Washington sentinel., 1854-05-05

with the domestic institutions of any Territory
lie did not understand the moving from right 10
left at the command OF some drll-sergeant. He
was in favor of the provision taken as an indepen-
dent proposition but would never consent for
slave Territory TO form their institutions they
please, while the people of Utah 10 be excluded
from similar privilege. When Mormon marries
he does il openly, and poygamy is considcredaw-
ful. He does not sell his wife or children. The
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. SMTH) said that
negroes enter into the marriage State in the south
but the man who made this declaration would sell
his slave tomorrow, or do worse. There were
no laws in the south protect slave families from
the outrages of a brutal master.
Mr.. PHILLIPS said he did not rise to reply TO
the gentleman from Ohio, for he could not; nor
could any man who knows what is due to himself
or 10 the Responsibility of the House. trust himself
10 reply TO such language as has fallen from the
genteman's lips He rose for the purpose OF ex-
pressing his entire concurrence IN the motion TO
strike out the proviso which has no paralelln the
legislation of the country. II was another step
towards the centralzation of this government of
which this Congress has gwen some strong evl-
dences We are not only undertaking 10 regulate
the industry of the country, and 10 become general
,almoners, but TO regulate its morality Congress
has nothing whatever 10 do with this matter.
Mr. CAMPBELL, in reply TO the gentleman,
said he believed Congress has right 10 intervene
in the regulation ofeverything that pertains to the
.i in the Territories. He believed that every State
has made it high moral offence for a man 10 have
more than one wife, 1t is made by law penal
offence and he conceived Congress has a right TO
interpose proviso of this kind
Mr. STEPHENS, Of Georgia, was opposed to
the doctrine advanced by the gentleman that Con-
gress has a right to interfere in this matter. The
Constitution has guarded that point, and contains
no power TO legslate on the subject of religion or
morals He would grant lands 10 Utah as he
10 9TH Terri iSr mna-
tons as TO the character or the sentiments of the
settlers. Let those who are guilty of crimes be
amenable to the laws Of the country in which they
reside.
MI. GERRIT SMITH said that if he could be-
lieve that marriageis sacredly regarded among the
slaves of the SOUTH he would at once forego all
opposition to slavery.
Mr.. JONES, Of Tennessee, remarked that few
wears ago he was speaking about buying some
slaves TO gentleman, who said that his negroes
were married by Catholic priest, and that he
would not sell them unless the priest should ac-
company them He supposed the gentleman con-
sdered that legal marriage. lie (Mr JONES' had
himself seen slaves married.
Mr. SMITH resumed, saying that there was re-
ported, in Maryland case OF slave arraigned
for bigamy, and he was acquitted on the ground
that he could not be convicted, because he had
had no authority TO marry once. Polygamy is an
essential part Of the Mormon religion. II is not
competent for civil government tointerfere direct
lywith the religion OF a subject. The religion. how
ever may be incidentally affected by Legislation and
that legislation not blameworthy. Bat the question
Is whether polygamy does not affect natural rights
The right Of wife to one husband, and husband
10 one wife, is a great and sacred right which
government may not invade There Is, by the
mercy Of God one woman for every man, and one
man for every woman. :" God made them, male
and female . not females and male, not males and
female. But To those who do not subscribe 10 the
divine authority he would point TO the census all
over the world, 10 show that the number Of the
sexes is equal. While maintaining the natural
rights of its subjects, the government must con-
denim polygamy.
MI. DISNEY said the bill as originally submitted
10 the Committee on Public Lands did not contain
the proviso which il was now proposed TO strike
out. II was inserted during his absence. Poly
ramy is local instu ution in Utah. He held in his
hand book Of statutes of that Territory, which
expressly allows il but at the same time they
condemn incontnence.
Mr. SIMMONS was in favor of retaining the
proviso, considering that polygamy was most de.
grading in its effects and, besides, it looked bad
for Congress 10 increase the evils Of practice al
war with republican institutions.
Mr.. MILLSON was unwilling that the statutes
Of this confederacy shall contain Inc admission
anywhere that there is an institution which allows
a man more than one WIFE The proviso in the
bill is confession of weakness in this Congress.
How can man be the legal husband OF more than
one wife, We have, he said, reserved TO our
selves the right to revise the laws OF the Ierrto
ries, and all their acts disapproved by us are an
nulled They cannot exist without the consent OF
Congress Until the law is sanctioned, no man
has right in that Territory to have more thanone
wife.
Mr.. PARKER perfectly agreed with the gentle
man, but he was for retaining the proviso for the
purpose of discouraging polygamy
Mr.. BENSON called attention to the law or
ganizng the Territory Of Utah, and argued against
striking ont the proviso.
Mr. WALSH was in favor of striking it out
thinking that time, example, and good precepts
would in time do more than law in terminating
bigamy in that Territory.
Mr.. KERR. / was in favor of striking out, re-
garding the bigamy as henous
Mr. GOODRICH wanted to retain the proviso.
wishing TO reach the bigamists by this means il
they are not beyond the moral reach Of this gov
ernment.
Mr. TAYLOR, of Tennessee, offered an amend
ment, making the prohibition apply 10 man who
has two wives and gave his reasons for being OPP
posed 10 striking out the proviso.
Messrs. READY, KEITT, SEWARD, WALK
BRIDGE, LYON, COBB, HUGHES, WASH
BURN of Maine, LETCHER, DISNEY, and
others participated in the debate, during which
Mr.. BERNHISEL said there is no statute in
Utah on the subject Of polygamy. 1t is an eccle-
siastcal institution there.
Without concluding the subject, the committee
rose,
And the House adjourned.