Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-05-14
UTAH TERRITORY-ITS LAWS
Polygamy and its License
SPEECH OF THE HON. J. s. morrill,,
OF VERMONT

Oly 6hAAJ oAAA Avg
SPEECH OF THE HON. J. 5. MORRILL,
OF VERMONT,
In House of Representative Feb 20 1907
The House being in the Committee of the +
Whole on the State of the Union, and having
under consideration the bill making appro-
priations for the Territory of Utah,
Mr.. MORRILL, said Mr.. Chairman, it was
my purpose at an earlier period of the ses-
sion to have submitted some remarks upon
the Territorial laws of Utah and the -" pa
triarchal institution of polygamy which
there prevails. With this object in view,
introduced resolution into the House as
early as the 10Th day Of January, calling
upon the President for official information
known to be on file in the Departments rel
alive to certain facts pertaining to the SUBJ
ject. But up to this time no response has
been made-whether because, if made it
would have been found Incompatible with the
interests of Mormonism or the interests OF
the outgoing Administration the public will
Judge. Having read the Territorial laws of
Utah, which many of the members Of the
House. may not have had an opportunity of
doing, have thought it might prove of some
service to make erp0se Of their peculiar char
acter | could have reached my object any
time that | could have got the floor, by
making motion to take up a bill which is
now pending upon a motion entered for recon-
sideration but felt unwilling to consume
the tineNof the House when it was .evident
that, from the press Of other Matters no leg
slaton could follow For these reasons |
gave notice of my purpose, and obtained
consent to publish what had to say, with
some liberty of expansion.
The report Of Chief Justice Branderberry,
Associate Justice Brochus, and Secretary
Ferris, for the Territory of Utah, to the
President of the United States Dec 49,,
1851, and printed in Executive Documents
1851-52, was regarded at the same time as
too extravagant for belief. Subsequent events
have shown that the picture was not too high
ly colored. Many of the statements made
in the report alluded to are of so grave i'm
port, and the Mormons having, by continued
snubbing, finally subdued the General Gov
eminent into absolute compliance with
their wishes, that I shall reproduce them
here, in order to refresh the memory of gen.
tleness with chapter ofhistory, Commencing
on page 8. document 25, of the report. it
reads
w found upon our arrival that almost the
entire population consisted of people cal ed
Momons 3; and the Mormon Church overshad.
owing and controlling the opinions, the actions,
7 the property and even the lives of its members,
usurping and exerc ising the functions of legsla-
ton and the judicial business of the Territory !;
organizing and commanding the military; dis
posing Of the public lands upon its own terms :;
/ coming money. stamped Holiness to the Lord
and forcing It's circulation at standard fifteen or
. twenty per centum above lis eal value openly
sanctloning and defending the practice Of pol
o ygamy, or plurality of wives; exacling the
s tenth part of everything from its members. IN
r der the name of Ching and enormous taxes
Y from clliZeGs not members penetrating and su-
perv sng social and business circles; and in
cucatiHg and requiring as an article OF religious
+ faith implicit obedience to the counsels of the
r Church, as paramount TO all the obligations of
n mora lily, society, alleg lance, and of law
" Our main reliance was upon Brigham Young
' the Governor for no man could govern them
= against his influence without military force.
n f" We were informed afierward that Mr.. Blair
o had made several private applications 10 the
Governor to know if he would allow an inter-
view to the Chiefs Justice bui he refused, declar-
@ 'ng that he did not wish an introduction, for
e none but Mormons should have been appointed
# to the Offices of the Territory, and none other
but id rascals would have come among
y them.
q 1.-The Governor rose to address the audience,
If and profound ence ensued as is always the ease
!, when he rises to speak. After rejecting in
" terms of condemnation upon the alleged HOSTILE
tv of Gen. Tay Tor to the MormOns, and to giving
them government he exclaimed ina loud and
&c exu Iting tone, But Zachary Taylor is deads
- and am glad of it Then drawing himself up
to his utmost hight, and stretching his hand
@ toward heaven he declared in a still more VIC.
d lent voice And prophesy in the name o.
n Jesus Christ, by the power of the prizes hoot
that is upon me, tina any President of the Uni
States who lifts his finger against this peop
is shall die an ntimely death and go to hell.
it To this sentiment there came up from those sea
e ted around u.s. and ON ali parts of the house
\ loud and ming ed responses of Amen !! Good
! Hear
s. Upon subsequent occa ion (the 9Th of Sep
l. tember) in reply to The remarks made by one o
"a the undersigned associate Justice Broccus
- upon the subject before large audience iii
90 Governor reiterated and dec AIRED. did sa,
III that Gen. Taylor was dead and III hell and
know it, man in the erowed seemingly t.
give the Governor an opportunity OF liking hi
truth spoke Out and said, How do you know it
TO which the Governor promptly answered
b. Because God told me So An elder, secon,
y, only to the Governor in the church (Heber
-. KimbaD, laying his hand on the shoulder o
Z Judge Brocchus, added, Yes, Judge, ant
I'll you III know it, too for you'll see him whe
70 you get there.
in Upon the follow ing Sunday the Mayor 0
I'd the CITY Jedediah NJ Grant in eulogzing tn
g. strength of the Mormons, eXutingly declare
ST from the pulpit in presence of one of the I'M
y dersgned (Alr. Ferris), That now the Unite
States cuu d not conquer them by arms Brig
~ ham Young, the Governor, announced with giea
or vehemence from the stand to the individuals Will
id the people were thus excited by such sentiments
to that he ruled that people for years, and coul
rule them again that the United States Judge
on might remain in the Territory and draw the
sd aries but they should never try cause If h
. could prevent it.
'o' " Another speaker already seerred to, stan
&C. ing second In the church (Hebe: Z. Klmball,
he encouraged by the example set him by the Go'
lal ernor, declared In speech public meeting
rs. that The United States officers might remain
H. the Territory SO ong they behaved then
90 selves ind paid their boa dug but if they di
w not, they tthe Motmous) wou d kick them
w he'll. where they belonged
4" The preacher. Prof Spencer of the I'm
ay versity of Deseret among other expressions
as ili-teehng declared that the laws ard policy
al the United States Government were intended
as Cypress the poor; and turning his eyes upc
av us ln presence of this arge audience, furtht