates marshal, and Iweuty-on- e lt puties in the couut'ice; that is a deputy for eacli county. What does the second bed ion provide? It gives to the United States district attorney the entire con rol of the prosecutions in the Territory, rot only under the United States laws but under the local laws. With the feeling there is on this rub- ject and uiihpucu a disrtict attorney as we have now, who has shown what bis are, we can readily understand what the fate of the Mormons would be if this bill should be made a when they arc not ullowed if they even believe iu the rightfulness of to sit upon ajmy, and when rtpulatbn ie made evidence in criminal prosecutious. Let uii unprejudiced jurist examine this bill, especially if he has hid experience iu the Territories, and he cannot fail to per ceive how dangerous and subversive of nil republican government It is. I can not believe that there is a member of this House who would vole for such a bill to be enforced against any other people (nan those who reside in Utah Territory. Let gentlemen examine it and try aud forget tint it is designed to be put iu operation against tbe Mormons, s urid th ask if they would be willing to have it go upon tbe statute btok. Here tbe hammer fell. The Speaker. The forty-fiv- e minutes al'.owed to the gentleman from Utah have expired. I trust the Mr. Cannon, 6f ttah. Mouse will grunt me more time. It is the first time that I have appealed to the House for any courtesy of this kiud. Several Members, (jo on. Mr Poland. Mr Speaker, I have no oort of objection to extending the gentleman's time so long it the Housv may choose to extend it. I have already yielded to him and to those to whom he s of might choose to yield ef an hour, taking for myself ouly fifteen jnihutes in openiug and fifteen minutes Dul I must object to an exclosing. tension of the gentleman's lime unless the tame additional time that may be allowed to him shall be allowed to me. The Speaker. How much lime dues the gentleman from Utah desire? Mr. Cannon, of Utah. I do not think I shall require much longer lime. I sub' mit this to the House. Mr. Poland. I do not wish to be as objecting to the gentlenun's proceeding, liut I wish the same extca-ttio- n given to the committee that is given to him. The Speaker. If the gentleman from Utah will tpecify the time he wishes, the ("hair will submit the request to the ho-i'V- valu-M.l- e fi.-s- t fie-uu- e. s law.e-'pr.i-all- poly-pun- il gen-er.- 11 tlieni.-elve- three-quarter- fr cen-Kider- cd Hound. Mr. Cannon, of Utah. I would like to have fifteen minutes longer The Speaker The gentleman from Utah asks for fifteen minutes, and the peuileman from Vermont asks that the mine time be givdn to tbe committee. If mere be no objections thtse requests will be granted together. The Chair lifais no objection, and the extensions ef time are granted. Mr. Cannon of Utfcb: Mr, Speaker, the condition ef Utah Territory is such that 1 can speak of it with a good deal of pride aud without any fear iu relation to the result of any examination to which its nfl'uirs may be tubjucted. Utah Territory has now been settled nearly twenty-teve- u years. On the 21th of the coming month we shall have been we are there twenty ccvenyean. out of debt. The counties, the cities, and iue Territory are eutirely free from debt. There is net a bond of any kind afloat. The affairs of the Territory have been managed in the most economical manner. The aim has beea to have laxatiou light as possible. There are those who wish a chance, who desire to obtain the control t.f aflairs, and this bill is in their interest It is eafy to imagine what the result would be if it were tu pass and the control of the territory were taken out of the bands of those who at the present time Lave the majority there. What an t xaellent field there would be fo- r- I was poinp to ssy plunder, and 1 do itut know that it it too strong a word to use. Kxperi-enc- e elsewhere has shown how easy it U to issue bonds and te involve a etmuiu-Litinextricably io debt a ,. is It against this that my cenititnents protest. They wish the majority to govern They govers elsewhere, why not in Utah? W hat have the ly awl the minority . ; To-da- y y J-,- ; uajoiity done that this be inflicted up-them? It has been said, let the railroad be built across the continent and the Mormou power will soon be broken. Then U was said, let mines be dixcover-ud- , so that emigration may flow in, and the overthrow of the Mormons will (ben The railroad has been be assured. been opened, emigrahave mines built, tion has flown to Utah, churches and schools have been built and organized I believe there are five or six different denominations busily engaged there and yet there is a class tlnit is not satisfied. The overthrow of the majority in Utah has not been accomplished as they hoped. They now want Congress to aid them bygraniingliostile legislation against this majority, and thus wrest tuecontrol of affairs from t'neir hands. Sir, it is but another scheme for robbing tbat people, and it is hoped that it can be done under the guise of law. hesitate before should Members vote for such a bill