Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1862-09-04
[PUBIIc-No. 104.1

FUBLlC-NO. lO4. ...
AN ACT to punish and prevent the
practice of polygamy in the Terri.
tories of the United States and 9TH
or places, and disappearing and an
nulling certain acts Of the Legisla-
tive Assembly of the Territory of
Utah.
Bel enacted by the Senate and House
If Representatives. of The United States
IF 1mrica ia Congress assembled, That
every person having a husband or
wife living, who shall marry any 9TH
or 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 adjudg-
ged guilty Of bigamy, and upon con-
viction thereof, shall he punished by
a fine not exceeding five hundred dol
lars, and by Imprisonment for term
not exceeding five years Prorided,
nererlheless, That this section shall not
extend 10 any person 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 Of any former
marriage which shall have been dis.
solved by the decree Of competent
court; nor to any person by reason Of
any former marriage which shall have
been annullcd or pronounced void by
the sentence or decree Of a competent
court on the ground Of the nullity Of
the marriage contract. no
SEC. 2. Ind 6ea further enacted. That
the following ordinance of the provi-
sional government of the State of De-
scrct, so-callcd, namely Gan ordi-
nance Incorporating the Church of
Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints"
passed February eight, in the year
eighteen hundred and fifty-one, and
and adopted, re-enacted, and made
valid by the Governor and Legisla-
tive assembly Of the Territory Of Utah
by an act passed January nineteen,
in tho year eighteen hundred and
fifty-fivc, entitled An act in relation
to the compilation and revision Of the
laws and resolutions in force in Utah
Territory, their publication and dis.
distribution" and all other acts and
parts of acts heretofore passed by the
said Legislative Assembly Of the
Territory Of Utah, which establish,
support. maintain, shield, or counte
nance polygamy, be aud the same
hereby arc disapproved and annullcd !:
Prorided, That this act shall be SO
limited and construed as not to affect
or interfere with the right Of property
legally acquired under the ordinance
heretofore meniiodcd, nor with the right
"to worship God according to the die
tatcs Of conscience" but only to an
nul all acts and laws which establish
maintain, protect, or countcnancc the
practice of polygamy, evasivcly cal
led spiritual marriage, however dis
guiscd by legal or ecclesiastical sol
emnitics, sacramento, ceremonies, con-
sccrations, or ether contrivanccs.
SEC 3. Ind be II further enacted, That
it shall not be lawful for any corpora
ton or association for religious or
charitable purposes to acquire or hold
real estate in any Territory OF the I'm
tied States during the existence Of the
Territorial Government Of greater
value than tifry thousand dollars and
all real estate acquired or held by any
such corporation or association con-
itrary to the provisions of this act.
shall be forfeited and eschcat to the
United States Prorided, That exist
ing vested rights in real estate shall
not be impaired by the provisions Of
Approved, July l, 1862. ...