The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-05
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

The journal of yesterday was read and approved.
ORGANIZED TERRITORIAL BUSINESS.
On motion of Mr. LANE Of Oregon, il ordered that
the debate the bill now under consideration in the Com
mittee Of the Whole be closed fifteen minutes after the
committee shall proceed to the consideration thereof
| Mr. RICHARDSON reported, from the Committee
Territories joint resolution authorizing the accounting
officers of the treasury adjust the expenses of the board
Of commissioners appointed by government for framing the
code of for the Territory of Utah referred to the Com
mittec Of the Whole and ordered to be printed
The House then went into committee, and proceeded tMr
PHELPS in the chair to the consideration OF bills relating
TO organized Territories.
The bill to amend the net approved September 81 1852
to create the office of suryeyogenera Of the public lands
in Oregon &C. and also the act amendaory thereof APP
proved February 10 1853 first considered and after
debate amended and laid aside to be reported TO the
House
The consideration Of the bill to establish the office OF
surveyogeneral Of Utah. to grant donations to actual set
tiers therein and for other purposes, resumed.
Mr.. BERNHISEL moved to amend the bill by striking
the following proviso from the third section:
And propded, further, That the benefits of this shall
extend person who shall at time here
after, be the husband of more than one wife. e. sa
Mr. LETCIER thought it well to LEI the question of the
number Of wives alone inasmuch they had made no
restriction the officer provided for in the first clause OF
the bill The surveyor general could have half dozen
wives without any sort of restriction whilst this
clause confined the settler He asked why the
tiers should be punished while the ocehoders not only
have the benefit othe money but to have the benc
fit OF the women to boot Laughter.
Mr. DAVIS of Rhode Island, could not see that il would
be to admit Utah with their institution with regard
o
into the Union with the institution of slavery which knew
nothing of legal marriage among large class of people
giving class Of people power another class in
way that would introduce promiscuous concubnage
Mr. SMITH of Virginia, would have the gentleman from
Rhode Island TO understand that marriage sacred OBJ
served among the negroes of the South among other
people If the gentleman justified the institutions Of Nor
nonsm on such ground, he would find IT very poor
basis He hoped the proyso would not be stricken out
Mr.. COBB opposed the amendment
Mr.. LETCHER asked the gentleman from Alabama why
he voted for the first section which applied 10 the Office
holder without the restriction and yet supported the
stricton in the third section when it applied to settlers
Mr. COBB.would answer the gentleman when he came to
vote on this proyiso.
Mr. BERNHISEL said the proyiso would work inuri-
ously a considerable number of inhabitants of Utah
The wives man had the more lands he needed TO
support them
Justice all within the jurisdiction of government For
months he had listened that floor speeches against
every attempt interfere with the domestic institutions of
State Territory. lie in favor of the provision Ia
ken independent provision but he would adopt
IL and then pass any law which would permit 10 go
to Nebraska with hundred concubnes. The Mormons
treated their wives and children we'll and did not sell
either of them 10 slaye-deaer.
Mr. PHILLIPS did not rise TO reply the gentleman who
had just down. He would leave him TO his
science and the Reproduction of his constituents and il
neither of them would monitor TO him he should
undertake correct counsel him. He had risen TO
express his entire in the proposition to strike
this provision was unparalleled in the legislation Of
the country and il another step onward in the prog
of Capitalization the part Of government which
this Congress had given strong evidence OF desiring opro
mote They not only undertaking 10 regulate all the
industry of the country the education Of the country and
becoming the general amoner Of its charities but were
now undertaking TO regulate its morality. He could find
precedent for such clause and there principle
whatever upon which II could be founded
Mr.. CAMPBELL did not whether the clause
retained not but he in favor of the principle Of in
PREVENTION in the Territories.
Mr.. STEPHENS Of Georgia, in favor OF the amend
He contcuded that the clause unconstitutional
He for doing justice every people whether North
He nriuci Of As Ia
the question of having wives than any other
tenet Of any denomination Of Christians he commended that
Congress had no right TO interfere.
Mr. SMITH OF New York was in favor Of retaining the
clause He admitted that in the South the marriage tie
was extensively regarded rs sacred among slaves but
thanks the attention Of the parties themselves 10 that tie
and thanks 10 the kindness Of the masters for this;
thanks to the laws They had 20 do with the legality Of
this question in the present debate any gentleman
would prove 70 him that legal marriage could exist among
the slaves Of the South he was willing TO give up all his
opposition TO slavery.
Mr. JONES OF Tennessee mentioned an instance in which
certain slaves bad been married by Catholic priest and
he presumed that II legal marriage
Mr.. SMITH Of New York, asked whether the gentleman
himself believed that the slaves legally marredf He
nstanccd case in which slave was tried for bigamy
and acquitted the ground that man could not be con-
viced Of having two wives when he could not legally be
possessed Of lie in favor Of retaining the provs
ion on the ground that IL violating law Of Nature
for a 10 have than wife as the show
cd equality in the number Of each throughout the
Mr. DISNEY was understood to oppose the annendrnent
and defend the action Of the Committee on Public Lands
in inserting the provso He said the laws OF Utah did
expressly institute poygamy but II made all the wives and
children equally heirs TO the husbands property.
Mr.. SlMONS was in favor Of retaining the proyiso
Mr. WALSH said tho most eTectual method by which TO
prevent poygamy for every young at the earliest
opportunity, soon he support wife procure
one He believed with this single exception Of having
more wives than one the Mormons good citizens
any other people In the Union and he would adopt pre-
ept and example the most ecctual way Of preventing
The extension Of poygsmy lie trusted the bcrality Of
this House would disgrace itself by endorsing such
contemplate species Of legislation this provso.
On motion Of Mr. LANE, Of Oregon the committee rose
Mr. PHELPS reported TO the House the bill laid aside in
committee for that purpose
On motion Of Mr. LANE, Of Oregon, the debate on the
bill under consideration in Committee Of the Whole
ordered close five minutes after the committee
the consideration thereof
The House again resolved itself into committee and con-
tnued the consideration Of the Utehsurveyorgencra bill
debating various amendments 70 The pending amendment
under the fve-minutes rule.
Mr. BERNHISEL said the civil law Of Utah did not e.
tabish polygamy but II ecclesiastical law which es
tablisled that institution.
Mr. BETCHER moved amendment 70 the amend nent
making the proviso read
And prorided Further, That the benefits Of this act sh.l
not extend 10 any person.
lie was opposed entirely to the principle involved in the
bill Ert Haa
Pending the question on secoudinQ the demand for tel
lers on The notion the committee rose and the House adj
journed at quarter 10 four o'clock
According to official reports sickness must have alarm
ingy increased in Of the New England States The
city liquor agent Of Worcester Massachusetts, reports that
his average sales Of edcinen during the late month of