Show memorial I 1 1 tp to condrea mig Con grea res 4 lot opeal anace 6 anA cf entitled 11 an aiace act i to punish th tf of ponga wr jhc J aw un ital slat slates CS and alga edip places to th Hon honorable brable tho the semite and bouso of of tho the united states in congress assembled your Memoria lists tho the legislative aslom bly of tho the territory of Utah respectfully artt rop resent that iff whereas upwards of fourteen deais ago the church christ of day saints did publicly avow and nun its beli belief efin in the doctrine of plurality of wives wires ay iy 4 being of divino divina origin and whereas this doctrine hoa has been adopted nov for lustful buts but from conscientious ino motives tives an and d as it a portion of religious faith and whereas cicat prejudice has been created in mind against the people 0 of f this thia territory tan ilois by tho the continued misrepresentations to ii aich they have been subject because of the unpopularity of this thi of their faith the existence of which prejudice B ce tho the people of the Toni territory tory have deplored and ex cs cried themselves to tho the uttermost to remove and aitho aas under the influence of here picc and misrepresentations at aci we believe congress in the year eighteen hundred and sixty two did pass an act acl entitled an act to punish and prevent the practice of polygamy in the territories of the ual united states etc ci expressly pressly besig designing gning to le strict the said church in its rights and whereas tho the judiciary of this territory has not up tip to tho the present tune time tried any case under tinder wild said law lav though repeatedly urged to do so by those who havo have been anxious to test its constitutionality anti and Wh trens the judges of tho the district courts court of this territory have felt themselves obliged by said act to refuse naturalization papers to certain applicants and whereas your Memoria lists having over been the firm and loyal supporters of tho constitution ution of tho the united states and profoundly valuing its pio provisions visions and guarantees and believing moreover that tho the said raid law is ia contrary I 1 ar to the spirit of tho the constitution and maly directly in conflict with tho the fast amendment which states that congress fidall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting prohibition the free exercise thereof cherco and whereas plurality of wives as 03 an article ar i cle of ro WM religious ai i 0 belief was believed and practiced upwards of ten years tho the passage of tho the act of Cron gress prohibiting polygamy and whereas our territory as tho the fruit of plural pi u marriages has enjoyed a an 11 u pi e I 1 lm immunity from the vico of prostitution and it its 9 kendrid evils and I 1 said act besides being n direct in aaion of the peoples rights and in conflict with the first amendment to tho the constitution is is M ex facto therefore we your Memoria lists inspect fully ask YO your ur honorable body for tho the reasons briefly stated to repeal tho the prohibitory provisions of said act and to leave the people of this territory free to exercise then their re ii me n and its ordinances as guaranteed by tho the eon constitution ution belie believing dai that in so fao doing you yon yin will best inomoto the peace and welfare of tho the country itry and down down tho the which aio aie being made to array the inhabitants of one section against those thosa of another b because C of differences in religious belief and your in duty bound wilf will ever pray |