Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-06-03
WASHINGTO NEWS AND GOSSIP.

ment, To- break up the MormOns of Utah, root
and branch. The effect Of these appeals upon
the popular mind, has been to create the i'm
preston on the part of those who reflect and
know little concerning the true theory of our
political system, that II is both the right and
duty of the General Go5ernment to regulate
the domestic institutions, and to suppress va
riOus other enormities practised in that quarter
While we have reprehended the Mormon pecu-
liarities, Gm)moral religious and political, as
earnestly as any other newspaper of the land
not line has appeared editorially in the Star
advocating the popular doctrine of the right of
the General Government to interfere any fur
Their in their affairs than in those of other COM
munities. At one time we feared that we should
stand alone in favor of trusting to time and
the vlrtuOu5 influences of American freedom to
eradicate the terrible evils existing in that
quarter
We are, however, grati6ed to find that in all
sections Of the country journalists are coming
forward to enforce the principles of strict con-
struetion - as involved in this Mormon aues-
ton. We publish below an article from the
Charleston Mercury on this subject, the Justice
and soundness of which will be apparent to all
rejecting minds. We coincide heartily In all
its incidental views of the powers and duties of
the General Government In the premises, as
well as In those bearing On the political rights
OF the people of Utah. as revolving as the idea
Is, that they have political rights under the
constitution co-equal with our own. The true
theory of the constitution is, that Congress can
only inquire whether State applying for ad-
mission into the Union has adopted a constitu-
ton republican in its political phase Beyond
that point. Congress has no authority whatever
to inquire. Those who think otherwise are
Federalists, we care not by what names thew
may call themselves, for they admit the prin-
clple that this Governments powers are reyu-
lated by expediency rather than written and
rigid law theory which justifes abolition
ism and any other idiosyncracy that may in
time prevail in the minds of popular majority
in the land But to our quotation from the
Mercury:
the last two months, Of the atrocity and barba-
Tlsn OF Mormon practices and institutions MANY
papers have recommended the interference of the
government, and the uprootinp of this foul ex-
crescence from the surface of our body polite
The Momons have, in fact, set up for them
selves an emporium iH1perio, They have
Rohe iul IheT, ana 10 some extent defed the au-
tnoflty OF the United States. IL is said Mr. Bu-
chanan and the Cabinet have determined to enforce
the governmental authority; and to this extent
we highly approve of interference. To the point
Oh maintaining the authority Of the United States
we deem it not only expedient but necessary to
proceed This Is practicable and easy of accom-
lishment-though possibly expensive. Even if
resisted, nve or ten thousand men. under reso-
lutte commander, could speedily overawe these
people and enforce obedience to United States
laws. In reality, there is no incompatiblitv be-
tween Mormonism and the I nited States authori-
ty The latter is limited in its scope and does
not reach the peculiarties of the Mor1nons Let
US, Tor moment, examine them, and see They
consist consist oftwo things-Polygamy and voluntary
"Polygamy as it is called amongst the Mormons
Is only concnbnage. No form Of marriage IL
executed between the parties. Brigham Young.
or one of the Elders. saws to a woman that sba -
sealed to such man, and she GOES and lives
win HIM brigham calls all who are sealed to
hlm wives, but they are only concubines Now
Is there any law of the United States making
concublnage crime, Some of the States make
adultery punishable offence in their courts But
there is no such law enacted by Congress, for the
territories nor made by Utah for the people that
lhhaplt It's Territory. The concubinage of Nor.
monism may, therefore, continue i'm existence
this Territory '0 IA
As to the other peculiarity-.he oua,i Govern.
ment OF their Church. All Churches take copni-
lance OF The conduct of their members and the
submission 10 their behests is entiIe voluntary
20, II the Mormons think proper to submit to the
DEGREES OF their Church, in matters of personal
conduct, or even in matters of property. az did
the primitive Christians, how can Government
interfere III the people will not bring suits into
tne Courts or the United States how can the
courts adJudicate? 1t appears to US, therefore
mai The popularity of Mormonsm NAV co-exist
with the full acknowledgement Of the authorize
and laws of the United States
- But IL there was an incompatihiIity ho,,,,ao,
them, the remedy is so easy of mak}no tbsn,
selves state, that cannot doubt they will nse
II. Ihey have upwards Of one hundred thousand
people In Utah, and Proselytes are daily focking
INTO the Territory, both from Europe and this |
country, to swell their numbers. Now what is
10 prevent them from applying at the next Con-
yress 1or admission into the Union as a State |
w hat Will the advocates Of Souatter Sovereigntv
say TO the proposal? Can they reiectit, Even
on the principle laid down in the Presidents in
augurai address, Utah must be admitted The |
90. OF the United States prescribes but
one condition to the admission of a Territory AZ
4 Stdue;-the Constitution shall be yepxbItean |
ana by the laws of Congress- as we'll as the |
ages OF the General Government, any Territory |
having sufficient number Of inhabitants to send |
, member Of Congress, shall be admitted into
he Union. That number is now one hundred
thousand, and the Mormons have this number.
md more, in Utah Territory Once A State arc
aot the contracts of marriage like all Other CON
racts, under the exclusive control of the State
Ian the General Government, or any ether State
iictate what shall be the laws Of marriage in a
state o. prescribe or limit the authority of Court,
established within its limits by State
. For these reasons, it appears to us that Nor
nonism can only be abolished by the progress of
~ iyllization and the morality Of true religion.
ne force OF the United States, employed to es-
aoilsh United States authority, will not touch
ne peculiarities of Mormondom, and cannot
jjsennrow Its institutions. Force employed to
asonISy the people or extirpate their doctrines
cution.'' 0' Vi INC uaiA ages OF perse-
d, oiSfAESrs BY THE PREsIDENr-WiL
ran "a N'enardSon, of Illinois, Governor of the
,eii,'o,y oi Nebraska, in place of Mark W.
lard, the present incumbent.
Joseph A. Wright, of Indiana Envov E,.,
ordinary and Minister PIenipoteptiarv of ,h.
United States at the Court of his Majesty the
King of Prussia, in place of Peter D w., IS
New Jersey, recalled at his own request
Henry c. Murphy, of New York, Min;st.,
Resident Of the United States ut the Court ~
lis Majesty the King of the Netherlands, in
place of Auguste Belmont, Of New York, re.
allied at his own request.
Isaac r. Diller, Of Illinois, Consul of the