The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-11-21

ems to come into collision with the
United States Government. would not
probably have that aistinction az a re-.
ligious scot but for the feature OF poly
gamy which it has made part of it's
creed. The freedom of conscience in
religious matters is an essential part of
our Constitution, but this was never
supposed to include freedom of con-
sclence to violate the laws of the land.
There are people n'the world pert
OF whose religion is to offer human
sacrfices, others who hold that widows
should burn themselves in memory of
their deceased husbands, others who
throw themselves before the car nf
JugYernaut, aud others who contribute
human victims to the Ganges Now,
ii any of these religionists should set
tle in tho United States, ''freedon of
conscience" could certainly not be per.
mitted them to do these things, bc.
cause. under our laws, they are mur
der. La like manner tho hI0rmons.
when they insist npeu plurality of
wives. have no right to claim in their
behalf freedom Of conscieuce, for they
nre violating both the laws uud institu-
| S,o.A'' ~ eoO Souh'tJs huh III Ouc
to be deceived by the religious sauc.
tons which they suck to throw around
the qualification of udnlteruus pus.
sionS. 1t deserves TO be renemb bered
that no Instance has over occurred
under the American Government III
| which there has been even pretercr
| that freedom Of conscience was vio.
lated until Mormouism, tho only sect
That had set up claim to ..hiyher
law" than thnt of tho land Ii il,
| therefore, idle for tho Mormon press
to speak of tho present effort of the
General Government to carry out tho
laws Us "maliguan: persecution" 4
thief or IA murderer might with equal
justice apply that phrase to his arrest
or punishment. Ths plea that poly.
I;amy Is aud long has benn prac.iccd iu
other parts Of lhe world IL no mor,.
true than that human sacrifice have
been also. At nny rute. polygnmy does
not belong to Christian civlliz ,tion.
aud has been prohibited by its laws.
at this timu 1t appears Us If the cf-
forts OF the Government to enforce the
law against polygamy would be more
successful than formerly. The greatest
difficulty hitherto hus bceu in obtain.
ing the right men on jnrics. PoIyga-
nous lnH Iences have been superior to
the jurors oath. Tue New York Jour
nal Of Commerce says that tho grand
luries lately empanueled, though sif.ed
IN accordauce with the latest Jury law,
It le evident were not free from the
polygamous element, since one of them
no sooner began business than it in
dicted II member Of its own panel for
polygamy. According to Chief Justice
McKenn, in his charge to the Third
District Court ut Salt Lake, and as,
indeed. might be expected, the Nor.
mons do not sickle at perjury. when
necessary to the defence of their pecu-
liur institution. The Chief Justice af.
tirm. that the law of 1862 was defeated
by this means. The juries formed to
try the recent indictments. SO far as
they have been nude up. appear to
have been subjected to u rigid cate
chism in order to exclude the ohiec-
tionable element. the presence of which
would render the prosecutions fruit
less. II the United States prosecuting
attorney has been successful in guard
ing this point of danger, there still re.
ours tho difficulty of proving the plu-
raj marriages. they being by secret
ceremonies. The Indictments, how.
ever, charge 'lewd and lnscivious CO.
habitation," and this is one which is
capable of proof to the satisfaction of
nn impartial jury, it is supposed. by
circnmstnntial evidence. and not with.
in the power OF the polygamists to
suppress.
We have generally supposed. how
ever, that as this Mormon poIygnmy
would have in time to give way to the
Gentle immigration gathering ronnd
about it in Utah. it was US we'll to
await the sure result of TINT agency
for its obliteration as to como into
violent collision with it; bnt as Cou-
gress has made statute against it,
and provides puniohments for its in
dulgence, the law should be so aimi-
nlstered that this ''relic Of barburism"
will no longer offend not only tho
civilization Of mankind, but the com.
mon sense OF deccncy.
A cable telegram announces that the
Government Of SIxony has forbidden
the practice of cremation within it's
borders. The cremationists hnd set
tied upon Dresden as to great extent
their headquarters. 1t was there that
Herr Siemens set up his neat and Of.