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Show ANTI-MORMON LEGISLATION. The anti-"Mormon" feeling in Washington is, apparently, intense, and there be every indication that Congress will, at the present session, adopt the Edmund's bill, or some other measure of a despotic and unrepublican nature, designed to destroy the rights and liberties of the people of Utah. Members are looking to the most corrupt and mendacious sources for information that will justify such legislation as indicated in the following dispatch: NEW YORK, 15 Feb. - The Graphic's Washington correspondent says: The full text of the anti-polygamy bill, passed by the Senate, seems to meet the approval of those best acquainted with the wants of Utah. Campbell says it is satisfactory as far as it goes. Judge McBride, Campbell's counsel in the contested case, states, this morning, it is not all we want, but it is a decided step in advance, and will undoubtedly be followed by further legislation. It is understood that Senator Edmunds has asked Campbell and McBride to indicate such of the existing Mormon laws of Utah as they deem should be repealed by Congress, and to suggest what further legislation is needed in order to put the government of the territory on a civilized basis. The judiciary committee of the House, is following faithfully in the wake of the like committee of the Senate on the Utah question, and is giving the matter the greatest attention. They, yesterday, gave an extended hearing to Z. H. Gurley and E. L. Kelly, representatives of the Josephites, or anti-polygamists. They strongly contended that polygamy was a crime and not a religion, and that it was condemned by the Book of Mormon itself. They concluded their argument in these words: "In dealing with the question or passage of laws by which polygamy shall be extirpated and priestly dominance and power be subjected to the laws of the land, we see no right of religious worship interfered with, but simply the prohibition of corrupt and evil practices, and we, in conclusion, submit that where such things are tolerated there can be no true homes, and there can be no true government." By request of the committee, McBride followed with a lucid? statement of the evils of the existing laws in Utah, and in an argument in favor of the adoption of the bill, to create a legislative council as the only thorough remedy. |