cast their Examine well what the results of such legislation are likely to be. Let members ask themselves how they would like such legislation enacted for them if they were objectionable for religion or any Put yourself, sir, in tbe other reason. condition of tbe Mormons, and ask yourself how you would like to have such a law as this passed against you. It may be said tbat the Mormons are heretics, but this does not justify Congress in mnking this bill a law. Such legislation never, iu the history of the world, put down heresy. If such legislation can, then all history belies itself, for history bears testimony that no such measure as is proposed in this bill ever was succeseful in accomplishing such an It did not in the case of tbe object; Huguenots; it did not in tbe case of the Puritans; it has not in any case, and it uever will, never, while the earth stands nnd human nature possesses its preset features, unless, indeed, you stamp a religion out by destroying all its believers. What is now Utah Territory when first settled was a country that nobody desired. When my constituents went there it was supposed they would either fall victims to the Indians or starve to death. Hut after struggling for years they succeeded in transforming it from a desert to a place of beauty. But this was only done by imineuse sacrifice aud toil. Some of the settlements of Utah Territory hare had their entire crops swept off five years in succession by grasshop-ers- . In 1&jo thejeropsof the entire Territory were dsiryed by thoes insects. I do net think I overstate the case when I say, remote as Utah then was from all help, that of any other community similarly situated hundreds would have ktarved to death and their settlements would have been abandoned. It wastho religious saniiment, prompting them to divide with eaub other to the lust mouthful, tbat saved them. Mr. Speaker, there was no talk then about enacting laws for the Territory of Utah, ro; the Mormons could struggle on and. perish if they chose, and these zealous patriots who now profess such luterest for Utab cared nothing about her. It ie only since mines have been discovered, and city property become valuable, and railroads have been constructed it is only since it was found tbat the Mormons had valuable possessions that this interest is taken by the present crusaders against Utah. You remember, sir, that four years ago it was said that unless Congress interposed there would be bloodshed in that Territory. An effort was made to convince Congress that unless legislation Mas enacted for Utah bloodshed would be inevitable. Four years have passed, and is as peaceable as that Territory it was at that time. Hut it is said that the courts are locked up and cannot execute the laws because of the difticulty of obtaining jurors. Sir, tbat is no more the case now than it has beeu for a score of years. Under the present laws of Utah courts have been held and cases tried for a long succession of years. Aud were it not for the obstinacy of tbe Judge of the Third Judicial District there would be no deadlock there at the present time. In tbe other districts of Utah courts have been held and jurors have been summoned. Hut it has beeu published in a dailv paper of large circulation in Salt Lake City,, the editors of which are responsible men, that the Judge of the Third District had said in substance "he would carry his point with Congress if he ruin ed the eutlre legal busiucss of the Terii to-da- ritory." y officer, SOW LET UTAH IX. from n stated by tbe gentleman has been the Vermont, tbe contrary the usurpation bus been on the the Unipart of the Federal officer, and ted Slates Supreme Court has so decided. In one of the decisions made upon a Clinton against case of importance Englebrecbl appealed from the District Court to the United Slat, s Supreme Court, Chief Jusiice Clia-- e said: "Tbe theory upon nhich the various governments for portions of the terriortory of the United States have been of that lcen leaving to ganized has ever the inhabitants all the powers of consistent with the supremof national authorand supervi-iiacy fundamental prinwith certain aud ity, ciples established by Congress. As earl as 1784 an ordinance was adopted by the Congress of the Confederation providing fur tbe division of all th territory, ceded or to be ceded into States, with boundaries ascertained by the ordinance These Stales were severally authorized to adopt for their temporary government the constitution and laws of any one of the States, and provision was made for their ultimate adnii.-sio-n by delegates into the Congress of the United States. We thus find the first plan for the establishment of governments in the Territories authorized the adoption of State governments from the start, and committed all matters of internal legislation to the discretion of thv inhabitants, unrestricted otherwise than by the State constitution originally adopted by them.