Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-01-23
CARSON vA1LEY-poLYGAMY

Cores VunUnuDc OF the n I. liluuut
WAWNGroN. Jan IS, 1851
Mr. MoRutrI. of W.. from the Committee
ON Territories. gave notice of his intention to
make the following
REPoBT
The Committee Territories, TO whom were referred the
petitions Of the citizens Of Carson Valley, Utah Terri
tory praying for the annexation Of that portion OF u
tah Territory Co Che State of California together WIN
the bin TO change the eastern boundary o the state of
California have had the same under consideration, and
report AS follows, viz
That it appears that the petitioners arc sit
uatcd 500 miles from Salt Lake City that
their business and commercial relations are
entirely with the State of California; and
that they arc not Mormons, and do not wish
to be. They represent that the Territorial
laws arc not administered with justice, but
that those who arc not Mormons, and not
"2calously affected toward that faith, are
subjected to gross prosecutions, by which they
are often impoverished, and that the will and
ianaticism of the leading Elders bear heavily
upon the "Gcntlo minority in the Territory
of Utah. The petition of the ladies repre-
SCENTS that while there arc but three or four
Mormon families in the Carson Valley. yet
Elder Orson Hyde is made the Probate Judge
of their County, and that he brings among
them one of his spiritual wives, whom they
regard as no better than the "soarlet lady,
expecting, when the Judge introduces her as
his wife, that they will associate with her
but that they look with disgust upon the pros
poet of raising up their daughters among such
associates and they ardently desire that their
homes in their pleasant valley shall not be
"dcflod by the "horrible ianahcism' and
deception Of Momonism.
To what extent the evils complained of by
the petitioners of Carson Valley exist, the
Committee have little accurate information
but 10 is notorious that similar grievances have
been published as prevalent in other portions
of Utah and if they exist in Carson Valley,
which is scarcely 90 be doubted. it may fairly
be presumed that their force and oflensivonoss
is not diminished where the sway of the Nor
mon elders is supported by an overwhelming
majority, and where the ecclesiastical leaders
have the unlimited control over the political.
civil and religious action Of their deyotees
To grant the prayer Of the petitioners. or,
in other words to pass the bill "to change
the eastern boundary of the State Of Caliior-
MIA would only cxtirpatc small portion of
the evil complained Of 1t appears to your
Committee that some measure of wider scope
is necessary to effect a radical cure Of the
moral and political pestilenoc which makes
tan the scandal OF the American people
Such measure is now on the calendar-thc
bin for "the prevention and punishment Of
polygamy and there is no legislation more
earnestly demanded
Furthermore, the State of California is al-
ready too large and should not in the opin-
ion of your Committee be made still more
unvieldly by a further extension of Its bouu-
daics We therefore report the bin TO the
House with the recommendation that do not
pass.