The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-08-30
Rublic-No. 1O4.

AN ACT to punish and prevent the practice DO
lygamy in the Territories of the United States
and other places, and disappearing and annull-
ing certain acts of the Legislative Assembly of
the Territory of Utah.
BE 1t enacted by The Seacts and House of Represent
dtires Of the United States T1 america in Congress
assembled, That every person having husband or,
wife living, who shall marry any other person
whether married or single, in Territory of the
United States, other place over which the United
States have exclusive jurisdiction, shall, except in
the specified in the provisO to this section be
adjudged guilty of bigamy, and upon conviction
thereof, shall be punished by fine not exceeding
five hundred dollars, and by Imprisonment for a
term not exceeding five years: Provided RereTthe-
less That this section shall not extend to any per-
son by reason of any former marriage whose hus-
band or wife by such marriage shall have been alb
sent 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 dissolved by the decree of
competent court; nor to any person by reason of
any former marriage which shall have been annull-
cd pronounced void by the sentence or decree of
a competent court on the ground of the nullity of
the marriage contract.
SEC 2 And be ii further enacted, That the follow
ing ordinance of the provisional government of the
state of Deseret, so-cblled, namely: An ordinance
Incorporating the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints passed February eight, in the year
eighteen hundred aud fifty-one, and adopted, rc-en-
acted and made valid by the Governor and Legisla-
tive Assembly of the Territory of Utah by an act
passed January nineteen, in the year eighteen hun
dred and nifty -nYe, entitled An act IN relation TO
the compilation and revision of the laws and reso-
buttons in force in Utah Territory, their publica-
tion and 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, countenance polyg
amy, be and the same hereby are disapproved and
annulled: Provided That this act shall be so lin
tied and construed not to affect interfere with
the right or property legally acquired under tn,
ordinance heretofore mentioned, nor with the RICH
''to worship God according to the dictates of con
SCIENCE" but only to annull all acts and law
which establish, maintain, protect, or countenanc
the practice of poygamy, cvasivey called spiritua
marriage, however disguised By legal ecclesias ii
cal solemnites, sacraments, ceremonies, consecra
tons, or other contrivances
SEC 3. ARd be Il further enacted That it shall no
be lawful for any corporation or association for re
ligiOus or charitable purposes to acquire hol
real estate in any Territory of the United State
during the existence of the Territorial Government
of a greater value than fifty thousand dollars an,
all real estate acquired held by any such corpo
ration or association contrary to the provisions c
this act shall be forfeited and escheat to the Unite
States Prorided, That existing vested rights il
real estate shalt not be impaired by the provision
of this section
Approved, July /, 1852