-- ' That was the language ued by the Chief Justice iu rendering this decision, which reversed the proceedings of the judge of the third judieial district in the Territory of Utah. Associate Justice Bradley, in another decision recently given, also sustains the territorial laws, and (be election of an attorney-genera- l for the Territory by the Legislative Assembly of the Territory. Those two decisions I consider exceedingly important ns showing the character of the proceedings in Utah. They show that the people Ibemselves have maintained the law, have been intrenched within the law, have not sought to transcend the liw, but hive acted iu accordance with the organic act of the Territory and the laws passed by the Legislative Assembly of the Territory, and submitted to you for your approval at the time. I find that 1 must hurry on. In the short time allowed me find it impossible to make explanations which should be made to give a correct idea of affairs iu the Territory. In the third section of this bill I fiud this provision: "And whenever, iu nny proceeding for divorce, or in any civil cause, or a an if criminal prosecution, it is necessary to prove the existence of the marriage relation between two persons, it shall not be necessary to prove the same by the produstion of any record or certificate of the marriage, but evidence of cohabitation between the parties ns husband and wife, ond the acts, conduct, declarations, and admissions of the parties shall be admissible, and the marriage may be eslab.isied like any question of faet." In this counectiun I call attention to the decision of the United States Su preme Court in the case of Cumuiisj vn. I he Mate of Missouri. It will be found in 4 Wallace, and 1 will read an extract from pages o"25 and C'Jti: "By an ex pvt facto law is meant one whicli imposes a punishment for an act whitfh was not punishable at the time it was committed, or imposes additional punishment to that then prescribed; or changes the rules of evidence by which less or ditfereut testimony is snthcient to convict than was then required." This bill proposes to change the rule of evidence, audi tubmii it cc meg in conflict with this decision of the Supreme Court in the oise 1 have cited. Sir, I know the preju dices which exist on this Mormnu question. 1 know that many men are ready to do anything that may have tbe effect to destroy what is called Mormoiiism. 1 implore members to reflect and not act hastily upon this bill. Such legislation will not destroy that system. Its believers have suffered themselves to bo driven from ibeir honjrg lime aud lime again for their religion. They cannot be convinced by the bayonet; they cannot be convinc ed by viuletice; they cannot be convinced by any such means. Hostile legislation will not have that effect. If tbe Mormons are in error, reason is the argument to which appeal must be made. At the present time and ever since Utah has been settled her people have opened their places of worship to men of every denomination to enter nnd preach. Sir, n you know, a distinguished divine of this city went to Utah and held a controversy before tbe largest congregation that could probably he convened in the Uuited States, on the question of polygamy, and so it ever has been w th iluni. Whenever a reputable minister of any denomination or creed has gone to Utah, he has hud an opportunity of speaking in tbe halls of tie Latter-daSaints. There has been no exclnsiveness, no disposition to close their doors against reason. As 1 have already said, and Sunday schools are established there by religious sects opposed to the Marmon. aud if this system can be put down it will bo by reason and not by compulsion ami violence. Here the hammer fell. case m 1 The question as to which is the right-fu- l officer of the courts under the laws of the Territory the United States District Attorney or the Attorney-Genera- l of the Territory has been submitted to tbe United States Supreme Court, and the decision has been in favor of the officer created by Territorial s'atute. The case of the United States Marshal vs. the Territorial Marshal is an analogous one. In two instances the Supreme Court of the United States have sustained the local authorities of the Territory in cases which have been carried up from this court which now complains of being locked up. The United States Supreme Conrt has sustained the laws of the Territory. This does not look as though the people or the Territory were usurp ing authority or giving their officers power not guaranteed by law ana usage. Sii' isCromIiiB. Instead of a usurpation of power on tht Who? WhV Mi. glevni, th great tranO me on hr fur part of the Legislative Assembly of Utah, dium, fflio Upiv a mm t ntirrtia 'ltcmt at Jnie' vUil, Ogiien. or on the fart of an officer Created by mr Orov next J una HtU, t 2 ynnw.il their act and against the United States Liberal Hall ui;Iav, t 1 pm. ' the.evtntug y day-schoo- - ls looking darkey deacon came to him and requested him to leave M ti The House has passed the bill for .a .ui lor colored people Th the admission of Colorado. Justice astonished Senator departed with u would say, let Utah in, and judg- flea in his ear." ment would sayaruen to the demand. Aud now the mpol-- M.. . With a sufficient population of inout a scheme studying to give white dustrious, peaceable