Show FULL AXD COMPLETE AMXDSTY Governor West has performed a self imposed task which does him credit and which will bring him honor and renown Realizing the impotency of the Harrison sham called an amnesty he studied out a plan to obtain something some-thing substantial and complete which would cover the ground left exposed by the pretended pardon of January I 4 1893 and open the way for a large number of citizens otherwise debarred from the franchise to register and vote at the next election Obtaining the support and endorsement of the Secretary Secre-tary and the Judges he left quietly for Washington after obtaining the proper leave of absence interviewed S < retary Carlisle and other prominent members I of the Administration and with their help was able to lay the matter before the President in such a manner as to meet with his cordial approbation The Governor went to Gray Gables and succeeded In acompliihng the object of his visit President Cleveland Cleve-land has granted full ant complete amnesty to Mormons who have been under disabilities fl > r io lations of the acts of 1SC2 1882 and 1887 in reference to polygamous practices prac-tices Of course he could not annul or repeal a law but he has exercised to the fullest lawful extent the powers of amnesty and pardon vested in him by the Edmunds act of 1882 Observe the difference in the lcng detained amnesty with a string to it issued by President Harrison after the urgent and humble appeal by the Presidency Pres-idency and Apostles of the Mormon church and the immediate act of President Presi-dent Cleveland on the request of the Governor of Utah This was Harri sons small and niggardly response Now therefore I Benjamin Harrison Harri-son President of the United States by virtue of the power in me vested do hereby declare and grant full amnesty and pardon to all persons liable to the penalties of said act by reason of Unlawful un-lawful cohabitation under the color of polygamous or plural marriage who since November 1 1890 abstained from such cohabitation but upon the ex pre a condition that they shall in the future faithfully obey the laws of the United States hereinbefore named and not otherwise Those who shall fail to i avail themselves of the clemency here i by offered will be vigorously prosecuted prosecut-ed Following is President Clevelands magnanimous and broad measure of relief re-lief covering all that could be condoned con-doned I Now therefore I Grover Cleveland President of the United States by virtue vir-tue of the power in me vested do hereby declare and grant a full amnesty am-nesty and pardon to all persons who have in violation of said acts anti polygamy laws of 1862 1882 1887 committed com-mitted either of the offenses of polygamy polyg-amy bigamy adultery or unlawful cohabitation under the color of polygamous polyga-mous or plural marriage or who haying hay-ing been convicted of the violation of said acts are now suffering deprivation of civil rights in consequence of the same excepting all persons who have not complied with the condition contained con-tained in said executive proclamation of January 4 1893 On receiving word of this executive action the Utah Commission expunged from the > registration oath everything that would hinder persons who had formerly abstained from taking it because be-cause of conscientious scruples The oath now stands the same to all citizens citi-zens of the territory irrespective of former conditions and whether they have been convicted or not of the offenses of-fenses named in the amnesty Persons who have been guilty of violating tho laws since the date cf Harrisons amnesty am-nesty are the only exceptions Every lawful facility will be afforded to all citizens to register For this great boon the people I have occasion to feel grateful to President Grover Cleveland and Governor Caleb W West with all those broadminded i gentlemen in office who have aided in obtaining this complete amnesty It shows how the Administration feels towards the people of Utah and the confidence reposed in their sincerity and integrity It is a magnificent gift and forms a fitting crown on the head of the great body of benefits bestowed be-stowed on this territory during the short time in which the Democratic party has been in national power |