Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1854-12-05
Polyeamy at Salt Lake

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estng information a. published in the lf'-
bun., in regard to the plurality Of views as
practiccd at Salt Lake, together with his
experience in tho matter:
When came 10 Deseret, there were not
msnv who were in the employ ment OF more
than one wife, and many or most OF the
new Corners were opposed to it. But as
they saw how beautiful and tremendously
those families lived where there were two
or more wives, their prejudices gradually
gave way, and am ong no class was TINS
change more apparent than tn, women
At the present time. it vote were taken
upon the subject, venture to -sy that
nine out of every ten women who nave ny
cd here tw o years, would sustain our present
social system in this particular. They are
more for II than the men, for upon many OF
the latter it entails heavy burdens,-though
the truth ID, our wives in Desaret make no
pretensions to being fine lsdies, their hlgh-
est ambition being to help their husbands
and their poor brothers and sisters in the
Lords Church There are very lew me
here who have more than five wives, and
large part have but one, while some have
none. For myself, have TIRES. Sarah
A mn. your cousin, whom | married in YORK
State, has the largest share ofmy aiie etions
and takes precedence in the management
of the household. Two " "a ago mar
ried Miss s. fsrmerly of Ohio, and she has
charge OF the education Of the children and
attending to the clothing. My other, which
I took three months ago, is from near Ham
burg, Germany. She is4arser than either
Sarah Ann or Elizabeth, (the name OF my
second wife,) and, say it without lnYldiou-
mes. or propriety, is decidedly hanlsome.--
Her per,on is Of good size, very round, full
chest, bright flaxen hair. and sof blue eye
She enters into the duties Of her new stua-
ton with wonderful alacrity and is very
happy, as are also Sarah Ann and Ejizabetl :.
There is none OF that jealousy,-that DIS
position to tear ont each others hair-which
you have probably imagined would show
itself in such cases. We are all looking
forward te the time when we shall be to-
rether constantly in our little Eden, where
We can work for each other, and raise our
children in 1.-The fear and sdmonition ofthe
Lord" You may be surprised at this, but
YOU will be still more so, when assure you
that all OF my present wives are
anxious that should get another, -one
" no is fitted by education, and phys caiiy
adapted, to take charge of the business or
the dairy. With such an arrangement OF
nv household, every department Of well
organized establishment, on patriarchai |
scale, would have head To it, and be gov
.rned in order | have no inclination 10 /
comply on my own account, as | am well
satisfied with those | now have, but if |
should do so, i, will be entirely out OF re-
t~rd fo- them
Nv daughter. Louisa, is engaged to be
married TO man from Pennsylvania, who
,ss already wife and three children. II
lid not entirely meet my appreciation, but
did no, interpose single objection, 50 long
10 she was satisfied, and the marriage |
W ould be in high degree honorable to
her. as well as advantageous in worldly |
rev
Now, my dear sir, you will say, what is
to come OF all this. Let me tell you what
has come of it, In Deseret, there are no
libertnes, with their paramours, no houses
Of prostitution. no cases OF seduction, o.
those which disturb the peace OF families
in the States, under your laws. Here
every women can have what God intend
ed she should, "a husband, and every man
that wants to, may have wife. And the
woman that is the wife Of man who has
one or more other wives, is.more fortunate
than if she were the only one, for in case
of plurality the duties of the house are dvi
ded The children here are pretty numer-
Gus. must admit. but this should and does
contribute to the happiness of the true fol-
lowers Of the Lord, from whom we have
learned that our du y is to multiply and re-
plenish. But, mark this, there are 10 ille-
Ultimate children in Deseret, no children
Of shame who are ashamed of their moth
ere, and disgrace to any but the lowest
society.
shall not enter into an argument to at
tempt to convince you that your sentiments
in regard to the marriage relation are the
result Of education and are wrong. | wish
you could live here year or two, howev-
err, and | have not doubt your acts
would show you had changed your opin-
iona.