The New York herald., 1869-01-28
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Mr.. Ashleys bill concerning fhs boundaries
Of the States Of Nevada, Minnesota and
Nebraska, and the Territories Of Colorado,
Montana and Wyoming, having been twice
read on the l1th instant, referred to tho Com
mittee on the Territories and ordered to be
printed, was on the l4th instant reported back
with amendments, and its further consideration
was postponed until the 2Sth instant. 1t was
made the special order for to-day and will
doubtless give occasion for q most animated
debate. It is, almost without disguise, q bill to
wipe out the Mormons. By parcelling the
region which, it is but just to say, was not
long ago wilderness, that the Latter Day
Saints by admirably organized and persistent
industry have made to blossom like the rose,
this bill proposes to divide the Mormon forces
and thus bring them more directly than before
under the control Of the United States govern
ment, Of the common law and Of the almost
universal sentiment Of Christendom condemna-
tory Of polygamy ss preached and practised
by the disciples Of Joe Smith. ,
We have here nothing to ssy OF the personal
schemes of political ambition ana land specu-
lations involved in this BILL 1t is Of compare
lively little Importance to the public at large
whether the passage Of the bill would help
Mr.. Ashley or anybody else to become Gov
ernor of Montana and future United States
Senator, or cheaply enrich this or that specu-
lator at the expense Of the Mormons, who
have already done so much to develop the
resources Of the distant regions to which they
were driven by religious persecution and from
which it is presumed they will again be
driven in consequence of the passage of Mr..
Ashley's bill. 1t is likely that this bill will
meet with spirited opposition on the part of
Mr.. Hooper, delegate from Utah, and Mr..
Burleigh, delegate from Dacotah, which also
is wiped out by Its provisions. Others are
pledged to protest in Congress against the in
expediency, if not the injustice, Of such mu-
tilation of the map Of the United States as Mr..
Ashley proposes. Unquestionably Congress,
as composed of representatives of the people
of the United States, has perfect right to
legislate with reference to all Territorial ques-
tions It has the right to sanction the par
tition of the State of Texas or that of the State
of Michigan, so earnestly desired by the in
habitants of the Upper Peninsula, who would
like to have it ceded to the general govern
ment for the purpose Of organizing the Terri
tory of Superior, and who offered at the recent
Territorial Convention at Houghton very strong
arguments In favor Of this purpose. But the
question Of the proposed partition Of Utah and
the abolition Of its Territorial government
presents peculiarly difficult problem. 1t
would be undignihed for the government of
the United States to try to cut the Gordian
knot of this problem by anything like Yankee
trick. Without discussing whether Salt Lake
City polygamy is or Is not worse than unrecog-
nized polygamy in Boston, New York, Phila-
dephia, Washington, London, Paris, Vienna,
or any other city in hristendom-without
comparing it even with what we consider the
in Constantinople-we must say that in our
opinion the question before Congress to-day
is mainly one of expediency. Congress has
now to decide whether 1t is more polite
by obnoxious, or only apparently obnoxious,
legislation, to afford the Mormons the immense
advantages which every religious sect derives
from persecution, or to leave to the Pacific
Railroad, with all its irresistible civilizing in
fuences, the task Of speedily ehacing in Nor
mondom whatever Is inconsistent with modern
ideas Of progress. 1t is not improbable that
Mr.. Ashley's bill, which would cut Utah to
pieces and give the fragments to the adjoining
States and Territories, which also divides
Minnesota and Nebraska, and which despoils
Idaho by giving half her Territory to Mon
tana, will be defeated.