The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-01-06


The bill introduced by Senator Howard, con-
corning affairs in Utah Territory, strikes at the
root of the polygamous system Of the Mormon
Church In the most enectual manner. This
system has been permitted to exist for many
years in one of our Territories, to the great dis
credit and shame Of the United States govern
ment and people. The common law, as well as
the specific laws Of the different States and
Territories, recognizes bigamy as . crime, and
yet this crime is openly committed every day
in Utah, under cover Of Church ordinance
In fact, that which is familiarity known as the
social evil d as extensively practised there as
in any. Of our Eastern cities, but it wears the
habiliments of religion in Utah, while 1t faunts
in the habiliments of fashion in New York
But there is something more daring in the vio-
lation Of moral law and in open defiance of
the statutory laws of the country, in the sys-
tenn Of polygamy as practised under the juris-
diction of Brigham Young. 1t is in this that
the bill Of the Senator from Michigan must rely
for its justification and its potency, and which
recommends it to universal favor. The pro-
visions are stringent and seem to reach 9
remedy for this disgusting sore upon the body
polite. We have had laws passed over and
over again, aiming at the destruction Of this
evil; but the Mormons, secure In their distant
seclusion, governed by officials Of their own
faith and banded in q powerful organization
for self defence, have laughed at the laws Of
Congress.
The condition Of affairs in Utah has been
thoroughly demoralized for the last fifteen
years or more, examples of which are furnished,
not alone by the prevalence Of the social evil
in form which the Mormon law apparently
legtimizes, but by the treatment which Gentle
citizens, who are certainly entitled to the pro-
lection Of the government, have received at the
hands Of the Saints II Is not uncommon TO find
this class Of citizens prosecuted even unto death
by the Mormons. To infringe upon their GUS
toms by intermarriage with the sealed women
OF the Mormon leaders, or otherwise rescue
from an abhorred fate the poor female victims
ofths polygamic system, was but to provoke the
vengeance of the whole Mormon community
and to evoke the aid Of the Destroying An
GEL" whose ministration usually ended in the
assassination Of the offending Gentle. These
arc familiar facts in the history Of Mormonism.
That they should be permitted to continue is
reproach to our government.
At the present time there is conflict be-
tween the Mormon leaders and the Gentle
merchants in the Territory, Of which We have
Just received information. The heads Of the
Mormon Church, 1t appears, have prohibited
traffic between their people and the Gsntiles;
and the latter, who are for the most
part engaged in mercantile business,
have demonstrated and propose to leave
the Territory II the Mormons will pay
them certain valuation on their stocks
OF goods and guarantee them the debts in
CURED BY their Mormon customers. This
proposition Brigham Young refuses 10 con-
slider, and retorts, in his answer 10 the remon-
STRANGE Of the Gcntiles, that portion Of these
Gentilss have been denoralising The Mormon
community, introducing intoxicstion sad other
vices IN vsrous shapes, greatly 10 the dctri-
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