The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-06-03

Cor riuosd purposes for xtar-ins communicated eu
cation and other PURPOSES and you will 6nd that when
balance to be struck, Whatever may have been
given the SOUTH falls very far short Of what has been
given to the Northwest out Of this great and fund that
tbs property of aI the States of tho Union.
Why sir, it was only during the lest Congress that
millions upon millions of Of the public lands
given to those States for railroad purposes end they have
been applied for those purposes Large donations
made for school purposes for unyerstes and for va
rous public buildings within the Territories located in
that section Of the country, while my section Is do
prved Of any participation whatsoever In those donations
thus given to the Northwestern States and Territories
But, sir, than that havo had various other
propositions which shall not undertake particular
zs because have been brought into this debate to reply
suddenly, upon the spur of the mounnt to very able
spesch carefully prepared BY my friend from Ohio
rgning the administration upon point after point and
must therefore only now reply 70 such ponts - shall
suggest themselves to sassrving ~ myself the right
opportunity shall between and tha end Ut
the session. 10 scuss tha question of government
pendtures pretty tally e Al
Now sir, my friend from Ohio complains that the ad-
minsration has undertaken to involve In contro
very with Utah. and that 1t has required large cxpendi
lures Of public money to sustain the army, and to make
1t effective for the service In which it employed in
that connexion | had supposed that the gentleman
from Ohio, himself, was in favor Of having something
done in the Territory Of Utah because, If recol!ect
Alright this very question was made part and parcel OF
his platform in the last presidential canvass
Mr.. SHERMAN, of Ohio. will say that upon this
side Of the House are all opposed to the twn rel
ics.' [Laughterl
Mr. LE1CHEIa Then why arraign the administra-
ton for endcavorng to bring the people to subsection to
the law, which you say ought to be respected?
Mr.. GROW. You have not got any law Fsf
Mr.. LETCHER. Then why. when these people are In
open rebellion against the law and when tho President
fluids it necessary to execute it by calling the military
power to his aid do you arragn him. and say that he
ought to be impeached for exercise of power not
ing than was his duty in that connexion, and for
doing that duty instead of receiving the and
condemnation Of this House, he deserves to be appauded
here, and applauded throughout the country
Mr. STANTON. If the gentleman wants the informa-
tion, will give it to him k5
Mr. LETCHER. Very we'll j viii hear the gentle
man le
Mr. BISHOP. object to these interruptions
Mr. STANTON. the course proposed by this side OF
the House to settle this matter by congressional legba
tion We propose to regulate this matter by Law In the
first place. and thcn execute the law. The difficulty this
side of the House has found Is that the people of Utah
have violated no law which go to war about.
Mr.. LETCHER Then have only to say to my friends
the other sidc Of the House, that it to they
very slow in bringing forward their legislation Why
have they not brought forward proposition long
Mr. STANTON. The gentleman from Vermont Mr.
M0RRIL]---
Mr.. LETCHER What is that
Mr.. MORRILL,. The gentleman from Virginia inquiries
why do not introduce legislation this side of
the hall Twill state that tho last Congress, bill
introduced by me to prohibit polygamy, which was
the House, never
In the present session. at the earliest moment
could introduced bill upon the subject, which
referred to the Committee the Judiciary but has
been reported back to the House majority of that
the House.
| Mr. LETCHER You had your committees in the last
Congress- and you had your speaker why did you net
then get up your bill and pass It'll But ask the gentle
from Ohio what authority you have got to pass any
laws to remedy the difficulty? VIII you pass law to
interfere with the religion of the Mormons they
slider it How will You frame your laws to meet this
difficulty, and where will you get your authority 81
Mr. STANTON We on this side Of the House hold
that Congress has not yielded all tho power to leslae
the Territories they have as much power to legs-
late upon tho subject Of polygamy or any other crime ~
they have In the District Of Columbia, the States
have within their own jurisdiction.
/ Mr. LETCHER. The right to legsate for the over
throw of their religionr
| Mr.. STANTON. We have much right to legislate
there within the limits of the constitution any State
has within Its own limits.
| Mr. LElUHER. Does the gentleman take the grounds,
then that have the right to cgsate upon the subject
of religion
Mr. STANTON take the ground that we have the
right to prohibit poiygamy Does the gentleman call
! that religion & &fN@ % Rf
Mr.. LETUHER4 say that aaey call it religion and
il the gentleman undertakes to decide whether it good
or bad religion somebody else may decide that his
gon bad and they have just much right 10 to de-
eide he has to decide that the religion Of anybody else
is bad.
Mr.. STANTON. WIN the gentleman undertake to say
that when what they call religion has reference to the
cal relation and the relation between the sexes 1t is
not within the control of the legislation of Congress!
Cannot State prescribe regulations in respect to
rage, and prohibit polygany Have you not such
laws in this District and If 80, why cannot you make
such laws for the Territory?
Mr.. sLETCHER You have delegated to the Territory
of Utah the right to legslac In regard to her domestic
institutions Now where have you reserved the right to
legislate upon this subject
Mr.. STANTON We have certainly not delegated all
legislative powers. ft
Mr.. LEICHER Where have you reserved the power
you claiming to exercise upon this subject?
Mr.. MORRILL, If tho gentleman from Virginia will
yield to for moment will answer his question In
the organic act of Utah Territory Congress expressly
served tho power to approve dsapprove of all laws
passed by its legislative assembly.
| Mr.. LETCHER. But, suppose they have passed no
law upon the subject understand they have not
dono how is Congress to approve or diapprove them
think they have passed law recognising polygamy
statutes
Mr.. MORRILL,. II the gentleman will examine the
laws passed by the territorial government of Utah. he
will find that the whole subject is placed in the power of
the priesthood and that by legislaton they indirectly
but still substantially, recognise polygamy
Mr.. IETCHER Well, SIR, doubt very much whether
tho gentleman can And that It Il certainly not in the
volume saw have but volume of their acts
which was some two three years ago, when had oc
casion to use It in debate but unable To find any
such law there -
| Now, SIR there is another point Ny friend from
Ohio Mr. SaERMAx undertook to charge here that the
administration were constantly violating the law when
they allowed surplus TO he carried from one head Of an