The New York herald., 1879-08-09
The Administration Declares War
Against Mormonism.
FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS WARNED.
Letter from the State Department to Pro-
hibt Emigration to Utah.
SPOTTED TAILS FRIENDLY NOTE.
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

wAsHISGroS. August 8. 1879.
NO MORE MORMON EMIGRANTs wANTRD-EURo-
PEAN GOVERNMENTS OFFICIALLY WARNED.
The Mormon question. like great many other of
political and social questions has risen to inter-
national Importance The letter prepared by the
Secretary of State protesting against the conduct Of
the governments of Great Britain. Germany, Nor
way. Sweden and Denmark in continuing to allow
their subjects leave for the United States Nor
mon emigrants, read at the Cabinet meeting to-
day. and copies sent by to-night's mail to our
diplomatic representatives in those countries. The
letter. it is understood. is energetic presentation
of the views of the administration on the Mormon
question, and the determination it's part to make
the institution OF polygamy rs odious as possible
under existing laws. 1t begins by setting forth that
under our statutes bgamy is crime in any of the
territories of the United States, and that mon or
women destined for Utah so there with the
intention and for the avowed purpose Of
violating this law The letter then recites that by
the act of July 1862 every person having husband
wifeliving who marries another. whether married
or single. in Territory other place over which
the United States have exclusive jurisdiction is
guilty of bigamy. and shall be punished by fine Of
not more than $500 and by Imprisonment for
term of not than FIVE years,
and that under this law which has
been declared constitutional by the United States
Supreme Court upon a test case, George Reynolds,
a citizen Of Utah and member of the Mormon
Church, convicted Of bigamy, and is now serv-
ing of two years in the Utah Penitentiary
and further that it is the purpose Of this govern
ment to prosecute every person in that Territory
against whom evidence can be obtained of violation
of this law.
Our Ministers instr ucted to lay copy of the
letter before the governments to which they are
most friendly manner to these governments that it
would therefore be act of justice toward their
subjects il the latter could be dissuaded from accept
ing the inducements held out by the missionary
agents of the Mormon Church to settle in Utah.
Reference is next made to existing obligations on
the part of the governments of these countries not
to allow persons to depart from their Jurisdiction
for the United States who are known to have GRIM
inal intentions and further explaining that all who
to this country for the purpose Of afiliating
with the Mormon Church do so with the avowed in
tention of becoming criminals and subjecting them
selves to the penalties Of the criminal laws. There
fore the United States will consider it a friendly
act on the part Of the governments of these
nations IL they will also regard the matter in this
light. Attention is called to the large number Of
women who are induced to become emiQrants, and
who therefore aid and abet the crime of bigamy and
to the principles Of the Mormon Church, which re-
uures q plurality Of wives. Our Ministers are in
sructed call upon consuls in these countries
without delay to assist them in gaining information
as to the manner in which the ranks of the Mormon
Church are recruited, and to forward the informa-
ton as speedily as possible to Washington.
A member of the Cabinet said tonight that the
administration did not now consider Mormon emf
grants as any more entitled to respect than many
persons who had been convicted Of felony and that
the purpose sending the letter is to caution the
people Of the countries where this class of
is mostly made up, and to warn them what they
may expect If they go to Utah.
eff this friendly request Of the government is dis
regarded. them" continued the Cabinet officer, 1--WE
will be in position where refuse them en-
trance into our ports and forbid vessels landing
them. 1t Is hardly possible that consuls will
not be able to ascertain every attempt made ship
this class people to the United States. and the ad
ministration recognizes the responsibility of the
duty which the law imposes upon 1t to prevent law
less people from landing our territory"
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FORTHCOMING ARMY
REGISTER.
The army register corrected to August will be ready
for issue next week and will contain several important
improvements in the manner Of making up. new
feature is a complete roster of all the officers by
corps and regiments and the service and linesl rank
of all officers in the artillery. the calvary and the
fantry service The also gwen for all brevet
ranks The retired list is arranged according to
rank and cause of retirement given in every case
q matter of information which will be valuable to
officers OF the army generally. The bulky. folding
pages of tables omitted the information being
condensed in an ordinary page or two pages of the
register where that space is required.