Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1879-12-11
WINSTON, c.. THURSDAY, DECEMBER IT. 1870

"o"io oe Iess IeIt Dy the peO-
pie than any other.
The continued practice of polvga.
my in Utah, the President urges,
demands attention at the hands of
every department of the govern
ment. Those practicing poly ygamy
should be prosecuted and punished.
This Territory has now sufficient
population to entitle it to repre-
sentation as State, but this change
of condition cannot be allowed un-
til its citizens abandon practice
which civilized communities recog-
nize as criminal. The plea that
polygamy is right guaranteed
under the law granting religious
liberty to all people, no longer
holds good in the face of the decis-
ion of the Supreme Court of the
United States that the regulation of
the system of marriage which now
obtains in Utah is within the legis-
lative power Of Congress. The law
which has been for seventeen years
a dead-Ietter, but which, under
the recent decision, is made alive,
should be vigorously enforced, and
if necessary the enjoyment OF the
rights of citizenship should be with
held from the polygamists who
continue to violate the law of the
United States making the practice
of their peculiar doctrines criminal.
The recent elections have shown
to the President the purpose Of the
people to see all sections secure in
the enjoyment of their personal
and political rights, and he believes
that 'sthe power OF public opinion
will override all political prejudices,
ard all sectional and State attach
merts, in demanding that all over
our wide territory the name and
character of citizens of the United
States shall mean one and the
same thing, and carry with them
unchallenged security and respect" "
He believes that when the public
mind is set at rest upon the subject
Of popular rights, pacification of
the whole country will come.
Considerable space is devoted to
civil service reform, and the Presi-
dent dwells upon the evils and per-
lis OF the partisan spoils system oi
appointment to office. lie main
tains that political considerations
should not enter into appointments
that the capacity of men and re-
gard tor the public interest should
alone control, and a system which
would change public officers with
every election, only on politica
grounds, is highly mischievons
The system of assessing office
holders is also denounced. 1t i.
maintained h at office~holders
should feel at perfect liberty to give
or not to give to political campaign
funds. He is opposed to any sys-
tenn of ofappointment or tenure which
would make the Office holder {
mere servant of the party which
gave him Office, and discourage'
the idea Of these giving unduly o
their time to partisan politics. Il
discussing this subject the Presi
dent recommends to Congress th'
revival of the Civil Service Com
, mission which was in existence sew
eral years ago for the purpose of ex
) amining and enquiring into the ca
pacity OF applicants for offices with
in The gift of the govern ment.
Our relations with foreign coun-
tries, it is observed, have contin
ued peaceful. Reference Is mad
to the unsettled condition of th
questions at issue between Ameri
ca and Great Britain with referenc
to the fisheries, but no congression
al action is suggested in the prem
ises.
1t is suggested that an appropri
alton be made to have the Unitec
|. States represented at the exhi5i
ton at Melbourn, Australia, mex
year.
Questions of difference W it
Spain have been settled. The Eas
Florida claims are again in dispute
A treaty with the Netherlands ha
been signed and ratified. Ques
:ions of difference with Switzer
, land in relation TO pauper and con
vict emigrants, are in process c
settlement.
The government of China ha
sigpifed it's willingness TO conside
| the question of the emigration Q
, its subjects to the United State
with dispassionate fairness, AM
to cooperate in such measures a
may tend to prevent injurious con
, sequences to the United States
The negotiations are still proceed
ing, and will be pressed with dill
gence.
Mexican raids and depreciation
!. have greatly increased. The thir
instalment of the award agains
Mexico has been paid. No othe
= facts of interest in regard to rela