Show application FOR AMNESTY IN iff the course of the proceedings lings elings before the senate committees committe ee on saturday in reference to the home rule bin judge judd spoke of a petition for general amnesty signed by thi the leaders of the mormon church and endorsed by governor Govert for thomas chief justice zatie zane judges miner blackburn Blaek burn and anderson four member of the utah commission and C C goodwin editor of the salt bait lake mention was moade made of this endorsement evidently for the purpose of showing owing the folly and inconsistency dahe statements said to bw be made by oar IMMS of these persons that polygamy is kill AM practiced in utah of course by g their names to the document ac OMpa nying the petition they virtually adaist the truth of the statements set forth in the latter here is the ful text of the petition petit iOD SALT LAKE dec wr the first presidency and apostles of the church of jesus christ or latter day saints sainta beg respectfully ta represent present to your excellency the fO following Howing facts we formerly taught to our people that polygamy oi 01 celestial marriage commanded as se by god through joseph smith was right that it was a feces ky aty to man mans Is highest exaltation in the life to come J that doctrine was publicly primul W by our president the late brig hatm young forty years ago and was beadily taught and impressed up on oa the latter day saints up to a att short abort time before september 1690 our people are devout and sincere P and they accepted the doctrine aud and many personally embraced and practiced polygamy when the government sought to tamp stamp the practice out our people almost without exception remained firm aim for far they while having no desire the government in anything still felt that their lives and their honor boner as men were pledged to a vindication of their faith and that their duty towards those whose lives were it a part of their own was a par ar uno untone one to fulfill which they had bad 0 o right to count anything not even their own lives as standing 4 in the wy way following this conviction hundreds eri endured dured arrest trial fine slid ad Jm imprisonment and the immeasurable 0 buffering borne by the faithful M people no language can describe suffering uffer irig in abated form still more the government added dis to its other punishments Vo h a who clung to their faith and umi edits its covenants according to our faith the bead of taw church receives from time to time revelations for the religious guidance of his hie people in september 1890 the present head bead of the church in anguish and prayer pra yer cried to god for help for his flock kand 9 and received the to advise the members of the church of jesus jesue christ of latteau Lat latter teay day saints that the law commanding polygamy Y was henceforth suspended at the great semi semiannual anual conference fe gren ce which was waa held a few days later this was submitted to the people numbering many thousands and representing every community of the people in utah and was by them in the most solemn manner accepted as 88 the future rule of their lives they have since been faithful to toe the covenant made that day I 1 at the late october conference after a year had passed by the matter was once more submitted to the thousands of people gathered together and they again in the most potential manner rati ratified fled the solemn covenant venant this being the true situation and believing that the object of the government was simply the vindication of its own authority and to compel obedience to its laws and that it takes taken no pleasure in persecution we respectfully pray that full amnesty may be extended to all who are under disabilities because of the operation of the so called edmunds and edmunds tucker laws our aj people are scattered homes sire are made desolate many are still imprisoned others are aie banished or in hiding biding our hearts bleed for these inthe in the past they followed our counsels and while they are thus afflicted our souls are in sackcloth and ashes there are nowhere in the union a more loyal people than the latter day saints they know into HO other country except this they expect to live and die on this soil when the men of the south who were in rebellion against the government in 1866 1865 threw down don their arms I 1 and nd asked for recognition along the old lines linea or of citizenship the government hastened to grant their prayer to beat be at peace with the government and in harmony with their fellow citizens who are not of their faith and to share in the confidence or of the govern ment and people our people have voluntarily u unta rily put aside something which all their lives they have believed to be a sacred principle have they not the right to ask for such cleme clemency nev as comes when the claims of botti both law and justice have been fully liquidated As shepherds of a patient and suffering people we ask amnesty for them and pledge our faith and honor bonor fr their future and your petitioners petition ers will ever pray p WILFORD WOODRUFF GEORGE Q CANNON JOSEPH P F SMITH LORENZO SNOW D RICHARDS MOSES FRANCIS M LYMAN H J GRANT JOHN HEN HENRY BY SMITH JOHN W TAYLOR M W MERRI LL ANTHON A beithon H LUND ABRAHAM H CANNON this was wag accompanied by the annexed generous endorsement and recommendation ommen dation SALT LAKE laic CITY utah december 21 1891 to the president we have the honor to forward herewith petit losk oBi signed by the Pres president idetA and most moat influential fluent ial members of the mormon church we have no doubt of ltd 1 sin eln eerily and no doubt that it is tendered tena ered in absolute good faith the signers 1 I include some who were most determined in adhering to their rellious faith while polygamy either mandatory or permissive was waa one of its ita tenets el and they are men who would not lightly pledge their faith and honor to the government or subscribe to such a document without having fully resolved solved to make their words good in letter and spirit we warmly recommend a favorable consideration of this petition and if your excellency shall find it consistent with your public duties to grant the relief asked we believe it would be graciously received by the mormon people and tend to evince to them what has always been asserted that the government is beneficent in its intentions only asks obedience to its awe and desires all law abiding citizens to enjoy all the benefits annd privileges of citizenship we think it will be better for the future if the mormon people should now receive this mark of cona confidence dence As to the form and scope of a reprieve or pardon granted in the exercise of your constitutional prerogative we make no suggestions you and your law advisers will best know knowl how kow to grant what you may think should be granted weare we are very respectfully ARTHUR L vS governor of utah CHARLES S ZANE chief justice of utah territory the further endorsements were added subsequently and were made in the same generous spirit that prompted the governor and chief justice we believe the gentlemen who appended their signatures desired to see an end put to the difference which has bas existed between the government and the mormon 2 people and believed that a general amnesty would not only effect this but cement the closer relations I 1 that hat have recently been made between them tend to create a better feeling in the country towards utah and seive serve to prepare the way for statehood in due time it is is stated that the president felt disposed to do all all that chat he could in the way desired but was in some doubt as to his powers in alke premises the edmunds act provides for amnesty on such terms as the president shall prescribe for offenses committed deore the passage of that law jaw and some queries que ries arose as to his authority in regard to overt acts committed al since nee its passage but the powers of the president in this respect are independent of any law of congress SO as they afe are derived from the constitution itself he shall have bave power pow er to grant I 1 I 1 reprieves and pardons for offenses against the be united states except in cases cages of impeachment peach ment P U 8 con see bee 2 p 1 we belleve believe this matter has been decided by the highest judicial authority in the nation and that the president to is declared to have authority to pardon offenses at any stage of proceedings the offender and the only exception to this power is in caws cases of impeachment J anything that will bring utah into proper harmony with the rest ol of the nation should be promoted and encouraged co cou raged it is believed that a general amnesty would materially assist in this desirable object therefore tire operation cooperation co of all true friends of the people of ails territory may be in this instance expected and we would be sorry to see anything occur which would question the motives or throw doubt upon the sincerity of any gentle mau who lias b as given his aid to this important movement |