Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-04-09

| PoLYGAMY seems to be to politics the out
side fulcrum which was all that Archimedes
wanted to upset the world. 1t has already
disposed of squatter sovereignty and of the
Cincinnati Platform, and has established Con-
gressional interference with domestic rela-
tions in the Territories. Not only that, but
Mr.. Branch and a considerable number of
Democrats, proposed 20 abolish the terrific
rial organization of Utah, and distribute the
Territory around among various other Or
ganizations, although it is anxious for ad-
mission into the Union, and has sufficient
population to entitle it to come in; thus ad-
mitting that polygamy is too strong for re-
publican institutions.
Who would have thought that there was
so much in the question of wife more or
less? Is not polygamy patriarchal relation 2
We are aware that the Republican platform
calls it a twin relic of ofbarbarism;" but can n
party prosper that sets up its platform against
a domestic relation which is sanctioned by
the practice of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
and to some slight extent by David and Solo
mon? Not, we imagine, in this country, so
long as the Bible is read in our public schools.
In a diplomatic negotiation with the Dey
of Algiers concerning his prerogative to
make slaves from all Christian nations,
John Adams stoutly maintained that the
United States were not Christian nation.
As this threw the burden of proof on the
Dey, he was obliged to give up. our citizens,
whose temporal liberty was Obtained at some
risk of their eternal salvation. Yet, in spite
of this official record of our infidel status as
nation, it would be saddening to the we'll
regulated mind to believe that party can
succeed to power in this Government, whose
doctrine is direct reflection ON the domestic
relations of patriarchs whom all that have
been favored with religious training have
been taught to revere as walking in the clear
light of divine favor.
But if patriarchal domestic relations in the
Territories are subject to Congressional in
terference, it certainly would be putting too
fine point on it to say that slavery is ex-
empt, especially as it will hardly be denied at
the South that slavery includes quantity of
polygamy compared to which that at Utah,
which is such national eye-sore, is but
speck; and the bill which has passed the
House makes no distinction on account of
the color of the the polygamous offense. The
connection between the twin relics is like
that Of the Siamese twins. If one is subject
to Congressional treatment, the other will
naturally feel the operation of the same
physic.
The Cincinnati Platform, which has been
found so accommodating that it was proposed
to grease it and try it for another term, is
demolished just when the need of it is the
sorest the great principle of popular sover-
eighty has been collapsed by an extra wife,
and Congressional Intervention in the domes-
tic relations of the Territories is established
by Democratic precedent.
1t is gratifying to observe that the Demo-
cratic members from Ohio rallied to the
breech, or to the breeches, rather, and stood
firmly by the right of the 'citizens of a Terri
tory, the same as a State" to have as many
wives as they pleased, subject only to their
constitutions.