Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-07-29
TPURIIc-No. I0t.

AN ACT to punish and prevent the pracdce
of polvgamy in the territories of the United
States and other places, and disappearing
and aDnuling certain acts of the legislative
assembly of the territory of Utah.
BE it enacted by the senate and house of
representatives of the United States of Amer
lea in congress assembled, that every person
having a husband or wife living, who shall
marry any other person, whether married or
single, in a territory of the United States, or
other place over which the United States have
exclusive jurisdiction, shall, except in the
cases specified in the proviso to this
section, be adjudged guilty of bigamy,
and upon conviction thereof, shall be punish
ed by fine not exceeding five hundred dol
lars, and by imprisonment for a term not ex-
ceeding five years Provided, nevertheless,
that this section shall not extend to any per-
son by reason of any former marriage whose
| husband or wife by such marriage shall have
been absent for five successive years without
being known to such person within that time
to be living; nor to any person by reason o.
any former marriage which shall have beer
dissolved by the decree of a competent court
| nor to any person by reason of any former
marriage which shall have been annulled o.
pronounced void by the sentence or decree o
a competent court on the ground of the nulity
of the marriage contract.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That thu
following ordinance of the provisional govern
ment of the state of Deseret, so-called, name
ly: can ordinance incorporating the churcl
of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" pass
ed February eight, in the year eighteen hun
bred and ifty-one, and adopted, re-enacted
and made valid by the governor and legisla
tive assembly of the territory of Utah by al
I.
eighteen hundred and fifty-fivo, entitled ''ai
act in relation to the compilation and revision
of the laws and resolutions in force in Utahter
ritory, their publication and distribution. AM
all other acts and parts of facts heretofore passe
by the said Legislative assembly of the territor
Of Utah which establish, support, maintain
shield, or countenance poygamy, be and tn
same hereby are disapproved and annulled
| Provided, that this act shall be so limited an
construed as not to affect or interfere Within
right of property legally acquired under tn
ordinance heretofore mentioned, nor with tn
right ''to worship God according to the die
tates of conscience, but only to annul all act
and laws which establish, maintain, protect, o
countenance the practice of polygamy, evaS
lively called spiritual marriage, however dis
guiSed by legal or ecclesiastical solemnitieS
sacraments, ceremonies, CONSIDERATIONS, o
other contriyances.
Sect. 3. And be it further enacted, that
shall not be lawful for any corporation or as
sOciation for religious or charitable purposes
to acquire or hold real estate in any territor,
of the United States during the existence o
the territorial government, of greater valu,
than fifty thousand dollars and all real estat,
acquired or held by any such corporation o.
association contrary to the provisions of thi
act, shall be forfeited and escheat to tn,
United States Provided, that existing veste'
rights in real estate shall not be impaired b,
the provisions of this section.
Approved, July l, 1862.