Show I 1 A MEASURE THAT IS AMUSING AND AMAZING ZING WE vve have re received the full text of the bill reported Senator bv by Hoar January 1884 from the committee on the judiciary a synopsis of which with comments we ve gave to our readers a few days ago 0 there is nothing more in the bill than what appeared in the synopsis except words that add no f urther further meaning unless it be in section 15 which not only annuls all laws of the utah Led legislature C slature I 1 creating organizing gan izing amending or continuing the emigrating fund company but provides that it shall not be lawful for the legislative assembly of the 1 territory of utah to create organize or in any manner recognize a any corporation po ration or association for the purpose of or operating to accomplish the bringing of persons into the said territory f for or any purpose whatever this is very funny the encouragement of immigration in sparsely settled regions has been part of th the e pol poi policy of the UnIted States from the be beginning g inning and organizations to promote and assist in filling up the empty spaces with working peo people lc have received legislative tilon tylon isla tive sanc sane sanction and encouragement in all the new states and territories orles ories there is toom yoom enough yet in utah for thousands of famil families legi lesi who if brought here in not too great num barsat bers at once could make homes and achieve independence in a very few years tears but it appears that a committee of grave and sober senators have decided that people shall not be brought into this territory for any purpose an organization or company receiving recognition from the law what they expect to accomplish by this is not very clear but we suppose they imagine it will cripple cripp lesuI trl tte the work of the gathering by the church of jesus christ of latter day saints and this makes us smile while we vve marvel at the stupidity of the originators and supporters of so absurd a measure 8 irwill it will be observed that this provision runs directly counter to the official of his excellency ell eli H murray formerly of kentucky and now governor of utah he wants a bureau of immigration entirely free from ecclesiastical control a and under the supervision of an officer or board of the territorial government 2 of course there could be no oba objection action to this or to the organization of any finy number of societies to encourage immigration but they ought not to interfere with the rights and properties of f a company already organized and incorporated any more thau it should e with them senator hoar and nd governor murray do not se seem em to see ce alike on this question the proposition to take the property and assets of a private company and invest it in the secretary of the interior hite to be disposed of by the president of the united states no matter for what purpose is amazing when it is considered that it emanates from a body of experienced legislators it has more the appearance of a piece of legislation from a lunatic asyl asylum umi uTi we have a number of corporations organized under the laws of the territory for mining manufacturing banking ra railroad broad educational lonal ional charitable anil ancl ducat at other h cr purposes congress lias has just as much night right I 1 t to I 1 vass pass ass a law to dissolve el ither elther or li ii all ali 11 of them settle up their accounts nud anid I 1 invest aves tahe the assets when the debts are paid in some government officer as it has to adothis do this with the perpetual emigrating fund company organized as stated in the act of in incorporation co ration to promote facilitate and nd accomplish the emigration of the I 1 poor just as imbecile is the attempt in section 12 to place the property business affairs and operations of tile tiie corporation po ration oration known as the church of jesus arist christ of latter day saints in the hands of fourteen trustees appointed by the president and senate of the united states it would L puzzle puzzie a philadelphia lawyer to show what right or power the government has to take possession or control of the property of of any church in the country most of the papers which have commented on this part of the bill have acknowledged its unconstitutionality showing that tilia it is a livy law respecting an establishment of religion but the boston herald says it purposes to make the powerful oligarchy known to the law as the corporation po ration of the mormon church subordinate ord binate to its creator and master the government of the united states this is the first time that we have heard of a sane person or journal claiming that the government of the united states is the creator and master of a church vve vre were under the impression that this was something thin that the government had bad no bothin thing to do with also that congress was expressly forbidden by the constitution to interi interfere ere in anyway any way wax with reli glon elon on or its free exercise perhaps the B oston boston herald can enlighten us as to the time and the manner in which the government created the mormon church asforis As for us we ve aei aci acknowledge knowledge now ledge no creator of our church but the almighty mie mia lity through his servant joseph smith and the people composing its membership jesus christ revealed how and when it should be organized and his people obeyed the divine directions ions its creation was from above its earthly regulation and management are and have geen teen been within itself independent of any secular government or authority As a church it acknowledges no master but the lord its individual members in their capacity of citizens owe allegiance to the local and general governments in any country where they reside but as a church organization they are arc governed by church rules and recognize no secular right to regulate their creed control their worship or interfere with their funds in this matter they occupy similar round to that of any other religious E adv the state slate has nothing to do with purely ecclesiastical affairs property whether personal or real vested in a religious organization belongs to it just the same as if it were an individual congress has no more right to touch it or appoint trustees to manage it than to seize and control the property of a banking institution a p railroad corporation or ora a private person As members of the church of jesus christ of latler latter day saints we have t the 11 rl night hight 1 to manage our own ecclesiastical af affairs fairfi and we are of the opinion that anyone who is not a member ber of that church will find considerable difficulty in attempting interference e w with ith our church property ro perty we h have alve no fear that so absurd a measure will become a law but we refer to it in amazement as well as amusement feeling astonished aston ishad that any man moan occupying the exalted position of a senator benator of the united states could seriously recommend such rubbish to be made into law boutwe but we suppose that we should be prepared for anything when the mormon question is handled by its opponents for it seems to paralyze their sense and judgment and we ought to bear in mind the prediction of isaiah concerning conc ernina the effect on the world of this moar marvelous roar work and a wonder that god has commenced to perform the wisdom of their wise men shall perish and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid |