New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-04-05
lmLsON, PRYOR AND POLYGANY IN THE HOUSE
ETHERIDGE AMONG THE PATRLARCHS.


WAsHINGTON, April 2, 1860.
NILSSON, Pryor and POlygamy had possession Of
the House to-day. The pending question was the
passage Of the bill sbolshing Brigham Young's Pc
cabar domestic institution in the Territory of Utah
Metaphysical Mr.. MlllsOn of the Norfolk district
IN an elaborate argument full of impaIpable sub-
titles, and pert Mr. Pryor of the Petersburg dis
trict, in dashing defamation, repete with glitter
ing inanities, undertook to show that Congress
might intervene TO prohibit and abolish polygamy in
a Federal Territory, though it could not intervene
to do precisely the same thing in regard to an
other patriarchal institution, to wit, its twin
relic Of barbarian, chattel Slavery. In a
word, Millson and Pryor tried to prove
that while Congress might, HDder the Con-
stitutioD inhibit Brigham Young, the Mormon,
from having more than one white wife, 1t could not
eUnstituiioDsy deny to Brigham Young the slave
holder, the luxury If a dozen negro cOncubines.
In support of bis position, Mson quoted numerous
precedents TO show that Congress had again and
again nterveDcd TO prevent and abolish all sorts of
practices in the National Territories seeming ut
terly TO have forgotten that an equal number OF
preeedents may be cited to prove that Congress- in
repeated instances, from 1889 down to 1850, had
by express enactments prohibited the existence OF
Slavery in the Territories, and tina. If precedents
Established Tie pI0pl slLlOu LOT WHICH
they equally potent TO malnt ain the cornerstone
doctrine OF the Republican patty.
hlllson having discharged his guns, and Pryo
let of his rockets Mr. Etherdge Of Tennessee took
ne moor, and speedily SET the guns to kicking back
ep0n hilson, while he brought the sticks down in
shower upon the head of Pryor Etheridge is one
oil The most provoking speakers in the House. Good
safured, selt-possessed always on the alert never
on hs guard, raey, rapid, sarcastic witty he is
capasie OF nayiDg an opponent with az gentle hand
az any man on either side of the chamber. In pup.
gtney, IN bitterness IN ceaTness of statement and
vigor OF argument, he does not reach-proboblv he
does not aspire to-the ofter plane where stands
Mr. Winter Davis and few others Of his and
type. But for an OF hand, extemporaneous. or ne
Mrs. Sarah Camp would say, miscellaneous talk
sort of going in upon the Common Courts, 10 use
. law phrase-or, to use low phrase, a thorough
squelchng Of opponent be has no superior in the
House. In speech of about an hour to-day he
held up 10 the general gaze, and pointed out with
the most provoking part euarity, the inconsiser ces
and absurdities, and ncongruities of the positions
assumed by these Virginia abssactiOnists, in affirm
ing the power of Congress over the territories in
one breath, and denying it in the next; in insisting
that il was ample to restrain and abolish one spe
cies of domestic insttaton, while imPotent in re-
gard TO another of kindred character.
This question Of polygamy greatly disturbs the
Democracy of all wings. They are at their wits
ends " know how they can with any show Of con.