Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-04-14
GQOrtestrr Dallp Spp.
THE POLYGAMY oUEsTI,
"A-i VOESIAON'
SPEECH OF HON. ELI THAYER
Ut 3EI-Al'AVIIy SIsI ~
In the House of Representatives, April 8, 1860.

or MASSACHUSETTS,
In the House of Representatives, April 8, 1860
Mr.. Speaker, it has become apparent. in
the progress of this debate, that there is at
least one question on which the representatives
OF all portions of the country may agree
Every member OF every section of the Union
is ready to assert the odious crlminaIity of poi
ygamy. 1t is encouraging it is refreshing, to
know that there is at least one subject on
which there is no sectionalism, in relation to
winch VIC have not heard the Representatives
OF North Carolina Boosting that their people
are much better than those OF Massachusetts,
nor the Representatives Of the State OF New
York Boosting that their people are better than
those OF Mississippi.
There Is really, now, one practical question
before us for our decision and, sir in my re-
marks upon it, shall not treat it as an alb.
straction. | shall not treat 1t as a figure of
speech, nor as legal technically. Polygamy
Is an existing fact, while agree with members
from every part Of the country in denouncing
. it, will SO act as to insure its most speedy
determination Is this a fact, sir, which began
to-day, yesterday, or last week | should
suppose, from the zeal which is NANTES ted
here, that it never was heard of till the begin
ming OF this session of Congress.
But, sir, some thirteen years ago, one Brig.
ham Young, shrewd and selfish and unscru.
pUlous adventurer, led certain Mormons from
Illinois, or from Missouri, across what was then
called the great American desert, by long
and Wearlsome journey, to the basin of the
Great Salt Lake. Poor, deluded ignorant
fanatics were his followers, who, from having
no religion at all, had been captivated by the
theories of Joe Smith, and had joined the ranks
of the Later Day Saints. From time to time,
there have been accessions to their number.
Year after year they have come fom Wales
and Scotland, and England and Germany, and
from the states Of this contederaey About
two years ago, they attained their highest
power They are now declining i'll strength,
harmony, and consolidation, and are diminish
ing in numbers As Il separate and peculiar
community, they are doomed to speedy eXtlnc-
ton. Congress has endured their increasing
strength, and the insolence of their highest
power, without action. Can we not possibly
endure ther decline and determination, with
out the exhibition of paper authority and Of
spasmodic morality!
In the course of these thirteen years of Nor
mon history, we have had a wing adminiStra
ton, we have had two democratic administra-
tons, and at one time, for one Congress, the
republicans had the organization of his
House and, sir, there has never been an act
passed against this crime, to make it penal
offence. There it was, before the eyes OF the
y
but still no party, until this day, las taken the
responsibility OF proposing that 1t should be
abolished by penal statute and ~ force Of arms.
Now there seems, as | said before, to be feel
ing in this House, not known IN the commune
ty at all, which could be accounted for only
on the suppositOn that poygamy never was
heard of till to-day There is spasm, Sir, of
morality, or paoxysH or panic, or some
thing that seems to impel certain men to feel
the necessity ofyoting and of voting no,o
against polygamSI at all hazards
Mr. REAGAN-Idcsire to correct the gentle
man on a pon of fact. lie is mistaken i'll
supposing that nthing has ever been done up
on this subject introduced resolution dur
ing the last Cngress, whltl was adopted by
the House, retiring the SUBJECT to the judi
ciary committe for inquiry
MIR. THAYEF--I said no aGhad been passed
That was my Ssertion, Ad now, sir, there
is most intense zeal manifest that something
shall be voted Uoted, not me-to eXterml-
nate polygamdin Utah. NrSt OF all, 1t APP
pears that this act OF vothwouid seem TO
satisfy some consciences, EN- though this
very vote should prolong the lstence Of that
ini6uitous institution Ii wod seem to salts
fv some consciences-I will l5cal them stu
MD or Sluggish, or dead-Elt they v0ted
against polygamy. Sir, if tItbllity OF these
gentlemen 10 execute were cal to their zeal
ia enact. we mighs almost Il that omnlpo-
fence itself would be one OF y weaknesses.
But it is not proposed 10 exec; and there is
no party in this country too and there has
been no party in this counldurlng the last
thirteen years, that would to vote bayO-
nets and revolvers to shootsta0 poygamy
out of Brigham Young his followers.
What. sir do the judciarynmittee ask us
TO dol What claim do therescnt for our
votes in fayor of this bill hat is claimed
Why, that the Congress Of United States
should make an expression Iplnlon, SO That
the world may know that TINTED States OF
America are really opposite polygamy
Really opposed to polyga! How much
better, Mr.. Speaker, we shaand before the
nations of the earth, when Shall have re-
ally shown them-what thnay now De III
doubt abOut-that we are Guy opposed to
polyramy When we shalown it, not by
doing anything against theuity, but by
solemn vote, recorded upde journals of
this House.
Now, sir, [ say that any expression of
sentiment is Superhuous ere is no state
in this Union that has not poly gamy
penal offense already anat Is the com
bined expression OF the esentatlves OF
these states, more than the Vldual expires
sion of each OF the states q III Its lndlVld'
ual capacity DO we, by combined ac'
ton, add anything to the tof aii that sep,
arate action Certainly, The world
understands now well emo that this coun-
try is opposed to poygam.d 1t never will
understand it any betterl vote of Con
gress. the whole effect Och will be to
proong the existence dat institution
Then. sir, as an expressCsentlment this
hill is superhuous. But nlan that 1t is !
urged by some penalite.,, WIN 1t be |
enforced? l say no 4; tell you that,
-.sbouId the bill pass, neitYou nor L will
~ ever live to see a partlch will dare to
vote money and instrule president to
use it in putting in opIn and IN enlore-
ing the penal statute III this bill pro-
poses.
Them sir what does i.ount to? | say, |
asapeAl statute it is rless | will not
20 lntcthe argument to show why it |
ought Vt to be enforce, the cruelty of at
tempurto enforce it ast these men, who |
never ga UNDERSTAND the bill was enact
ed. III not go into argument about the |
eXpenh millions thagould cost this gov
ernm6o enforce il that it would give
the Mons reason tharge that we have
madeoi persecutogainst them, driving
theme mountanM hunting them there
like Ilges, or tina would inevitably pro-
long nstence of institution which it
propSo abolish.All these questions l
passT there is Dody here who claims
that me purposof any party to vote
monfhstructioi to enforce this penal
statL
BIT is said DIT the honor and author.
ny Ghlted Sites must be vndcaled.
Th9and autIIhty of the United States
yinqndeed, bla law which its very
iral,iiit Is, frfh its verv inception,
dea, Nobodf here now dare stand IN
andlls partft to enforce this law I