The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1854-05-18
Congressmen's Opinions on Matrimony
and Colored People X

consideration to donate lands to Mormon
don and Utah generally--160 acres to
each white male, DC. The following, al
though brief extracts, will payfor the
reading: ii @
Mr.. Bernheisel, the Delegate in Con-
gress from Utah, moved to strike out the
following proviso: ''That the benefits of
this act shall not be extended to any per-
son who shall now, or at any time here
AFTER be the husband of more than one
wife"
Mr.. Haven, of New York, hoped the
amendment would prevail. He did not
desire, by any legislation, to recognize,
any such imputation as that.
The debate then proceeded at random.
We can only give some of the most spicy
portions Of it,: ala
Mr.. Cobb, of Ala, desired to PROFOUND
question to the delegate from Utah.
Did the gentleman think that this proviso
would impose a hardship on any consid-
cradle number Of people residing in the
Territory? He believed it was a whole
some provision, that no man could have
more than one wife at one time.
Mr., Bernheisel replied, it would oper-
ate on considerable number Of the peo-
plo of Utah. The more wives man has
the more land he requires to support
them. Laughter.
Mr.. Davis, Of r. l., saw no morality in
making the distinction in the proviso, as
the word white had been inserted in the
bill, TINS legislating against the colored
man. He would as soon that Utah, with
its polygamy, would come into the Union
as that slave State should be admitted.
Mr.. Smith, of Va, said i surprised
him TO hear a gentleman who was never
in slave State, discoursing er cothedro,
the character of the institution of slave
ry. The gentleman spoke as though
common and inpiscriminate sexual inter-
course exists. He would have the mem
ber know the tie of marriage is, in many
respects, and to greater extent, as sa-
credly observed among the negroes of the
South as among the people from whom
the member comes.
Mr.. Gerritt Smith, (abolitionist) of n
York, said that if he could believe that
marriage is sacredly and legally regarded
among the slaves of the South, he would,
in advance, give up all his opposition to
slavery.
Mr.. Jones, of Tenn, remarked that
few years ago he was speaking in this city
to gentleman about buying slaves, and
was informed by him that his negroes
were married by "a Catholic priest, and he
would not sell them unless. the priest
would accompany him. He supposed the
gentleman from New York would consid-
er that legal marriage. He Jones had
seen slaves married.
Mr. Smith rcsumed-There was a case
reported in Maryland. The slave was
acquitted of bigany on the ground that he
had no legal right to marry, even once
He had the sole legitimate Office Of civil
government isto protect persons and prop
erty. Polygamy is an essential part of
the Mormon religion, and is Of extensive
usage in Utah. 1t is not competent for
civil government to invade directly the re-
ligion Of any subject. That religion may
however, be indirectly affected by legis-
lation, and that legislation not blamewor
thy but the question was, whether poly
gamy does not affect natural rights? The
right of woman to one husband, and
husband to one wife, is great sacred
right which government may not soinvade.
He held to the wisdom of the maker in
this particular The good book says
"God made them male and female" not
female and male. But to those who do
not subscribe to Divine authority, he would
point to the census of the world, which
shows there is equally one man for every
woman. We must, therefore, condemn
bigamy.
Mr. Mike Walsh, of n Y, said ayoung
man who could support wife should get
one. Some gentlemen on this floor re-
minded him of hurdy gurdy set to a
single tune There was not solitary
question brought up but they heard a
drivelng sermon on abolition. He was
in favor of striking out the proviso. There
could be no propriety at this time, when
they saw that territory filing up with an
industrious population, to create a feeling
which would ALLEVIATE them from the re-
public. The history of these people, is
one of outrage, wrong and oppression,
and now they have removed from the
limits of narrow bigotry, they, with sim
gle exception, are as good citizens and
as faithful to the constitution as citizens of
any of the States. Time, example, and
good precept will do more for them than
law. In less than a dozen years, the
Mormons will be the most powerful sect