Washington sentinel., 1854-05-06
House of Representatives.

Mr.. VALLEY presented the resolutions Of the
Legislature OF Massachusetts, asking Congress TO
establish floating schools in the various harbors Of
the country for the education of seamen for the
navy Referred 10 the Committee on Commerce.
Mr.. BENSON presented the resolutions of the
legislature Of Maine, in favor of cheap ocean post
age; in relation TO certain proposed notifications
of the navigation laws of the United States; al
lowances Of bountes to fishing vessels, and recip
rocal trade with the North American colonies, the
| revenue laws ofthe United States; and in favor of
abolition ofspirit ratons in the navy. Laid on the
table.
Mr.. CROCKER asked leave to offer a resolu-
tion, that Tuesday next be set apart for reports
from committees OF private character only, which.
| after having been read first and second time,
shall be referred without debate. But objection
was made.
Mr.. LILLY moved that when the House adj
journ il adjourn TO meet on Monday next. The
motion was disagreed to-yeas 81, nays rs.
UTAH sETTLERs-PoLYGAMY.
The House resolved itself into a Committee of
the Whole on the state of the Union, Mr.. PHELPS
in the chair, and resumed the consideration of the
bill 10 establish the Office of surveyor-general in
Utah, granting lands TO actual settlers, and for
other purposes.
Mr.. LETCHER modified his amendment offer
ed yesterday, that the second and third sections
of the bill giving ands) shall not extend to any
person.
Mr.. DISNEY, at the request Of several gentle
men, caused to be read an extract from the Nor
mon code recognising poygamy. He said the evil
could not be reached by accepting or rejecting the
proviso in he bill denying the benefit of grant Of
land "to any person who shall now, or at any time
hereafter, be the husband Of more than one wife,
The only point involved was, whether Congress
will deem il polite TO offer donations to the Nor
mons TO emigrate 10 that particular territory, or
whether, by refusal to grant inducements to them
as to other individuals to emgrate they will inter-
pose barrier to discourage them.
Mr.. PERKINS, of New York. said it appeared
to him preposterous that United States officers in
Utah, receiving large salaries, shall be allowed to
have as many wives as they choose while the
poor fellow who goes there 10 settle on the soil
shall not be allowed 10 have more than one wife.
Mr.. BOYCE advocated the striking out of the
provlso. No man is more opposed 10 poygamy
than he is, but he denied that this government has
a right to Interfere in subjects of religion. The
governing OF the Territories is not an unlimited
right. Government cannot interfere in their do
mestc, social or religious relations; and because
this Is religious subject, il is Of great magn
tude. Let every body enjoy his own religion.
This is secured by the Constitution.
MIR. CAMPBELL understood the gentleman to
admit the power of Congress TO donate lands to
actual settlers If you have the power TO make
absolute grants, have you not power 10 fix the
condition of the grant. The gentleman said the
action proposed would be an interference with
the religious rights Of the people Of Utah. Now,
III
you can give the lands at all you may fix the con-
ditions of their possession. Suppose in the wild
ness of religious fanaticism in Utah, the people
imagine they had received revelation from the
prophet Joe Smith, which required them to enact
an ecclesiastical law providing that the eldest born
of every woman, when month old, should be
sacrificed and slaughtered and suppose they should
come here and ask Congress TO encourage sent-
ments of that kind, would not the honorable gen.
tleman, acting in the capacity of guardian, re-
nrn ansip hory, =.
the territory, deem it proper and advisable TO pro-
vide that no person, who has subscribed TO and
practised on the principles Of such religion or &C.
cesiastical law, shall have the grant?
Mr. BOYCE replied he would not recognise
such principle. Having answered the question
he asked would Congress have the right 10 say
that no Presbyterian shall have the privilege?
Mr.. CAMPBELL. Ifthe Presbyterian church
in Utah, through violent fanaticism, should de-
clare, by an ecclesiastical provision, that polygamy
any other crime shall exist there he should saw
that no person subscribing to or practising il shall
have the public domain
Mr.. WALBRlDGE offered an amendment ex.
cludng persons In any The Territories practising
poygamy from the benefits of the bill. He would
not argue the constitutional question. but that of
morals. II memer of this House should take
among his constituents more than one wife, he
would not only be met by just condemnation but
be subjected 10 the law which prescribes punish
ment for the offence, and find residence in the
peUlltHlldTy
Mr.. PHILLIPS argued that it would be tincon-
sttutiona TO impose such restriction as is con-
tanned in the proviso.
Mr.. WALBRlDGES amendment was rejected i
Mr.. TAYLOR, of Ohio, said if il is fact that
there is a law in Utah which establishes the crime
ofpolygamy, il should be at once discountenanced
by Congress, which, by the act establishing that
Territory, has the right TO disapprove of laws
passed by the Legislature and executive OF Utah
in which case such laws are null and void Az
fairs IN I tab afford beautiful specimen of squat
Ter sovereignty, thus framing laws for themselves
II Congress does not dsapprovc the bigamy law,
II Will by ITS silence, sanction it,
Mr.. BOfCE made some further remarks in the
course OF which he asked who was 10 decide the
question as to whether man has more than one
wnet How is the fact 10 be ascertaned? As TO
the Mormons, they, when called upon, rallied
around the American standard and fought bravely
IN the Mexican war; and vet these men, who had
shown themselves TO be patriotic citizens, having
gone into the wilderness and subdued it, were not
10 be permitted TO enjoy their homes
MI LETCHER, in reply to Mr.. PHILLIPS said
That virginia, Alabama, Georgia, and all the other
states, do not recognise polygamy as a part Of
their religion. In Utah il is a regularly recognised
system, adopted under ecclesiastical law and sus-
eCts ION tln txol