Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-07-11

oisive legislation, If there any who hesitate,
vonld say to them, as did jefferson, at TIE
limo i,ouisiana was acquired, that they should
,,,b,ow themselves on their country"
,,c behind them metaphysical suotllities' and
,'sb,ng themselves like faithful servunis'
Tbere is no purpose to interfere with the
,,,st absolute freedom Of religion, nor to
,o,srmeddle with the rights Of conscience
I'm, the sole design is to punish gross often
eos whether in secular or ecclesiastical garb;
IN prevent practices which outrage the moral
sonso of the civilized world, and to reach
even those who steal the livery Of the court
of Heaven to serve the Devil in"
NJ. WALKrR | rise to question OF or
der. f. thus debate in order
The SPEAKER. II il not IN order. The
gentleman from Vermont can report the bill.
Mr.. MoRRiLL, from the Committee on
Territories. then reported bill topunish and
prevent the practice OF poJ gomy in the Ter.
riories of the United States, and other pla-
ccs; which was read first and second time.
Mr.. WHEELER ! should like to know
what other places the bill refers to.
Mr.. WAKEsAN. | ask that the bill be
read.
The bin WINS read. It provides that If any
person M persons being married, aud nhab-
tanis 1fthe Territories uf the United States.
or other places over which the United States
possess exclusive jurisdiction, shall lnleruar-
nv with any person or persons as partners, ac-
auowlcdging the couIugal relation, the form
or husband nr wife being still living he or
shc 20 offending shall, on conviction, pay a
fine not exceeding $500, and be imprisoned
nor less than two nor more than five years;
provided, That nothing contained 10 the bill
sH1ll apply TO any person or persons whose
husband or wife shall absent hm ny herself,
one from the other, for space Of five years,
one Of them not knowing The other TO be lIy-
ing during that time, nor to persons who shall
have been legally divorced.
Mr.. MoRRfLL. move that the bill be
referred to the Committee Of the Whole on
the state of The Union, and be printed.
Ma. PnELps. ! have no objection to the
reference Of the bll TO the Committee Of HE
Whole on the state Of the Union but as !
md rstaud It's provisions il proposes 10 legal
we polygamy whcnthe husband and vile have
been separated for five yo,rs, although not
divorced. | think il ought to 60 TO the Com
mirep.
The question was takon; and Mr.. Mon
mi'a motion was agreed 10.
Ea'tdal corfe.poudeuee of the Sos Yois Trhuo'.
Washington, Thursday, une %.
The following IS the bin to-day reported
t1 The House by Mr. Morrill, Of Vermont, 10
suppress the practice of Poygamy ~ the
Territories of toe United States II caused
o. decided sensation IN the House, but viii
be pressed 70 vote in some shape. ] am
told that Mr. Beruhisel. the Delegate from
Utah has fire wives, and have heard that
they were Oh at one time IA tins city; but
thing that must be an error no.
a BiLL 20 punish and prevent the practice of
po.yglmy ia ihe Territories Of the Unl-
tal States and other places over which
the United States have exclusive iurisdic-
unn.
Uhereag IL is admitted that polypamv is
permitted by the Nuuicipal regulations of
Ono OF the Territories of this mon. and Is
-aurht t1 be- justified ON the rr1uud that this
rH.nin1oon IN a Chri-iian country l-a reh-
r..u. rite of the inh,buants of sand Terri
urr, and trlereos. no prineiule OF splf.poy.