The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-04-11
s.TwrN RELICS OF nAHBARIsm.



One of the most exciting scenes OF the
session occurred ia the Houee on the 9Th
inst, while the anti polygamy bill was I'M
der consideration in Committee Of the Whole.
Mr.. Nelson OF Tenn, spoke in favor OF
the bill, expressing the hope that the pass
age would approach as near as possible to
unanimity. lie saw manifest distinction
between interfering with the rights Of pro-
perty and the right to declare criminal an
act which lie so declared by the law Of God.
The existence Of the institution of po-
lygamy 10 Utah is an Insult to the moral
feelings OF the whole population, an insult
to the wives and daughters OF the gentlemen
here, and their constituents. Ii was q re-
hecsion upon our national character that il
should exist under the protection Of Amer-
can law.
Hooper Of Utah, said that at the proper
time, which would soon come, and when he
could be heard without prejudice, be would
defend the people of Utah from the calum-
nies which bad been heaped upon them. 10
the mean time he appealed to dispassion
and unbiased Judgment OF the House to
think better OF the one hundred thousand OF
their fellow creatures than they had been
represented by their enemies.
liz was not bis intention to discuss the pc.
culiar features Of the bill, but he respectful
ly asked the gentlemen If they were pre-.
pared to meet the consequences Of it's pass
aee9 Were we not now emerging from diff
healties with the people at whom this bill is
leveied? he warned gentlemen that the
feelings Of Utah will be easily aroused. The
suspicion OF hostility against them has been
aiIayed, and he was glad to know that there
was better feeling now than formerly; but If
this bill be PASSED and its provisions be car.
RED cut, those angry passions Will revive
and wither at the core; the fires which
blared so fercely while the fuel of persecu-
ton was heaped upon them, had died out;
and he appealed to the representatives, not
OF one, but OF all parties, to say whether
they were prepared to rekindle the fame
As delegate Of all the citizens of Utah ha
bad 20 remember that be could not alludr
70 tho division Of sentiment, among them,
either upon the subjec, of polygamy or any
other.
Clark of Missouri asked to what extent
polygamy exists in Utah-what number hav q
more than one wife, and whether the regula-
ton OF such marriages 10 binding on the
people?
Hooper replied that be was not practically
polygamst. From ten years. residence and
observation in Utah, be could say not over
half the people recognize polygamy, and
probably half these have not more than one
wife each.
lie knew OF no Church regulation which
compelled man to become a poiygamist,
and OF no church regulation which com
PEELED woman to marry a man, except vol
unfairly.
lie declared on bis honor that the passage
OF this bill will not be unexceptionable to
the extreme advocates OF polygamy in Utah,
and it will unite all the people in a common
cause against the unjust pretensions OF the
GENERAL Government to put down poygamy
by force.
Mr.. Lovejoy said that the House had been
engaged in giving the death blow to polyga.
nv.
By the Philadelphia platform the Re-
publican party stands pledged, az far az the
Federal Government has the power, to ex
tirpate that other twin relic Of barbarisns,
Slavery, in the Territories. He wanted TO
see them both strangled and 20 down to-
gether.
MIR. L., warming up with bis subject,
passed from bis seat TO the area in front OF
the Clerks desk, in full view Of all the mem
bers, and spoke In a loud tone, with empha-
sis and earnest gesticulations, against the
ground on which ii was sought to Justify
Slavery, because the creatures are poor and
the strong have the power to Cypress the
weak, the rich to Cypress the poor; the
spirit OF slaveholding being the spiris OF the
devil. &c.
Several members called him to order.
Mr.. Pryor said the gentleman from iii.
nols had no right to shake bis fist at gentle
men on his side. 1t Was bad enough to stant
an his own place and talk his treason and iu
science.
Barksdale.-"L Let him keep on his owl
side"
The confusion in the House soon becam
general and members began to press into th,
ares.
Mr.. Cox said the gentleman from Illinoi,
ought 30 speak from bis seat.
Mr.. Pryor--~ssLot him stand there AMI
talk. He shall not come over on this side O
the nall" T@
Mr.. Barksdale was seen shaking hi
cane, and In the midst 81 the confusion h,
was heard to say "rascAl,' as applied to Mr.
Lovejoy.
Mr.. Adrain, AZ If to quiet the tumult
said that the gentleman could speak from hi
scat.
The Chsirman in vain raped to rastor
order.
Mr.. AdraiD, in eonoiliatory tone, sup