Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-03-04
THE HORIZONS

F
reported by the Committee on Terrific
ries, in aid Of the execution ofthe laws
in the Territory of Utah, and for other
purposes. Our Congressman, Mr..
Fitch, made q very lengthy and most
able argument-occupying nearly four
columns In the Glo5e-in opposition to
the bill. We regret that we cannot
give room in the NEWS to all of it, but
We cannot helpmaking several extracts.
Mr.. Fitch said
That the destruction Of polygamy is
a wise and laudable purpose may be
readily conceded; and if such deStrue-
ton were all that is inyolvedit would
be my duty to advocate this measure
instead Of opposing 1t; but Knowing
something of the Mormon country, and
something Of the peculiar character
and motives of the people inhabiting
that country, l am impelled to the COIL
viction that this bill, if enforced as q
law, would provoke consequences most
prolific of misfortune, and entail re-
suits altogether inexperienced.
Amongthese results may be included,
first, the temporary obstruction, If not
the complete destruction, Of the great
overland railroad. Next. Utah would
be returned to the d%esolateness which
once reigned supreme upon her soil.
Again, the growing industries of vast
| country would be checked, and the de-
velopment of the Pacific Coast serious
" retarded. Beyond all this, thou.
sands of brave men would be slain, and
millions of treasure expended. Not
w~ithstanding the opinions of the gen.
tlemen who appeared before the Terri
torial Committee, | fear that the people
Of Utah would regard the passage Of
this bill as 4 declaration OF war, and
would prepare with all the fury and
~earnestness and zeal Of fanatics to enter
upon a contest most bitter, prOtracted
and bloody. The result of such a con.
test no man can doubt. One hundred
and forty thousand people, however
self-sustaining, however isolated, how
ever favored by position and circum-
stances, could not maintain themselve:
against the power of the Government,
The Mormons would be eXterminated
or driven out of Utah. But, with pc
lyo;,my thus destroyed, adultery thu:
delocalized, c%oncubinage thus scattered,
with virtue and d~esolation reignins
supreme In q waste where only the jar.
gon of the savage disturbed the still.
ness, the rebuking verdict Of n taX-bur.
dened people would be that the result
accomplished was not worth the sacrl'
flee involved.
Iagree with the distinguished gen.
| tleman from Illinois, the chairman OF
the Committee on the Territories, that
we ought not to shrink from the eX-
expense Of a just and necessary war,
waged for an adequate cause. But
ask, gentlemen, now the question, with
which the country will vex them when
through the operations OF this bill a
Mormon war shall have been precipi.
tated upon US: what Is there in such a
contest appealing to either the judg,
ment, the conscience or the patriotism
Of the people? Does 1t not lack all
the elements which inspire men to go
forth to battle? l am not unmindtul
of the deep disgrace to the nation that
the barbarious social practices Of the
| Asiatics should be unblushingly pur-
sued among 4 Saxon people in this
noon Of the nineteenth century. |
condemn this folly Of the Mormon
creed. 1 am filed with amazement
and pity ut the voluntary degradation
of the Mormon women. / compass
sionate while | abhor that spirit, be 1t
n spirit of sensuality or sacrifice, which
ignores and repudiates that hottest i'm
pulse of our nature, that sweetest gin
Of God, that sacred passion which no
man can feel at once for two women,
which no woman can entertain for him
she does not believe to be exclusively
her own.
But the question we consider is a
practical and not 4 sentimental one,
and we must deal with facts rs they
exist. This polygamic community has
been nursed into strength by the toler-
ance Of this Government. We have
given them title to their lands we
have recognized them in various ways;
we have permitted them, without in
reference or warning, to collect adj
herents and gain recruits from oil
parts of. Europe. Their numbers have
swelled beyond our apprehensions.
History nowhere makes mention Of a
colony of equal age more industrious,
more united, more powerful OIL moro
self. sustaining. They have towns con-
tanning thousands of people, with
newspapers and telegraph lines, faeto-
ries and foundries, hundreds Of miles
south Of Salt Lake City. They are
industrious, thrifty, temperate; they
are free from every vice, conlpara-
lively, except polygamy, and that,
according to their creed, Is no vice,
bur q religious duty.
They believe In thGlr faith as deeply
as the Mohammedan believes In his
Koran or the Christian in the cruel
Exion of his Redeemer. Assail that
faith with armies and you will consoli-
\ date and strengthen and infuse them
with more ardent zeal. Tho gentle
man from Illinois Mr.. Cuiloml be-
lieyes that they will make no resist
ance. Sir, have they faced the storm
and the savage, the desert aud disease,
TO be turned from their tenets or driven
! from their convictions by an Act of
Congrcss2 Would any sentiment less
earnest than passionate, Jealous, fanat-
ical belief have induced a people to go
to such . distance from the centers of
civilization ; 10 accept such contumely
and undergo such sacrifices and such
toll? Gentlemen are In error IL they
suppose that no other purpose than un-
bridled indulgence in gross animal
sensaalsm carried the Mormons to a
life Of priyation and labor in Utah. II
such alone had been their purpose per-
haps they might have achieved It Of
less cost, less effort, and less unpleas-
ant notorlety. without crossing tho
Mississippi River. The tree of de-
graded ~sensuality does not bear the
fruits Of thrift and industry and tenn
perance.
1 do not intend TO apologize for the
unlawful acts Of that people, but | de-
sire that the House shall understand
exactly what we will undertake II we
pass this bill. iii Is attempted to en-
force Its provisions there will be war.
Z
But, it may be asked. shall We do
nothing? Shall we allow this defiance
81 n SuthNrity ~ tho ITnitod Stoto. RI