Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-28
POLYGAMY IN UTAH.

A republic is remarkable above all other gov
ernments for one evil as it is for many bless
ings. There is scarcely new question which
arises that does not become the theme of loud
denunciation, the object of praise on the one
hand and abuse on the other-tbe battle
ground on which are arrayed the formidable
hosts Of hostile parties Scarcely has the war
Of slavery died away, before that OF foreign in
huence has commenced. Mans rights are
vehemenily maintained in The assemblages Of
pestilent agrarians; and Woman's rights as
vehemently in the conventions assembled I'M
der the influence Of Lucy Stone and Anioi
nette Browne-if not more silently, but as de-
cidedly asserted in the private domain Of a
Caudle bed-chamber. Temperance Associa-
tons have Numbered their denunciations
against private indulgencies, and moral Mu-
tual Assurance Societies have controlled indi-
vidual enterprise in the distribution of CHAIR
ties. Compulsory free school education has
usurped the place Of private parental instruc
ton, and joint stock philanthropy suggesting
flannel waistcoats and moral pocket handker-
chiefs" for the sable heather OF Africa, is sub
stituted in the stead Of individual benevolence
for the "Greeks at our DOORS This curious
state Of things springs from excessive republi
canism-as the flowers brightest in their hues
but most poisonous in their qualities abound
where the sun is the most glaring and the soil
the most fertile.
II is not surprising that in the long list of
these extravagant vagaries, the system Of pc.
lygamy among our modern Mormon citizens
should have excited the warm dspleasure OF
these universal reformers. We find il made a
serious ground Of objection TO The admission
Of Utah "a a State, that her citizens in their
admiration for women should have desired and
obtained superabundant quantity ortbat bless
ing. Grave editors have condescended to OBJ
ject TO an alliance with State which acknow-
lodges in her law the right, and cnjoins in her
religion the duty Of a plurality Of wives. We
believe, indeed, that il has been actually con.
tended that it is in direct antagonism to the
Constitution-not Of man, but of the United
States. What is the ground Of such an asser-
ton we are al loss to discover unless indeed
il is in contraventon Of the preamble Of that in
strpmeni, which recites as one Of the chief OBJ
jects ofiis formation the necessity off more per.
feet union. Buteventhi would be an Insult cient
argument with Young America who contends
that the larger the number Of members OF con.
federation The more perfect and conservative is
the union. The opposition must be therefore
based upon the admitted principle m our Gov
eminent, that man is capable OF selfgovern.
ment, boon which he could scarcely possess il
beset with the cares, tormentsd With the advice,
or tfammeled by the control Of a dozen wives.
BE this as it may, it is certain that such vio-
lent opposition does exist and we apprehend
as great an ebuition of sympathy for the Nor.
mon husband, when Utah applies for admission
as State, as for the unfortunate slave, whose
condition has been the cause Of so many croc-