The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-07-22
BFigham You9s ON PoIe.a,ny.

bFish"m it Honns ON PoIeamy.
In one of his letters from Great Sail
Lake City, AID. Richardson givas IN.
following sketch of a conversations VIII
Brigham Young, in his office, ON tl,
IsuRjeet of polygamy. Speaker Colft.2
was the principal party to manage the
controversy with the Mormon Presi
dent. .. ~
,Atilast the discourse turned upon
lPolygamy, and asIlively, frank discus,
sion ensped, in which all present on
both slues, took "a part Brigham in
sisted that experience and history, both
sacred and profane, Justify it, and
''posedN the scriptural members of our
party by asking them to cite from the
Biblea single direct prohibition. But
when he admitted tllnt even in Utah,
as elsewhere, the births of males and
females are about equal, he seemed a
little staggered by Mr.. ColfaX's asking
how he accounted for that fnct if the
Almighty designed more than one wife
for each man. EI
Our Party-Is Polygamy vital and
lnseParable part of your system?
Brlgham-lt is not in our Book OF
Covenants and Discipline. We did not
adopt 1T Of,ourselVes, but in consonauce
with revelation from God was or
dered to enter into Plurality. TThe
Mor1nons invarinbly use this word in
stead OF Polygamy-COTT OTTespOndent.1 So
were several of the other brethren, But
for the Church at large it is privilege
rather than an obligation. Abuses Of
1t sometimes occur which it is difficult
to prevent. But we can point to the
highest morality. We have not Il house
of prostitution. don'tbelieve YOU can
find four illegitimnte children in the
FTnrritnFU Won n1I
cannot last. Now tell us frankly how
you expect it to be done away.
ColiaN-WeL, we expect YOU to have
a new revelation prohibiting it. Laugh
teri
Brigham-We should not be sorry
for that. If God ever so directs, we
shall be glnd to dispense with it.
Colfax-Or there may be another So
luton. You may do away with it by
your own voluntary action, legally.
peacefully, just MS Missouri and Mary
land abolished slavery.
Brighan-But if we did so il would
be only the beginning. You could then
demand that we give up the Book of
Mormons, and next our Church organi-
zation. a..a
Our Party-No, moi You would be
tolerated in, your faith just as NIetho-
distS, Presbyterians, and all other sects
are. We have no right to interfere
with Your religion-only your prnctice
when it violates civil law.
a Mormon Elder-ThHt infamous
law against ttPOlygamy'' strikes at
our religious liberty, and is unconstitu-
tional. III. .
Colfax-It certainly violates no sec
ton of the Constitution, and nccords
with the practice of ali civilized ma
tiOns. at..
Elder-What right had Congress to
Our Party-The same it would have
TO Interfere with sect which, like
South Sea Islanders, should consider
human sacrifices II religious duty, or,
like our New England ancestors, should
interpret the scriptural injunction,
Thou shalt not suffer witch to live, y
as requiring them to drown old women
ON the charge OF witchcraft.
Brigham-The cases are not parallel.
As l read His word, God nowhere re-
quies the taking of human life, except
in single cnses of His Son, who was
given as n sacrifice and atOnement for
all our sins. Besides, our system is en-
tirely voluntary.
Our Party-True; butthe comparison
holds good insomuch as your system
conflicts with civilization and public
morality. If you had n revelation re-
quiring you, like Abraham, to sacrifice
and slay your son, would you do it?
Elder-Yes, if convinced that it was
a revelation from God. E.rt
Our Party-Well, just there the civil
law would step in to restrain you.-
Now, Will you answer question as
frankly as we have done. Do YOU ex-
pect PolygnnIy to spread throughout
the nation and the world? .sl'l II
Brigham-That is known only to the
God of Heaven. If, as we believe, our
faith is the true one, it will continue to
0nd nnlIriSh aud T1ofIiV,,r no,,
prevail against it. 1t is all i'll the hands
of God. irat t.sf
Soon after the interview ended. Civ
ing only fragamentary portions of it,
have endeavored to report the spirit,
and, as far as space would allow, the
words of its chief discussions. It's like
never occurred before in the office of
Brigham Young. 1 trust he will vet
receive the new revelation"