The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-04-13
Utah and Polygamy--How shall they
be Disposed OF.

be Disposed OF.
The House of Representative is now
engaged in debating several propositions,
having reference to the condition of affairs
in Utah. There appears to be very gem
eral disposition among members, to crush
out polygamy, but how to do it, is vexa-
tious question, as it brings up the authority
of Congress over the local legislation of
Territory, and has therefore, an indirect
bearing upon the slavery question.
The Committee on judiciary of the House,
has reported bill for the suppression of
polygamy in Utah." The preamble recites
that it is admitted that polygamy is permit
ted by the municipal regulations of one of
the territories of this Union, and is sought
to be justsied on the ground that this abom-
ination in Christan-country is religious
rite of the inhabitants of said territory /;
and that no principle of selfgovernment or
citizen sovereignty can require or justify the
practice of such moral pollution.
The bill, therefore, enacts that all persons
guilty OF polygamy (which is defined in the
billy shall, upon conviction thereof, pay q
fine not exceeding $500, and be imprisoned
not less than two nor more than five years.
The second section of the bill, annuls GER
tain laws of the Utah Legislature, permit
ting polygamy, and all other acts, heretofore
passed, which establish, maintain, protect,
or countenance, the practice of polygamy,
evasively called spiritual marriage, however
disguised by legal or ecclesiastical solemn
ties, sacraments, ceremonies, CONSIDERATIONS
or other contrivances.
Mr.. BRANCH, of North Carolina, proposes
to solve the difficult question, By repeating
the third and fourth sections of the act Or
ganizing Utah Territory, which sections
make provision for territorial Legislature,
and passing law providing that the leg
islative power, as defined and limited in said
act, shall be vested in the governor and
thirteen of the most fit and discreet persons
of the territory, to be called the legislative
council, who shall be appointed biennially
by the President of the United States, by
and with the advice and consent of the Sen
ate, from among the citizens of the United
States residing therein, and without refer
ence to any districts which have heretofore
been laid off,"
Mr.. BRANCH said that the amendment he
proposed was to strike out 30 much of the
bill reported by the committee as proposes
to render polygamy criminal in all the ter
ritories of the United States, and to retain
only so much of it as disapproves and an
nuls all laws of the territory of Utah sane
tioning and permitting polygamy. Congress
has a right to disapprove and annul those
laws of Utah, he contended, because that
right has been expressly reserved by the act
organizing that territory. He would have
no difficulty in voting for any bill which
shall disapprove and annul those acts.
There is nothing in any such bill that would
be violation of the rights of Utah, or of
any great principle that has been laid down
for the guidance of the legislation of the
country in reference to the territories. The
question whether we shall pass general
law rendering criminal this practice in all
the territories of the Union, might bring up
different class of considerations altogether.
Mr.. LOGAN comes in with another amend
ment, proposing to strike Utah from the
map, and creating the western portion of
that territory into a new territory, to be
called Nevada, with the capital at Genoa,
and the eastern part into Jefferson territory,
with the capital at Denver City. By this
act, the question as to the right or expedi-
eucy of Congress to interfere in the local
affairs of the territory would be avoided,
and Mormonism, Polygamy, and BRIGHAM
YOUNG be disposed of in a most summary
manner.
We quote the following from the debate
in the House on this subject, on Monday
last:
The bill for the suppression of polygamy
in Utah was considered.
Mr.. Millson (dem.) of Virginia, said this
bill should psss with as much unanimity as
possible, for the crime of polygamy was not
only extensively practised, but attempted to
be legalized by the statute. He argued, in
reply to Mr.. Taylor, that Congress has
power over this low and degrading impos-
ture, and that the very first year after the
adoption of the federal constitution a law
was passed for the punishment of certain
crimes, wherever the jurisdiction of the
United States extended.
Mr.. McClernand, of Illinois, interrupts
ing) said there was no instance in which
Congress attempted to operate directly for
the punishment of crime in organized terri
tories.
Mr.. Pryor, of Virginia, argued that the
question Of constitutional power is sustained
by the uniform policy Of the government.
Congress may supervise and annul the orga.
mic law of an incipient state. The Rpubli-
can party may associate polygamy and