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Show MORMON MARRIAGE. Editors Herald: An inquiring mind might with propriety pro-priety ask:. What tho congress of the United Stated of America had to do with the social relations of Mr. Cannon any more than with tho domestic do-mestic relations of any other member of congros-i ? If this gentleman has been "sealed" to four wives according to the custom of murringu among the Mormoni, and haa not been marrUd to one according ac-cording to the laws of the United States, be certainly has committed no bin against the laws of his country unless thoso laws enjorvd marriage. In that c:ise wo huvu another community com-munity on our uands the Shakers. Could tho Mormons and Shakers he . induced to join interests they might stiike tho happy medium. Social relations among tho Mormons Mor-mons is purely a community idea of the relation of tho sext, with which the laws ol tho United States have had nothing to do, any moro than with the social rotations or ' the Shakers, or the eommunity of Father Noyes in Now York stile; and how-ovei how-ovei congress may legislate fur the future of those ruUttou among the Mormons, the past cannot certainly be improved by any interference whatever, and it would seem to be beneath the dignity of uur .oongreas to enact laws to tho injury of a fow thousand people. Polygamy amung the Mormons is certainly a part of their religion, and thoy take the old testament for its foundation. This people went beyond the limit of the laws of the United Stutos, into Mexican territory, that they might be unmolested in their religious rites, and for many years after Utah came under United States government, congress left her entirely to the ecclesiastical ec-clesiastical control of Brigham Young, knowiug that ho was advocating the practice of polygamy by precept and example. Now, alter more than a quarter of a Century has passed families formed', and thousands of children born in polygamic wedlock it will not do to say their tamilieB must be broken up, causing heart- rending and groat suffering. Tho hearts of the children cling to their fathers, and the hearts of the fathers turn to their children. Tho highest law these children have known anything any-thing about has been tho law of love and kindness. The Mormons have boon an isolated isolat-ed community, and when they were a thousand miles from civilization it matterol littio to the world at largo what wero the peculiar ideas of this insignificant sect. Now that the railroad rail-road unites them to the outside world a change must come, but let it come through enlightenment, and not coercion. The sons and daughters of Mormon parents are now coming out into i "the world;" some are attending our I seminaries aud coUeires. What will bo the result of liberal education ' . There will bo no need of special legislation on the subject of polygamy poly-gamy for the rising generation. Re-movo Re-movo from these, young minds the belief that God has called them to throw themselves under the wheels of this moral juggernaut, and polygamy ht's its death blow from within, Irom , whence lasting reforms must always 1 proceed. Polygamy is sincerely believed to ba by the Mormons, a "divine revelation" revela-tion" to them, and it is not practised from licentious motives as many believe. be-lieve. If we reason one moment upon this subject we are convinced that licentiousness does not take the form of responsibility it Btrives in evory way to ignore it. The Mormon man assumes the responsiDility of wiveB and children for tho 'lory of God," to "build up his kingdom." However this extravagant idea may bo viewed by tho intelligent world, to the Mormon Mor-mon it is a truth, for which men and women both, have sacrificed happiness, happi-ness, and even life itselt. They do not oven pretend to say that this state of matrimony is productive of conjugal conju-gal bliss, but on the contrary, only 03 "serving God" brings happiness. If the rising generation among the Mormons are fairly treated, they will as surely come into conformity with tho prevailing ideas of enlightened Americans upon the subject of polygamy, poly-gamy, as will the sun of brightness rise after the night of darkness. But any interference with tho conditions under which these children wero born will be calculated to arouse bitterness and hostility in their hearts. They at least aro innocent. Then let them receive the full benefit of theciemency which their country is able to bestow; and instead of rudely separating families fam-ilies by coercion, let it be optional with them whether thoy remain in ; polygamy or not, and as the laws of : the United States aro not cmbodiod in tho "covenant" of Mormon marriage, it must be regarded as an outside issue, with which congress has had nothing to do in the past. Ifitistrue that Mr. Cannon has formed four polygamic unions, and not one marriage in which polygamy was not a Dart of the contract, what law has he transcended? The laws of the United States may pronounce Mr. C. unmarried, (as did the courts of England in a similar case, where a man had beon only "sealed" to his Mormon wife), but the law of his own conscience pronounces him "vory much married," as Artcmus Ward would say. Then viewing this case as a matter of conscience only, Mr. Cannon is eligible to the oQice ot delegate according to the laws of tho United States, which do not deal with men'B consciences officially. AN lN(iUlHKIt. We publish the above letter because be-cause we believo that the writer is honest in the convictions eiprtssed, but we must not bo considered as coinciding with or fully endorsing all the views therein expressed. Editors Herald. |