Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-11-20
NEW HAMPSHIRE ELECTIONS.
WASHINGTON.

POLYGAMY BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT.
Arguments was had in the supreme
court Nov. 18th upon the appeal in the
case of George Reynolds, the Utah poly
gamyist, convicted of bigamy. Counsel
raised two technical exceptions-the
exclusion of polygamist from the petit
jury and that only fifteen persons were
on the,grand jury and then proceeded to
the merits of the question,
arguing that since tie poly
gamist acted conscientiously the
alleged crime lacked the evil intent
which constitutes the gravamen of the
ofense. Further, in bigamy, deception
was the essence of the statutory crime,
and deception in this case did not exist,
while, without the statute, is doubtful
if bigamy could be held crime, not be-
ing mentioned in the decaluoge. Upon
the constitutional aspects of the case
counsel argued at length that the acts
prohibiting polygamy were ultra ui,es.
| Acknowledgement Devens, of counsel
for the United States, urged in reply
that an interpretation of the constitrl-
ton, which would restrain congress
from attaching penalty to the crime
of.poligamy on account of its being an
article Of religious faith, would also
restrain it from attaching penal
! ty to any other crime which
might be sanctioned by religion; that
under this rigid Interpretation of the
constitution a sect of East India thugs
VINO should settle in the territories might
commit murder with impunity on the
ground that 1t was sanctioned and enjoin
ed by their system ofreligion. He closed
with an eloquent and impressive refer
ence to the well-known Mountain Mea-
dow massacre by Mormon avenging
angels" as an illustration of the fanat-
ical extremes to which men unre-
strained by law, might be carried under
the mistaken conviction of religious
duty.
..I THE PRESIDENTS POLICY.
Says an associated press telegram of
Nov. 14th: Published statements af-
| fecting the presidents views on the
southern question seem to have been
exaggerated in both directions. The
facts appear to be that the administra-
ton has decided upon no new step, but
that. the president is thoroughly in
earnest IN his intention to protect
United States citizens when their
rights are violated, irrespective of their
| political faith. The instructions recent
| ly referred to in these dispatches as nav
ing been issued by the attorney general
| obviously contemplated this object,
though there has been no change in
their original tone and temper. II i
III .s.E THE ARMY. a. sfg 3
|, In his report handed to Secretary
McCrary, Nov. 18th. General Sherman
says: There are 1929 enlisted men in
the ten regiments of cavalry in the
army, 1880 men in the five. regiments
of artillery, and IL, 2O5 in the twenty
five regiments Of infantry, making to-
tai Of II ,664. Besides these there are
IN the engineer battalion 100; perma-
nent and recruiting parties, music
boys, and recruits in the depots, LII;
enlisted men detached on general SER
vice, 372; ordnance departments, SD;
Yves. Point Idetachments, 100; prison
guard, II; hospital stewards, 1888; ord
nance scrgeants, ia; commissary ser
geants, 14S; and Indian scouts, 34O II
total Of 3 O97, making the whole num-
Der of enlisted men in the army 247Gl.'
The report concludes as follows. In
conclusion, beg TO state that from per-
sonal inspections and from official re-
ports, / am sure the army is well and
economically supplied, Its discipline
ana instruction are MS good ms could be
expected from It's scattered condition,
and from the vast amount Of lnbor
necessarily imposed ON it; that it has
met cheerlully every call of duty and
hardship, 1t has accomplished an
amounG ofWork which, AS Gen. Sheri-
dan has Well said, . 40 other nation in
The world would have attempted with
less than 10000 on 10000 men,
10 bond sUiisCRuERs.
The following was issued by the
treasury department Nov. IL
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