Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-08-05
TpuuLle No. io4. /

AN ACT to punish and prevent the practice OF
polygamy in the Territories of the United
States and other places, and disappearing and
annulling certain acts of the Legislative As
sembly of the Territory of Utah.
Be il enacted by the Senate and House Of Rep
resentatipes Of ne United States Of 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, or other place
over which the United States have exclusive ju-
Iisdiction, shall, except in the oases specified i'll
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 II term not cX
ceedng five years Fropided, nevertheless, That
this section shall not extend to 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 dissolved by the decree of a COM
petent court; nor to any person by reason OF
any former marriage which shall have been an
nulled or pronounced void by the sentence or
decree of a competent court on the ground Of
the nullity Of the marriage contract.
Sec. .. And be ii tartder Rdctea, That the
following ordinance of the provisional govern
ment of the State of Deseret, sO-called, namely
"An ordinance incorporating the Church of Jesus
Christ Of Latter Day Saints" passed February
eight, in the year eighteen hundred and fifty
one and adopted, re-enacted, and made valid by
the Governor aud Legislative Assembly OF the
Territory of Utah by an act passed January
nineteen in the year eighteen hundred and nifty
five, entitled " An act 10 relation to the compi-
laton and revision of the laws and resolutions in
force in other acts and parts Of acts heretofore
passed by the said Legislative Assembly OF the
Territory of Utah, which establish, support
maintain, shield, or countenanco pOygamy, be
and the same hereby are disapproved and annui-
led Provided, 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 mentioned, nor with the
right ''to worship God according to the dictates
of conscience" hut only to nnnul all nets and
laws which establish, maintain, protect or coun-
tenance the practice of polygamy, evaslvely
called spiritual marriage, however disguised by
legal or ecclesiastical sOlemnitIcs, sacraments,
ceremonies conservation, or other contrvanees.
Sec. 8. And he ii further eRdcted, That 1t shall
not be lawful for any corporation or association
for religious or charitable purposes TO acquire
or hold real estate in any Territory OF the United
States during the existence of the Territorial
Government of greater value than fifty thou
sand dollars and all real estate acquired OF
held by any such corporation or association con
trary to the provisions of this act, shall be for
feited and escheat to the United States PROM
4ed, That existing vested rights in real estate
shall not be impaired by the provisions of this
section.
Approved, July !, 1862.