The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-04-06

the day.
Congress seems to be vastly perplexed by the
condition of things in Utah. The government
has held that rebellious colony in check for two
years past, hut it has failed to make any favora-
BILE impression on the obdurae saints, who have
erected their affairs in the wilderness. Neither
the threatening attitude of the army, nor the
Nominations of the Federal Judges, have caused
them to modify their incongruous polity, or re-
form their abominable practices. Though the
political and religious system they have estab-
lshed is in direct antaconism TO the institutions
of the UNITED STATES, and is repugnant TO the
feelings and principles of the whole people of the
country Congress has hesitated TO order the de-
molition of their fantastic theocracy. In the
meantime the Mormons are gathering strength, as
well by accessons from without as by the natural
increase among the original settlers; and if it is
difficult TO coerce them now, it will be doubly so
when the children who are born and educated in
the faith of their fathers, arrive at maturer years
These will cling, fanalically, to the belief they
have inherited, and will defend it at all hazards
Convinced lhat matters will become more COM
plicated as time advances, Congress has set about
seeking remedy for the abnormal condition of
affairs in that territory, and bill prohibiting po-
lygamy has passed the House of Representatives.
This is step in the right direction, for if change is
effected in this feature of the Mormon SYSTEM the
whole social fabric of which it is the cornerstone,
will also fall. That this degrading custom is at
with all the theories of modern civilization few
persons will deny, though there are some who main
tain that the evil will work out its own cure, and
should therefore be let alone. If Deseret was
situated thousand miles east of its present loca-
ton, such would doubtless be the case Sur
rounded by population which would narrowly
criticise their community, and would insist upon
extending the ampest protection to women, the
uxorlous Danites would be compelled to abandon
polygamy, for the practice can only exist where
man Is absolute and semi-savage. Where perfect
freedom of speech and action is guaranteed to the
gentle sex, it is difficult, say some satiriss, for
man to manage single wife, therefore toattempt to
control more than that number must he madness
be this as it may, it is notorious fact that only by
the harshest measures have polygamous gentle
men been able to have quiet homes when they had
n dozen hepmates. Some sagacious Africans
have tried the experiment of giving to each wife
a separate hut, but the dark beauties oftentmes
beat up each Others quarters and fought furiously.
The fond husband was, therefore, ofentimes
driven to the painful necessity of determining
which of the adored belgerents he would SELL
The Turks adopted a different mode of regulating
their establishments. If there was disturbance
in the harem in the morning. boat would be
seen gliding over the placid waters of the Bospho-
rus at twilight and as the rover rested a moment
on his oars, splash and feeble squeak would
break the stiffness, a bubble would burst upon
the surface, and there would be peace at Selim's
fireside. Polygamy can only be permanent
institution where the lords of creation enforce disci-
pline as they once did in Constantinople. They
have now, however, been compelled even in that
city, in Difference to the benign and enlightened
spirit of the age, to relax the stringency of their
domestic rules, and the consequences of this change
are already felt. 1t was but few months ago that
the SULTAN's wives brought him into trouble by
running up enormous bills with innumerable
tradesmen. The unfortunate monarch was COM
PEELED to pay, and was afraid to drown these ex-
travagant Beauties and we should not be surprised
to learn that their July liabilities will exceed those of
Turks can tolerate such things, and ifpublic opin-
ION prohibits the use Of the slck. they must dis
pense evermore with plurality of wives. What
methods are in vogue in Utah for the regulation of
refractory married women it is impossible to say
1t is probable, however, that many cruelties are
practised, for there are other causes that render
the fair sex in Salt Lake City very tractable, and
indispose them to sickle for monogamy Houses
are very scarce there, as yet, and it is the uncer
talnty of finding accommodations that often in
duces many Deseret maidens to confde their desti-
MES to one liege lord. And as the pariarchs have
the most commodious and comfortable dwellings,
they have respectively the largest number of
wives But if the territory was thickly settled
as the Eastern States, the Mormons would
soon be compelled TO abandon polygamy, or
to resort TO the seventies of the Turks
to make it bearable. The country is
not settled though, is it likely to be for several
generations, and if we wait until the advance of
civilization destroys the obnoxious institution, we
but postpone an inevitable crisis which will as
sumo in the interval more formidable character.
Congress has, we believe, the power to abate the
nuisance complained of, and it ought, at once to
exercise it. 1t is no valid objection to such action
on its part to say that when it remodels the Nor
mon State 1t must necessarily overturn the Nor
mon church. If both are inseparably linked to-
gether, then let both perish together Society has
no authority, it is true, to question any mans
creed, nor to call him to account for any course
involving merely moral responsibilities. But it
has the indsputable right to prohibit any thing
whatsoever that it may deem detrimental to its
interests. 1t may declare any act to be illegal,
regardless of the motives that may animate the
actor. And when nine-tenths of the community
agree that theft or forgery, duellng or murder,
free-love or polygamy, or any other crime, vice
or error, are hurtful TO the general welfare it is
proper that laws should be passed to prevent and
punish them; and it matters not whether areli-
gious faith or some peculiar code of morals, under
takes their vindication or protection. Society
can only exist where the majority assent to certain
fundamental propositions, and obligate themselves
to compel universal obedience to them, and where
ever sectarian or individual idiosyncraces are ac-
copied as excuses for the violation of the cardinal
principles of the social compact, the latter must
fall to pieces The people of this country accord
with few Insignificant exceptions, in denouncinp
polygamy as inconsistent with their notions nc
good government and repugnant to their ideas
of civilization. They may, therefore, insist that
its votaries shall abandon the practice, or with
draw from the country. If such an edict wounds
some eccentric conscience, which is unable to dis
connect a mode of life from mode of faith, the
public is not called upon, on that account, to
forego its own opinions. And when it deliberate
Irrf i,lyc fhnto
rity and vitality of society, it should strike it
down, whether it is sanctioned by State, or
church, or is practised by sects or parties.
STEAMERS DUE.-The following European steam
ers are now fully due The Kangaroo and Brem-
en-, which sailed on the 2lst ult. for New York,