The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-02-17
irnou oun OWN CORRESPONDENT

WASHINGTON, teUIuaTy IA.
The bill agreed on by the House Committee
on Territories, to abolish polygamy in Utah. is
causing great excitement in that Territory, as
the kilograms show, and considerable interest m
Congress Is felt to ascertain what will be the re-
suit II the bill should become law. The CON-
mIttee have taken good deal OF evidence re-
carding recent efforts to enforce the existing civil
law with reference to poygamy. This evidence
Is interesting and hos not been made public.
One witness testified that the great difficulty In
the way of the prosecuting attorney Is the I'M
possibility OF proving marriage. Since the pas
sage of the act against bigamy, the Mormons
have adopted new arrangement In reference to
these marriages, so that now none can lind proof
OF the second or any subsequent marriage. Moth
ing Is known outside about them, when or where
or by whom they are solennzed. AL marriages
are now performed in the 'endowment house, u
and whatever trunspircs there is secret. And
though when 1t Is done it Is not kept secret that
a marriage has taken place, and many persons
are well known 10 have numerous wives, yet 1t Is
inpossible to obtain any legal proof. The men who
perform tic marriage ceremony are oath-bound,
and even if placed before grapd jury on oath,
the law OF 1862, 1t Is impossible to prove mar
rlage according to the rules OF evidence, which
accept no testimony except that of party WHO
witnessed the solemnlzatlon OF 1t. No license Is
required beforehand, aud no record, I'LL
less il bc secret one, kept after
wards The same witness, who has resided
five years In Utah, was Of the opinion that the
proposcd new law could be enforced. 1t would
create some excitement he thought, and Brig.
liam would oppose 1t with strong hand; but
when il came 10 the pinch, lie did not think that
Brigham would resort to violence, and II lie did,
the great mass of the people would not back him.
The passage OF such law would break up The
concentration OF power that at present exists In
Utah. Brigham is now rs absolute as the Car OF
Russia there is not an act OF the Legislature
which, IL it Is not dictated by him, mast meet Ills
approya; he controls everything, religious and
secular. The passage OF such law would break
up all that, OF course, ut the cost OF great tempo
rary disturbance, but In . short time that would
pass away.
Another witness was asked by the committee If
lie heard of recent meeting In Salt Lake Of
women, defending poysamy; and he replied that
he had not, but that il was not Incredible He said
that a great many women could be found who
would do that; some OF them from religious con-
vcton, and some OF them from policy. But on
the other hand, hundreds Of women would hail
The passage of this bill withjoy. AS it now Is
Brigham has 1t fixed so that woman cannot
help herself The probate courts have unlimited
Jurisdiction in cases of divorce and alimony, aud
he had known the first wife to be divorced anu
cut of from everything, sent forth alone, home
less and pcnniless; and, In many instances, being
thousands Of miles away from friends. Women
are compelled to quietly submit to their husbands
taking other wives as one OF the provisions OF the
Utah statutes is that the fact OF parties not
being able TO live In pea:e and harmony together
Is sufficient cause for divorce. This provision,
with knowledge OF the fact that the probate
court has jurisdiction OF divorces, generally se-
cures submission. In many instances, where
first wife leaves her husband on account 'ol his
marrying second time, she Is forced by her ne
ccssltles to humbly return and endure it without
complaint. Some women, by extraordinary force
of will, manage 10 get along alone, or to escape
from the Territory. ZETA.