Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-06-03
Beek's Opinion OF the Judiciary Com
niftpe.

had Just been notified by the journal clerk
that two of the bills passed last night on re-
port Of the Committee on Judiciary had
already been passed once before in this
session and consequently he would have
the proceedings in reference to them
omitted from the journals and the bills not
sent to the Senate.
Mr.. Dawes inquired what had become of
the Committee on Revision and Unfinished
Business.
Mr.. Beck suggested that this blunder
was made by the Judiciary Committee,
which had reported bills for civil rights,
women's rights and all such nonsense. He
thought that that committee had better be
abolished.
Coming back to the Utah bill, Mr.. Po-
land briefly explained and advocated its
provisions.
Mr.. Crounse opposed it as establish
ing
Dangerous Precedent.
He regretted to notice the sentiment on the
subject in the House. He had heard mem
bers sitting near him say in elegant and
forcible language they did not care what
in the hell" the bill contained they were
going for it. Such a sentiment was dan
gerous to the rights and interests Of any
people.
Mr.. Potter opposed the bill.
Mr.. Cannon, the Delegate from Utah,
addressed the House in opposition to the
bill, and pointed out exceptional injustice
to that Territory. His objection was that
| it was special in its provisions. If there
was any reason for it, that reason also APP
piled to all other territories. He charged
| that the United States Marshal and the
| United States District Attorney for Utah
had been here since the opening of the ses-
sion lobbying and button-holeing members
| in favor of the bill, and the District Attor-
ney had claimed the authorship Of it.
| Mr. Poland said if so, he claimed what
was not true. He had been assisted in the
preparation of the bill only by Mr.. Whit
| new. a LAWYER from Salt Lake City.
Mr.. Cannon went on TO show the interest
which these officials had in the bill. The
Office of Marshal would be worth
$4,000 a Year.
The bill swept away twehty-one sheriffS
and substituted the Marshal and his depu-
ties for them. He claimed the affairs of
the Territory had been managed in the
most economical manner. The bill was in
the interest of those who wished to change
that condition of things. II they could
get control of the Territory they would find
an excellent field for plumber, excellent OPP
portunities for issuing bonds and for in
volving the Territory inextricably in debt.
That had been the ann of these men for
years.
Mr.. Cessna explained the difference be-
tween his amendment and the provision In
the bill. The latter he said made unjust
determinations in favor of Mormons. If
polygamy was good for them it was equally
good for all.
Mr.. Ward, of Illinois, defended the bill
and declared that it was more liberal tC
the Territory of Utah than the law was III
regard to the other Territories and States.
He would not stop the practice of polyga
my in the name of religion, but he would
stop it in the name of justice and law.
Mr., Poland closed debate and declared
as an undeniable fact that the MOrmons
were as hostile to the Government as any
portion of the South had been in the dark
est hour of the rebellion, twelve years ago
Congress had passed bill making
POIygamy a Crime
in all the Territories. Did the delegate
from Utah pretend that that law had beer
obeyed? Did he not know that it had beef
!, openly and unblushingly disobeyed?
Mr.. Cannon remarked that with thu
United States Judges, District Attorney:
and Marshals in Utah, the people were moi
to blame if the law had not been enforced
Mr.. Poland said that that was no answer
to his inquiry. Everybody knew that the
law had been openly, ayOwedly disobeyed
Why had no man been prosecuted? For tn
2 very want of such bill as that before tn
t House. Every United States officer in tina
: Territory knew perfectly well the
l Absurdity
of trying anybody for polygamy befor