Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-02-04

ne discusses polygamy at length. He
Acknowledges that there is seeming author
ity for a plurality of wives in Scripture,
but there were many things authorized in
those earlier ages whish could not be toll
GRATED now. He says:
al lay it down as a sound proposition,
that no community can happily exist with
an institution rs important as that Of mar
riage wanting in al those qualities that
make ithomogenial with institutions and
laws Of neighboring civilized communi-
ties having the same object. Anomalies in
the moral world cannot long exist in a
state Of mere allegiance; they must, from
The very nature Of things become aggres-
siye, or they will soon disappear from the
force of conflicting ideas. No community
can long exist without absolute social an
arohy, unless so important an institution
as that Of marriage is regulated by law.
It is the basis of our civilization, aud in it
the whole question of the descent and dis
tribution of real and personal estate is in
vclved.
"Much TO my astonishment, [ have not
been able to find any law upon the stat
utes Of this Territory regulating mar
riage. l earnestly recommend to your
early consideration the passage Of some
law that will meet the exigencies Of the
people.
Z" respectfully call your attention TO an
act of Congress, passed the first day Of
July, 1862, entitled An act to punish and
prevent the practice of polygamy in the
Territories of the United States, and in
other places, and disappearing and annull-
ling certain acts of the Legislative Assem-
bly, Of the Territory of Utah." Chap.
CXXFIl of the statutes at large Of the last
session of Congress, page sol. am
aware that there is a prevailing opinion
here that said act is unconstitutional, and
therefore it is recommended by those in
high authority that no regard whatever
should be paid to the same And still
more to be regretted if I am rightly in
formed, in some instances it has been
recommended that it be openly disregarded
and defed, merely to defy the same"
WANT OF COMMON SCHOOLS.
The Governor takes them to task for
neglect of passing some law organizing a
system Of Common Schools, and says; al
have not been able to find any laws upon
yOuE SLhlulCb AuduB BuEdluB common
School system, or that any money has been
appropriated with a view to that end, al
though you have appropriated money to
other objects of much less importance, for
instance in keeping up quasi military
establishment at considerable expense to
the people
We have noticed only a small portion of
the Message. It is a significant fact, that
although the Legislature voted to print
1000 copies of the document, it had not
seen the light at the date of this CORES
pondence, two weeks thereafter. The au-
thOrities are evidently frightened at their
new Governor. The correspondent says
"sHAKIEG IN THEIR BoOZs."
"Wonder need not be felt at their evil
dent bewilderment and alarm, as this is
the first and only time within their his
tory where Governor has touched upon
the matter Of plurality of wives at all,
even in the most delicate and 'rose-water
style. Had a thunderbolt fallen in their
midst, do not think they would have ex-
hibited more palpable trepidation, and in
voluntary movement Of nerve and muscle
in the eneasement of their neither extrem-
tiles, Yulgarly called shaking in their
boots, than they did on this occasion"