Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-07-17

:.
under the organic act, and unworthy to.
be admitted into the Union as State,
when their only objectin seeking admis>
sion is to interpose the Sovereignty Of the
State, as an invincible shield to protect
them in theiritreason and crime. debau-
cherry an infamy. Applause.
"When authentic evidence shall arrive,
if it shall establish the facts which are be-
lieved TO exist it will become the duty of
Congress to apply the knife and cut out
this loathsome, disgusting ulcer. APP
plause.] No temporizing policy, no half
way measure will then answer. It has
been supposed by those who have not
thought deeply upon the subject that an
act of Congress prohibiting murder, rob-
berry, polygamy, and other crimes, with
appropriate penalties for these offences,
would afford adequate remedies for all
the enormities complained Of. Suppose
such law to be on the statute book, and
l believe they have a criminal code, pro-
viding the usual punishment for the en-
tire catalogue Of crimes. according to the
usages of all civilized Christian countries,
with the exception of polygamy, which is
practlced under the sanction Of the Nor
man church, but is neither prohibited nor
authorized by the laws of the Territory.
Suppose, repeat, that Congress should
pass law prescribing a code and punish
ing polygamy among other offences, what
effect would it have-what good would it
do? Would you call on % grandjury-
men with 23 wives each TO find bill Of
indictmedt against a poor. miserable
wretch for having two wives Cheers
and laughter. Would you rely upon l9
petit Jurors with 12 wives each to convict
the same loathsome wretch for having two
wives Continued applause. Would
you expect a grand jury, composed Of 20
"Danites' to find bill of indictment
against brother DANTE" for having
murdered Gentle, as they call all Amer
lean citizens under their direction? Much
less would you expect a jury of twelve
"destroying angels" TO find another ode
stroying ANGEL guilty of the crime Of
murder, and cause him to be hanged for
no other offence than that of taking the
life of Gentle? No. If there is any
truth in the reports we receive from Utah,
Congress may pass what law it chooses,
but you can never rely upon the local tri-
bunals and juries to punish crimes cons
mitted by Mormons in that Territory.
Some other and more effectual remedy
must be devised and applied. In my
opinion, the first step taken should be the
absolute and unconditional repeal of the
organic act-blotting the territorial gov
eminent out Of existence--upon the
ground they are alien enemies and OUT
laws, denying their allegiance and defy
ing the authority of the United States.
Immense applause.
The territorial government once abol-
ished. the country would revert TO its pri-
NATIVE condition, prior to the act of 1880,
under the sole and exclusive jurisdiction
of the United States" and should be
placed under the operation Of the act Of
Congress Of the 3oth of April. 1899, and
the various acts supplemental thereto and
amendatory thereof, providing for the
punishment of crimes against the United
States within any for, arsenal, dock-yard,
magazine OR ANY OTHER PLACE OR DISTRICT
OF COUNTRY UNDER THE SOLE AND EXCLU>
sIvE Jurisdiction of the United States" All
offences against the provisions of these
acts are required to be tried and punished
by the United States courts in the States
or Territories where the offenders shall be
first apprehended or brought for trial."
We think these views will meet the
sanction Of all parties, and we trust there
will be no delay on the part of Congress.
in fully sustaining the purpose of the Ad-
ministration 10 cut out this loathsome,
disgusting ulcer upon the body polite.
The new governor is said to possess every
qualification for the position, and he
should be fully sustained at home. We
would gladly see the territorial act repeal
ed-and for a time at least, give the
Mormons the benefit Of wholesome re-
straint of Martial law in Utah, and mete
to the ring leaders sure and speedy JUS
tice after due trial, before the United
States Courts of the nearest States.
We may add that our qualification in
reading this eloquent and convincing ar
gument OF Judge Douglas is enhanced by
the knowledge. that his views and posi-
tons were responded to by large con-
course of the people of Illinois, and that
his numerous telling blows upon the Black
Republicans aroused the most enthusias-
tic applause.
UNIVERSITY OF V1Ro1N1A.--The board
of visitors of the University of Virginia
were in session last week. Among the
changes made is the allowance Of q certain
per cent. on their schools to the profess
ors, in addition to their fixed salaries
The proctor's salary has been increased
to $4,000 per annum. The board conclu-
ded not to petition the Legislature to per.
NIT the University to accept the endow-
ment of an agricultural professorship. the
power of the State society to nominate
the professor being an objection. 1t was
determined to be inexpedient to erect ad-
ditional buildings to the institution unless
| the present nrova of insufficient canacitZ