, 1869-12-21
TEE MOHMoH QUESTION.

The appointment OF Colonel j. ". Shaf-
fer Is Governor Of Utah Territory is, We
think, good selection At all events, it in
dicAtes purpose On the part Of the United
Statss Government to make itself respected
in that quarter.
Mormonism is polygauy, and polygamy
fin this country at least) is Mormonisn.
Congress has passed a law prohibit
ing polJgauy in the Territories.
1ha Mormous regard the Law as uuconsti-
tusional, because, they say, it interfcses with
The e1srcise Of their religion and they re-
fuss to pay any heed to it. ws haye thus
far found it impossible 10 enforce it By the
usuA machinery. 4 few gears ago grand
jur willing to do its svorn duty was OBJ
tained in Salt Lake CRY by some process
nov apparently lost It was kept
III session si1 months by Chief
Justice Titus, vho, with United States At
torney Hampstead, was ANXIOUS to procure
an Indictment Bot though it Was we'll
known TINT the Mormons kept on taking
wires OF all which they chos4 meanwhile,
no legal evidence, and consequently no
indictment, could be got. II the victims Of
we're deferred by fear. II there IL any evil
denee that polygamJ is practised by the
the bands Of Brigham Young, and will not
be communicated to the Judiciary until it
s,,its him. Tho grand jury, though wiling,
and the Court AID Attorney, though han1ious,
could not procure the Indictment Of any
b'xly for living in polsgamy- It Was fair
tria1, and, having failed, has not been re-
pea:ed A Gentils named B1as4held married
B alo1mons second or third wife, and an at
tempt was made to get that before The
cour1' as test case. But the SAINTS
asaaheiaated BrasAfeld in the hands Of tie
United States Mnysha1 before it could he
done. That method Was not tried again.
The Gaatiles of Utah have Binca looked
to the General Government as their only
recourse. President Lincoln had enough
to do in managing the South. President
johnson appears TO have thought the anti
polygamy law an ourgruvth Of Puritnutsu,
which ought not TO bo .ase-sea. rsoaid7a
Grrnt has promised to enforce the la~s
and he can do no lesz thAn attempt it in thi
case.
There is abundant evidence Of The con,
misdon by the Mormons Of numerous mos
atrooious crimes, of which the ulassacEa :.
Mountain Meadow heads the list. II II
Actors in that.fell scene, Mormon Bi .ho,
and other Church digpita1ies, cor i'd i
araigned, tried, convicted, and hang
for theit crimes. the Norm
p1oblen would be three-fourt
solved. There is no doubt Q the COMM
sinn Of these crinea,-the g ,idence has be
zprsad upon tho public records Of I
country for yeas, Tp' ere is as little dor
nf tbs possibility Of .nding out who 90
sui.tsd them, if the eovcrnment will eu
antes protection to those who know,
telling whst the !, know.
thsse ef1rnf lals onoe brought to JUST
it would be an easy task to virdicate
anihef'ty nd majesty Of American Law
Utah The days m killing and spoil
he HP stale and the Gentlle would b.
psaas forever The Mormon reign Of
TOE would be oyer. Ono third Of tho N
U.ons arc anti-polygamista; another II
are polyga1nssts only in theory. Knock
shackles from theit limbs and the scs
from thar eyes guarantee them inaayid
protection within the pale Of the law; al
them collectively that they cannot ion
successfully DEFY the government .na
world, and their faith would begin to loo
its so1d On them. It is largely becaus
their Ennceas In spite Of ali opposition I
thoy arc 70 fan1tical. II would be unsps
able relief TO Thousands of them to b
the government prick the Mormon bub
Ia It Likely there would thou ba m
trouble IN supprsszing polygsmy?
how to do it still remains the question.
Perhaps 1t might be done by amend
the organic act 10 as to provide for tbs
lection Of juriea hY the United States J
shaI, under the direction of the Courts
IN Other District aad Territorial Court
The United Etates; oonaning tho Pro
Coufts To the usual probate business, Ri
them no civil and but limited c1iu
jurisdictiu, subject to sppea to the
d7c4 coorsa' providing, in effect,
common report 10 legal evidence On
subject Of po'5gamy; that one indic.u
shaN hold good fer biganr, OF polyes
or adultery, OF fornicatlon, or concubin
allowing them whichever horn Of the di
ma they may fancy; making the testin
Of tho victima Of polsgamy eompeten
erasJthing but their own conviction;
pnrng pol5ganists Of tho right to sit
'usass for The trial Of fe1low-polygam
had d the right to vose or hold Office
q, peasng the farcica1 general election Ia
Ihh, and others Of their b.
rooa <aaetmenss; taking the app
nen' u all minor civ!
!; ce17 out II tho hands Of the Standing ,
!; venhon o' B1shops sailed "IeRis,etr
and giving / to the Go,e,uo, 5oe - , :
ens; a11estinA Brigham YOUNG. ,ha
above the Inv and proving tue l.. exist MS
/ snd practice Of PSygamy by him O. ma
him pe1jure hinaen II he eyes Of
world.
: There would be no yht, Ths Morn
are anxious to get tie orezt;m ;nto
courts, believing that slAr h,,a , !,
cause and are bound to WIN. r. w. =,
have no constitutional right to ~,ro,,ih;,
lygamy by law, within thenase!ss 49,
the United States has none to ins-s;
! Il The Territories, al so-cLled rsyee.
and religions 10 the contrary uotriths