Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1857-03-21
am as freetas Nature first made man,
Ere the base Jaws of servitude began,
When wild ID woods the noble savage ran. .

ton whenever UtaH has been discussed and seems to
acquire greater gravity each successive year. Steh-
lily at first but no1 openly the practice Of polygamy
has become dees rooted and notorious institution of
the Mormons. U}der the Constitution of the United
States they oscred and protected and have
ed to them Territory larger than many of the ling
doms of Europe Under the guse of religion this people
has established and seek to maintain and perpetuae
Mohammedan barbarism revolving the civilized world
1t is poygamy in its most disgusting form, including ip
its Shiny folds sisters mothers and daughters; and
order that no element of cruelty and oathsomeness mag
be wanting it includes facility of divorce.
The petition for bill of divorceis to be made to
probate court, and if the court is satisfied that
person applying is resident of the Territory or
wishes to become one the court may decree divorce,
in addition to the usual causes for absence without
reasonable for than year." when it
shall be made to appear to the satisfaction and cony
ton of the court that the parties cannot live in peace
and union together, and that their welfare requires
separation" wide Territorial Laws, PIP. 1872, 1887
There legal bars here which may not be leaped
the male Mormons were the "crippes they
have been sanderously represented 1t is not enough
to make woman longer equal and man the tyrant;
it is not enough to tear the endearing passion of Lore
from the heart and install in its place the rage of je
lousy is not enough to usurp the complete sovereign
ty woman and degrade her to the level Of mere
animals but the Mormons, when their appettes become
stated through the Intervention or favor of their high
priests, enabled to indulge their caprice in the lux
ury and latitude of change and variety. As well might
religion be invoked to protect cannibasm or infancide
And yet to be told because our Constitution de-
clares that Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion prohibiting the free exer-
else thereof" that must tamsly submit to any bur-
lesque, outrage or indecency which artful men may
seek to hide under the of religion But 1t Is I'M
possible to twist the Constitution into the service OF
ygamy by any fair construction. The fullest latitude
of federation in the exercise of religion could not be uni
derstood to license crimes punishable at common Law
and if Congress is prohibited from making an estabshed
religion Territory must be equally prohibifsd,
~-IN
not authorize Territory authorize incorporated
company of priests to do what it may not do ITSELF The
practice under Constitution has been and is specially
provided for in the organic act of Utah. that Territorial
laws annulled and void the moment they disa
proved of by Congress We cannot shrk the responsi
by by creating Territorial Government to do th9t
which the Constitution nhibits TO ourselves 1.-THE
of Utah in our judgment, such not fit to 'e
made it is duty to annul them and if they creae
an establishment of religion, then it is clearly open
and papable violation of the Constitution and not tot
sacred to 60 untouched On this subject there nevT
could have been any difficulty had the Book of Mo-
mon controlled the appetes of the lusty Joseph Smt
r and his followers That book is emphatic again
this abomination" any GENTLE could desire. 2,
show the possibility of the degeneracy Of Mormoi-
ISM win make little extract from The Book Of Mo-
mon, printed at Nauvoo, Illinois, A. D. 1910:
"And make end of speaking unto you concerning
this pride were not that must speak unto you
corning grosser crime my heart would rejoice exceedingly
Of But the word Of God burdens because
your grosser crimes For behold thus saith the Lord th
people begin to wax in niquy they understand not tn
scrptures for they seek to themselves in commn
whoredoms because of tho things which written cor
corning David and Solomon his Behold David and 81
iomon truly had many wives and eoncubnes which thing
was abomnable before me- saith the Lord wherefore this
saith the Lord have led this people forth out Of the land d
Jerusalem by the power of mine arm that might raise Up
unto me righteous branch from the fruit of the ons Of 9
seph Wherefore the Lord God, will not suffer that tbs
people shall do like unto them of old Wherefore, my bre
rem hear and bearken to the word of the Lord or
shall not any among have be wife,
concubinss he shall have for the Lord God delight
eth in the chastity II women, and vhsredoms abor
nation to me thus saith the Lord Of hosts Whsrefs is
people shall keep commandments saith the Lord ct hoA
cursed be the land for their sakes For wi saith s
Lord Of hosts raise up seed unto me, wiz command "