The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-08
our washington Correspondence.

WASHINGTON, May D, lo3a
The Feo ne Public lands and he Land-Jocoers-me
House and the Qa stion Of Polyg1my among ,he Nor
psons-Duty Of Congress-Vsit Of the President to Ar
Iiagton House, dc.
1t is expected that debate win be opened Monday
in the Senate which win probably for week two,
comprehending thorough discussion Of the policy OF
the government and the principles ana powers OF the
constitution concerning the public lands And 4 i =
not clearly exhibited before this discussion Is over that
the arguments of the President against the lunatcs VI"
apply with redoubled force against the railroad and
jobbers, then there bockheads IN the senate
than the people have generally supposed no aouot 'he
President himself viii be very considerably enlightened
as to the nice determinations bewxt tweeale DUN and
tweede dee upon the strict application Of the eonst
tuition to the land bills all sorts before the two houses
Tho Uousa Of Representatives day. upon the bill
ronosing TO grant pre- empton rights to the Mormons
Of Utah came dead halt upon the question of poly
camy The very idea Of granting emption of tho
public domains TO with thirty forty wives In
Ttah territory, when in every State in the Union the
possession OF two wives at the same time is penen
tiary offence more than the young bachelors
old widowers and married men OF the house
with wife, were prepared to allow. But they
finally hit upon n compromise, which that the
bill be rejected; and upon this agreement the
discussion was suspended This sort Of thing, however
cannot cure the evil. Poygamy is a crime and a very
beasty at that. 1t exists among the Mormons in all
its patrarchal simplicity; and the most respected and
harem, and the greatest variety and number OF
children Such the ecclesiastical institution Of poygamy
among the Mormons They reproach to country,
and stigma which even the most corrupt nations Of
Europe would not tolerate for day The Turks them
sell better Christians than our Mormon fellow c
zens Of Utah living under enlightened ttutons and
surrounded by all the influences of wholesome laws and
examples for while the Turk at this day has rarely
han wife, the Mormon has seldom less THAI from
hrce TO twenty, according 10 his Of supporting
hem. Mr. Bernhise, the Mormon delegate in Congress,
amiabe AMI pleasant elderly gem leman, Is said to
aya at least tlraa ~ ives "
AXE though he livos i Washington tho life OF the most
ess no doubt to get at ths.thng Of polygamy in the
erritories. aud If the territorial people are
supreme, The aormons are beyond the reach Of
may decline to come in as state into the Union, they
may come in upon their terms. They may even
adopt the worship Of the ancient inhabitants OF the isle
of Cyprus which included the most public and repulsye
celebrations in honor of Venus and HGchus; they may
add to this the human sacrifices Of the Aztecs and Con
gress cannot touch them such are the liberties and
privileges involved in Gen Casss doctrines of squater
soveregnty.n
On the other hand il Congress is the supreme autho
ry the territories many sensible people believe
then this crime OF polyg my among the Mormons may
be reached by Congress and this question we hope viii
be settled during the present session Some few southern
men, we hear disposed to be leneut toward these
latter day Saints, because they have recognized Afr
slavery among them; but tls ia sorry sight,
The constitutional rights of the South require such
despicabe bolsteting up this II is the duty Of Con-
grcss 10 decide thequeson, whether polygamy in the
territories, or is not beyond the reach of Congress
sonal jurisdiction. Mormondom is getting to be quite
too much of nuisance at home and too much OF blot
upon country's character abroad to be tolerated
longer, If II can be reached by act of Congress Let
have the question decided Mt all events whether squat
ter sovereignty" does does not comprehend the prv
leges of all the crimes denou- ced in the decaoYue ii the
soyeTe territorial people choose to indulge in them
The President paid visit day that respected and
venerable scion of the Washington family George Wash
ington Park Custis at the Arlington House his heredi-
tary seat the Potomac from this city General
Pierce was much interested in the many interesting
relics which the old mansion contains Of the Washing
ton family but most Of all in the old gentleman himself
who is as familiar with the domestic life Of WASHINGTON
ard the history Of the Revolution with the of
yesterday
The Senate excessively fat to-day, that body
having been engaged upon private bills. CALEB.