The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-11-01
CXXVI.

An Act to punish and prevent the Practice
of Polygamy in the Territories of the Uni
ted States and other places, and disap-
proving and annulling certain Acts of the
Legislative Assembly of the Territory of
Utah.
Be 1t enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled, That every
person having a husband or wife living, who
shall marry any other person, whether mar
ried or single, in a Territory of the United
States, or other place over which the United
States have exclusive Jurisdiction, shall, ex-
cept in the cases specified in the proviso to
this section, be adjudged guilty of bigamy,
and upon conviction thereof, shall be pun
ished by fine not exceeding five hundred
dollars and by imprisonment for term not
exceeding five years: Provided, neverthe-
less, 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 tine de-
cree of a competent court; nor to any per-
son by reason of any former marriage which
shall have been annulled or pronounced void
by the sentence or decree of competent
court on the ground of the nullity of the
marriage contract.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That
the following ordinance of the provisional
government of the State of DeSeret, so called,
namely: "An ordinance Incorporating the
Church of Jesus Christ of latter day Saints, u
passed February eight, In the year eighteen
hundred and fifty-one, and adopted, re-enac-
ted. and made valid by the governor and
legislative assembly of the Territory of Utah
by an act passed January nineteen, in the
year eighteen hundred and fifty-fve, entitled
g An act in relation to the compilation and
revision of the laws and resolutions in force
! in Utah Territory, their publication, and
distribution" and all other acts and parts
of acts heretofore passed by the said legisla-
tive assembly of the territory of Utah, which
establish, support, maintain, shield, or coun-
tenance polygamy, be, and the same hereby
are, disapprOved and annulled: Provided
That this act shall be so limited and con
strued as not to affect or interfere with the
right of property legally acquired under the
ordinance heretofore mentioned, nor with
the right I" to worship God according to the
dictates of conscience" hut only to annul
all acts and laws which establish, maintain
protect, or countenance the practice of pol.
ygamy, evasively called spiritual marriage
however disguised by legal or ecclesiastical
solemnities, sacraments, ceremonies, conse
crations, or other contrivances.
Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That il
shall not be lawful for any corporation OIL
association for religious or charitable pur
poses to acquire or hold real estate in any
Territory of the United States during the
existence of the territorial government of 6
greater value than fifty thousand dollars
and all real estate acquired OF held by any
such corporation or association contrary t.
the provisions of this act shall be forfeited
and escheat to the United States Provided
That existing vested rights in real estate
shall not be impaired by the provisions ol
this section.
Approved, July 1, 1862.