Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-01-13

uTAss AND OEMOCRACY.
During the late canvas the Republi-
can orators and journals sought to I'M
pair the popularity Of the principles Of
the Nebraska Act, by asserting that
under that act, the Territory of Utah
must be admitted as State, with the
immoral and degrading institution OF
Mormon polygamy. When We view
the subject in the only way pointed
out in the Constitution Of the United
States, We ask any sane man, who IL
pledged and considers himself bound
BY the provisions Of that National Con
stitution, whether the Democratic par
ty can Constitutionally oppose the adj
mission Of Utah into the Union with
any Of her present domestic, immoral
institutions, provided her State Constr
tuition il comfortable to the require
ments Of the Constitution of the I'M
ted States.
1.-THE United States shall guarantee
TO every State in this Union 3 kePub-
licsn form of government, says inc
National Constitution, ami if the form
of government" which Utah presents
10 Republican" We ask what right has
Congress to reject her admission =
Shall Congress have the power to pre-
scribe terms respecting the domestic
institutions and legislation OF the new
State, and say what institutions she
shall not have. Can Congress go be
hind the form of government presen-
ted BY Utah, and officlously inquire
whether there is religious custom III
that State. allowing cousins to inter-
marry, or usury to be taken on loans,
or q man to have one or ten wives E
Admitting that polygamy is an abom''
nation in moral sense, what greater
right would Congress have to go be-
hind the Republican form OF govern
ment," the Constitution Of tab, to en-
quire into the religious customs and
rights OF. Mormous, that it would have
to enquire respecting the laws OF mar
rage within certain degrees of consan
guinityl
The principle OF the Nebraska act
adopted by the democratic party, aud
sanctioned 10y the people, Is ITO leave
the people Of Territory perfectly free
to form and regulate their domestic
institutions in their own way, subject
only to the Constitution Of the United
States" The Constitution Of the L nj
ted States does not contain any grant
Of power enabling Congress to inter
fere with the institution or sacramen,
Of matrimony. The State Of Iowa
would bid defiance to any attempt on
the part Of Congress to interfere with
ito laws or ito exclusive power to pass
laws upon the subject Of matrimony
Iowa can to-day, and without any
change Fl her present Constitution
paas laws limiting the number Of wives
70 one or two or ten, or allowing wom-
On 10 vote or not to vote, or allowing
usury or disallowing it, without sub
jscting the State 70 the interference Of
Congress. Congress shall make no
Law respecting an establishment Of re-
ligion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof" says the Federal Constitution.
And Congress could say that children
should not be baptized, with As much
propriety ~ it could say that man
should have but one wife. The power
to interfere with domestic affairs, 9TH
q than guaranteeing . Republican
Form Of government" does not exist
in CongresA and the Democratic party
will adhere 70 the doctrine enunciated
in the Nehraska Act that the people
Of the Territory shall be left perfectly
free to form and regulate their domes-
tic institutions in their own way sub
jeet only to the Constitution Of the
United StatsA whether slavery or pes
SIsataI polygamy be established as
domestic institution.
When Utah hes formed her State
Consultation in the Constitutional way,
Osngpsn eeaae to have any special
riGht ovse IL aGairs, and whether she
: admitted into the Union or not she
then has III the requisite powers Of .
saals govsnnsat, subject only to the
Cepalilntioa q ~ United Statea and
- Honssal tsdssal lswa like any Il
- - 1.-THE eeats Constellation
: in1loIuont 81 ilsnt upea ~ sub
! - c. ve1h havs - uessI