and thrifty citizens a treasury unburdened with color, aud to compel the superW debt, the form of State Government to accord civil nigger rights to the a active life, already to start into inferior white trash. constitution prepared as liberal as in the any and far better than most ' Sunday School Jubilee. Union, a large area of country devoted to agriculture and stock raising, abundant facilities for manuaud valuable factures,' immense mineral resources, several important railroads and hundreds of miles of The Sunday Schools of On Sunday, the 21st. inst., at under tbe direction of Professor preparatory to taking a pm in urnnd musical jubilee, to be held in fi telegraph, commercial interests of no common order and prospects for in crease, prosperity, wealth, influence and power with which no other territory can compare, Utah has claims for admission a a State which the country caunot repudiate, unless blinded with prejudice and bigotry, aud wi fully opposed to , ts THE PUOSPECTS. ' fhD; SaU W.V .11,1 UJ, J,, nejt Music and Song Books can jyjy be had b to Elder Thomas Wallace at applying Z. ('. M. I. K. Hallastyne, June 12, 1874. t County Supt. T To be Gently Dealt With. rother Harlan of the Washington fair-deali- and equal rights. The admission of Utah would relieve Cougress of its annual trouble over the domestic affairs of the Territory, and the people here of the blackguard rabble who stir up strife, block the wheels of the law, and make a general racket in order to pick up what they can in the confusion. Let Utah in, and see how a State can be managed in the of order and the welfare of society, and how quickly all the trouble brewed uuder territorial pressure would pass away with the froth and scum. Let her iu, and decent Mormons Gentiles and sensible would make the mountain valley teem with the results of iudusry and enterprise. Weber Counfv are hereby invited to attend a muil rehearsal in the Tabernacle, Ogden Ci,I i j Daily Chronicle," should be gently dealt with. The fact that hemade himself a volunteer tax collector, ami raised 820,000 in percentage out of hard pressed delinquents of the Dis. trict, may constitute a dubious tranbut he has defended the saction; pickings and stealings of the Washington ring with such wear and tear of conscience that he ought to be forgiven for applying a greenback plaster to that function. Moreover in these days of increased salaries, it is a protty pass if a 10,000 states- man nriv not raise himself to a 000 editor without a row about it. Cincinnati Commercial (hid.) Progressive Paris. The Hunting Club of Paris lately celebrated the close of the shooting season by giving a masked ball and supper at the Grand Hotel to the ladies of the tlemimnt7e, who, headed by the still notorious Cora Pearl, were there in great numbers. Seme of the dresses were superb. Four huudred guests sat dowu to supper, aud dancing wa.i kept up till five o'clock in the morning. Those persons who are so ready to declare tbat America is as immoral as Paris, may picture to themselves the sensatios which would be created in the social world if any fashionable dnb of young men iu New York or Philadelphia were to openly organize a public entertaimufiit for ladies of that class aud character. The Washington Star of the 3d, says of the Poland bill : 'The bill now goes to the Senate, where some of its provisions will challenge opposition from a legal point of view, and it is doubtful if it passes this session." It is exceedingly doubtful whether the shameful measure will come up iu the Senate d uring the present session. If it should be considered, there can bo little doubt that some amendments will be made. The provision which excludes citizens fronr LOW RESERVOIR the jury box on aceouut of their be...it'!r. lief, can scarcely pass in the Senate, and would not have passed the House if the bill had not beeu sprung upon the members by a parliamentary trick, and forced through under the pressure of ''the previous question," with but a single hour for debate. If the bill is ameuded iu the Senate it will have to go back to the House, where it will take timo to discuss the change, ie a!l Cii if it should be concurred in, and the XSD TAITOUS FOB BEINO probability is that the "robbers ring" of Salt Lake will have to bite their BEST TO USE I nails till the next session, when they CHEAPEST TO BUY!! may try it again. EASIEST TO SELL II! wmm kMd 1 CIVIL It IU UTS. Senator Morrill, ,.f Maine, is one of the supporters of the civil rights bill. Tho object of the measure is to cuforcc the rights of colored persons to equal privileges with white folks in schools, churches, houda, theatres, steamboats, traius and other public places. mis, sn4 T.mmw for dotoff wore BETTER COOKING, Doisi rr Thao any SwveoflSe rAMOUS FOB GIVI.N9 1 Especially Ataptd TO TIM VJlft OF EVESY SOLD J3? The serene Senator from Elaine t EXCELSIOR MANUPQ" COMPAQ iu walking Washington, the other Sunday, when ha St. Iioiilft, Mo, passed a church of ;'cullud'brudder8,, gf the Methodist persuasion; -- lie liked the 23 . singing and want io; , AU had no sooner tak?n his 3?at thaa a Wlemiii tl2S was ,y.O. . M |