The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-04-19

THURSDAY, ": APRIL 10, 1860
The Late Vote in Congress, ON PO'ygamy.
The measure which called out this &C.
ton, was bill which was passed through
the House of representative, providing
for the abolition Of polygamy 10 the ter
ri,ory of Utah The result places the
seal of condemnation Upon this relic OF
barUarism; the vole being in the proper
ton ol l49 for the bill, to go against it;
but yet stain is left upon our ma ional
escutcheon. There were 50 memb RS OF
what claims to lie a civilized christian
representative body, who ;elt themselves
called upon to record their names against
tho bill. thereby implying, it not tncir As
sent, az least their indifference 10 The
practice of polygamy amongst the "Lat'r
Day Saiaks." The vote was not strictly
upon party grounds, though Republican
members, with very few excep ions, vot' d
for the bill, while the 60 voting ag inst
it were principally Democrats, inclu Ing
the whole Of the Ohio rppresen atIon
Various p,etexts will BE- put lor ard to
ex use, or palia the motives Of tbOs'
whe opposed the bill; some Of winch we
can readily anticipate. The question Of
jurisdiction. or the power of Congress to
enac, aud execute penal laws for terrific
rids or States. will be prom nent among
them. Another plea will be, that polyg
amy is strictly r. ligious institution, pc.
culiar to the Mormon people. Others vii
urge thai the evil will in lime work its
own cure Still oth~r pretex will be pro-
posed But we have n ither time moi
disposition to argue very elaboratoly, any
OF these points, a wo are not writing fOl
people who are pr pared t. enter'a any
paIi,ling excuses for su ii course as tia
which W. are ond m ing. II is enough
for us 10 KIN W, that the people of Ohio
Of all political cumplexi,ns will refuse Il
endorse their reprrs MIA ives VII hav,
Rbu,sl the trust r'po6-d n them. TIE
motives Of those who opposed the bill
pro ably Look beyond the present hour.
The constitutional pr vision which
guarantees every mln rely Gus freedom
is uot quite wide rn"ugh to lak- in ms i
tu'ions b'l 'nginy 10 bs bsrian,. and winch
aim a dea h b Ow at h. viLals OF civil IN
ton, nlrali'y n the chr stan .clig "a
Lat il be supp 'scI. that cnlony, claim
ing the protectl IN aud patronage Of tie
United Stat ., SHOULD, in accordance with
their convictions oi religious duty, insli.
tute and practice the rights Of human sac
ri6ce; would that practice Il d protection
10 our government, or even permission.
Freedom of religious worship, IN r. gart
to its rights and ceremonies. IL not re-
strained BY our laws. no long as priva
orputlic rights are not disturbed thereby
or the cardinal principles upon which ou
government is built, en- 'angerrd. Tn,
constitution reserves the right to the peo
pie to protect themselves and their g,y
ernment from the inva.ion ol such insi
tu'ions OF death.
1t may be claimed that the world know
well enough. that the people OF this. III
christian republic Of North America, ar
not polygamisIs. Tho void docs no
know that we are polygamists; but il W
put upon our journals, and send abroa
the fact, that one Of the colon os Of th
United States practices this unciyi.iz
thing, as n religious right, and tia n 70
spectacle portion Of the peoples reprcs n
tatives in Congress- assembled refused t
PISS law TO abolish it. tho na'ion
attained thrrrby. aud looses caste with II,
civilized world.
This institution is a witl,cring curse
and a blackning veil on our fair nam
smong the civilized ma ions Of lhr earth
and no man can, in his capacity Of repre-
sentative o! 40 enlightened people. acqui
himself by 80 fimsy pretext. as the wan
Of constitutional power Ilo must shak
the dirt from his own skirts, or roceiy
tho condemnation Of an insultod people.
Sa-Thc following is tho list Of draw
Jurors Tor the May term Of lie Fairfield
county Court
GRAND JURY.
John II Weakly, Walnu, township
Richard d Su,phen Liberty
wesley Holiday Rushcrcrk &"
John Gearhau Greenfield "
Geo; II Smith ("
John S'ucksy b ruo {"
James Ennis Hooking "a
POgh j. Murphy violot
lsaiah hampson Riohland 2"
Jpse2h Keller Wanu, I"
Christian Y. Sohorn Violet
Jhn Weldy RnshcrcsL o
Isaac r Stricklor Mad son :,
Daniel Collins AmoDJ. =,