Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-03-07

that there is sufficient population, that the
Constitution is republican in form and spirit,
that the same has been adopted in good faith,
and that the people are loyal to the Federal
Government and TO the laws, then the right
to make such demand does not exist, nor
shorld the application be entertained after
these facts appear.
The admission of new State into the
Union, is or ought to be, attended with the
gravest consideration. For instance, suppose
that TIE population of the Territory is known
to fall far short of the number that entities
the present members of the Union to a rep
rcscntation in Congress, should it be thought
hard OR strange that objections should be
made? Is it thought hardship that the
people of the State of New York, comprising
100000, are not willing that their voice
should be silenced in the Senate of the Uni
ted States by 10000 or $4,000 people in one
Of the Territories am aware that prece-
dents may be cited in some few instances
where these reasons have been overlooked
and disregardtd, but that fact does not effect
the question under consideration. The rca-
sons which controlled Congress at the time
referred to were never good and sound ones,
but were found in the wishes and ambition of
political parties. anxious to control the vote
in the Electoral College for Chief Magistrate.
If the precedent was Il bad one, the sooner it
is changed the better for all parties con-
cevned
In connection with this uljyct, respect.
fully recommend the propriety of passing an
act whereby correct census may be taken
of the population of this Territory. If it
shall be found that the population is sufficient
to cntite it to one Representative i'll Congress
on the present basis, | shall be most happy
in aiding you, to the extent of my humble
abilities, in forwarding any movements hav
ing for their end the admission of the Terri
tory into the Union as a State.
In considering the question Of polygamy
he argues as follows:
1t would be disingenious if were not to
advert TO a question which although seeming
ly has nothing to do with the premises, is yet
one of vast Importance to you as a people,
and which cannot be ignorcd-I mean that
institution which is not commanded but en-
couragcd by you and which, to say the least
of it, is an anomaly throughout Chrstendon
Il mean polygamy, or, if YOU please, plur-
atty of wives. In approaching this delicate
subject, desire to do so III no offensive mall
ner or unkind spirit yet the institution
founded upon no written statute of your Ter
ritory, but upon custom alone, exists. 1t is
public fact and your own public teachers,
by speech and pamphlet on many occasions,
have challenged its investigation at the bar
of Christendom. ! will not on this occasion
be drawn into a discussion either of its NOR
atty or its Bible authority. l will neither
affirm or deny any one Of the main PROPOSE
tions on which it rests. That that there is
seeming authority for its practice in the Old
Testament Scriptures, cannot be denied.
But still there were many things authorized
in the period of the world when they were
written, which could not be tolerated now
without ovcrurning the whole system of our
civilization, as it is on that ncarer and better
revelation of the common Savior Of us all.
While it must be confessed that the practice
of polygamy prevailed to a limited extent,
yet it should be remembered that it was in
that age of the world when the twilight of
semi barbarism had not yielded to the cfiul-
gence to the coming day, and when the glory
and fame of the Kings of Israel consisted
more in the beauty and multitude Of their con-
cubincs than in the wisdom of their counsel
lors. can eye for an eye and tooth for a
tooth" was once the lee ta1ionis of the great
Jews lawgiver. SO capital punishment was
awarded for misunderstanding and there
were many other statutes and customs which
at this age Of the world, if adopted, would
carry us backward into the centuries of bar
barism.
l lay it down as a sound proposition that
no community can exist with an institution
as important as that Of marriage wanting in
all those qualities that make it homogeneal
with institutions and laws of neighboring civ
ilizcd communities having the same object.
Anomalies in the moral world cannot long ex.
list in a state OF mere aLeyance-they must
from the very nature of things become ag-
gressive, or they will soon disappear from the
force of conflicting ideas. This proposition
is supported by the history of our race, and
is so plain that it may be set down as an axi-
ON. If we grant this to be true, we may
sum up the conclusion of the argument as fol-
lows: Either tile lars and tie opinions Of
Tie communities by whicA yom are surrounded
must become subordinate to your customs and
opinions, or on tie other land, you must yicld
to theirs. The conflict is irrepressblc.
But no matter whether this anomaly shall
disappear or remain amongst you, it is your
duty at least. to guard it against fragrant
abuses. That plurality of wives is tolerated
and believed to be right, may not appear so
strange. But that mother and her daugh-
tiers are allowed to fulfill tho duties Of mices
to the same husband, or that man could DO
found III all Christendom who could be in.
duced to take upon himself such relation
ship, is perhaps no less marvel in morals
than in matters of taste. The bare fact that
such practices are tolerated amongst You is