Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-01-31

reasonable peace and quietY
Never had a quarrel during the
whole time"
With husband or associate
wiyeS?"
With neither"
What do you call the other wives
of your hqsband2'
1--WE call each sister"
And what do the children call
them ?"
"They call their own mother
mother, and the other wives
aunt.
Your husband was one of the high
dignitaries, was he not?'
Yes, in President Young time he
was councillor to the president, com
mander of the militia of the territory,
mayor of Salt Lake City and one Of
the apostles"
How long have you been in
Utah?
with the first settlement. | went
from Nauvoo to K%anesville, and from
there to Salt Lake, and there | intend
to die il there is a roof left over me to
die under. If you people drive us out
of Utah there will be nothing left but
ashes. Nobody shall enjoy the fruits
of our hard labor and privations for
over a quarter of a century if we can
prevent it,
Is that the sentiment of all the
Mormons-male as well as female?'
81 think it is. W. all feel that we
would be justified in such a course
Do you mean by that that you will
defy the law of 1862 as construed by
the Supreme Court?"
"0h, no. We expect to abide by
the law, however unjust. Still, we
cannot undo what has been done. We
are wives and mothers. Our families
have endured for years. To attempt
to enforce that law in its retroactive
sense would be to break up our homes,
illegitimatize our children and waste
our substance. Bad, designing and
ayaricious men will urge the govern
ment On to such a course in the name
of morality and religion, merely to
enter into and enjoy the fruits of our
hard labor. 1t is that that we do not
intend to stand"
"Then what do you Want?"
First-we ask for a repeal of the
law of 1862. Failing in that, we ask
for amnesty for all violations of that
law since 1862. We also want such
legislation as will legitimatize our
children beyond all question. keep our
names from being dishonored, and
preserve unbroken the relationship of
families as they now exist"
Then, in hat case, would polyga-
nous practice be abandoned in Utah?"
Il suppose SO. Here and there
there might be fanatics or enthusiasts
who would insist upon breaking the
law from what they might term their
religious convictions but, like the
yiOlators of the law everywhere, they
would have to stand the penalty.
They might get around it as you do in
nor refined and moral countries
call their extra wives their mis-
tresses."
Have you been sent here to urge
action on congress-"
No. We knew nothing about the
Supreme Courts decision when we
left home, but we have remained at
the request of our people to endeayor
to have something done. The condi-
ton of u co-religionists is a very
peculiar one. If the law is enforced
half Of the men in the Teraitory could
be put in jail, and the women and
children would starye."
Isn't that an incident of all religi.
GUS wars?"
Not necessarily. We believed we
were doing right, and that under the
constitution polygamy was as legal as
we considered it moral. The congress
passed a law against US, and now the
Supreme Court sustains the law. We
do not believe we have done wrong
nor do we believe our children are il.
legitimate, but the law says differently.
We ask, therefore, to be protected
from absolute ruin"
And how do you succeed? ?"
Well, We find strong friends every.
where. Senators and members whom
we expected the least from have shown
themselves ready to listen. quick Ia
understand and disposed to act. Mrs.
Spencer has helped US amazingly. and
have great hopes that a law will be
passed before congress adjourns that
will give US the required relief"
And you are one Of Brigham
Young's daughters" said the re.
morseless interviewer, turning 10 the
other caller IA lady who might be
eighteen or twenty years Of age.
Yes, sir, quite pleasantly. 4" am
one Of his youngest children. .
But you don't know which p
81 do not. We never go by mum
bers.P
Did your father leave you much
property
He left me my share. We were
all treated precisely alike. lie left
my mother a good home aud me a
house and a certain interest in prop
erty, the same as every other child,
Your husband is dead?'
Yes, sir
How many wives had he 2
Two. | was the second.
Did he leave you anything?
Yes he left me a nice house, and
one equally good to his other wife.