Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1854-07-16
From the n. Y. Commercial Aasertiser.
MarnlAniSm and its Future.

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The rise and progress of Mormouism are the
| anomaly Of the present century and with such an
origin and growth men may ask what win he its
future Ia that future this rspshlic is deeply in
terested because irreEocably connected with it,.
Utah is American territory. Marmoas are Ame-
rican citizens, for their citizenship is perfect
though they have not attained 10 State sovereignty
If, as territory Of the United States Utah has
its peculiar Institutions of polygamy, and the laws
of the Uuited States recognise it, by permitting
its continuance, will that same institution be a
just or constitutional barrier to its admission as
State? win it in any way be more objection
ahle-wil it dofnere violence to the sentiments OF
the Christian world, or be more subverse of good
morals that poygamy should be practised in
sovereign State OF this Union than in q territory
of this Government? Utah is now governed by
the laws of the United States, yet polygamy is
praetised and we have not seen any attempt to
suppress it, or any evidence that the Courts seri-
ously contemplate sneh an attempt. On the other
hand, we suspect that they are powerless for its
suppression, and we presume they viii be e9saliy
so, when Utah becomes sovereign State.
Congress can refuse admission into the Union,
for on that point it is omnipotent 1t is by con-
sent Of Congress, and Congress alone, that Utah
can become State. And suppose that body
withhold its consent on the ground of this peeu-
liar institution, what is gained The Mormons
are United States citizens nevertheless, and Utah
is an integral part of the United States territory
So that the country stands before the Christian
world with this imputation upon it, that rlurali
ty of wives is cne Of its admitted Institutions and
exists among large number Of its citizens which
is not very pleasant rejection. Nay more poly
gamists sit in Congress by their Representatives.
And further, Mormon having FIVE or fifteen wives,
being an American citizen may take his passport
from the Secretary of State, and demand protec- 4
tion for himself and family, wherever he chooses
to travel Or at least question Of that kind
might be raised in manner that would greatly
embarrass the Government, and perhaps seaRdalize
it, by compelling it either 20 protect ts citizen in
the possession Of half dozen wives, and thereby
officially recognize polygamy legal institution
of the United States, or to let that which is per-
mitted in United States territory without detri-
ment to citizenship, be bar to that protection
abroad the right to which appertains to American
citizenship.
The future of MOrmonism is fFaught with seri-
Gus difficulty, howsoeyeF We look at it. The peo-
pie protesting its doctrines and living them out in
practice, are rapidly increasing, by natural multi
plication and by immigration. The former are by
birth secured in ell the rights Of American citizen
ship. The latter can acquire them in i've years
from their arrival. The courts have no power to
refuse the necessary papers when the conditions
give title to such papers have been fulfilled. And
while the number of these people is thus rapidly
augmenting, the institution Of polygsmy Is be-
coming more ineradeallY established among Hs.--l
1t would be more difficult to suppress polygamy
now, than it was ten years ago. Ten years hence
it will be immensely more difficult, if not impoSsi
bic. And if license to live in such practice be
conceded to the people of Utah, Why not to the
people of other terrt )ries-New Mexico Oregon,
Washington, Nebraska, Kansas-which are under
the same kind of government? Or to the District
of Columbia? If poygamy is no offence, no, bar
to the rights of citizenship in one teFriteFy of the
United States, it cannot be in another. Whittier
does this anomaly tend And if it be right in
territories, why should it be wrong in States,
unless they choose to make it penal by special
enactmeut2 There is no end to these grave qaes-
tions The answers to them must be anything but
aattering to The morality and Christianity OF the
United States. BY permitting polygamy in one
territory of this government, the country is un-
queStionably laying up for itself trouble for the
future.