New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-09-13
THE MORMON QUESTION.
HINTS TOWARD ITS SOLUTION.

sIr LAKE Cry Aug 20.-stopping at the Nor
mon Capital for a few days to recover from the
fatigue of one long journey hy stage-coach before
starting upen another. have found the people
here Gcntilcs and Saints alike, in an unusual state
of excitement Recent events, some of which
mentioned in previous letter had caused appre-
heusion among the Mormons such they have
not felt before since the coming of Johnsons
army in 1857 to put down the rebellion
Of that year against the authority of the United
srares and the report published since my arrival.
that the Administration at Washiu gton proposes
now 10 turn It's attention TO the Mormon question.
and possibly 70 throw obstacles IN the way Of Nor
mon immigration. with the comments of the ko-t-
err press upon y, has not tended 10 calm the
fears Of the leaders of the Church OF omake the
Geniiles any the less jealous In their
warfare upon the peculiar institutions Of the Terri
torv Perhaps the present is not therefore, IN all
respects the most favorable time for a stranger TO
obtain thorough understanding OF the Mormon
question. but | have improved the opportunities
that have presented themselves during my stay
here of talking freely with the best infor ned rep
resentatves Of both parties, and have gathered
some facts which think ought not TO be lost sight
Of in any intelligent discussion Of the Utah problem.
In the first pl tce then, what is the Mormon oues-
ton and how does it become tho duty of the
United States 10 deal with it al ALI
There are in Utah. Idaho and Arizona about
125 900 people members of religious organiza-
ton calling itself the Church of Jesus Christ OF
Latter Day Saints. and known to the world as Nor
mons The creed Of this sect. pretended reve-
iation accepted by them from God. among other
things permits plurality of wives.
portion of the Mormons, estimated by Mr.
George G. Cannon, the delegate who represents
this Territory in Congress- at one-tenth OF all the
male adults, aud by Gentiles much higher, have
ayaled themselves Of this privilege and have mar
red from two 20 a dozen or more so-called wives
L. 1852. after the institution Of poygsmy had be-
come firmly established in this Territory, and after
thousands Of men had taken plural wives. Congress
passed An act making u a crime for any resident
Of a Territory TO enter INTO bigamous or
polygamous relations. Ii should be remem-
lered that this law does not forbid a man
10 live with more than one wife at the same time.
but simply 10 marry second wife while be Is bound
l. law to still hvlug. The crime, according TO
lie statute therefore, consists in performing sub
m,ttiug TO the ceremony of plural marriage. and
not IN the cohabitation with several wives or con-
cuhines The leaders Of the Church. the apostles,
The bishops the priests. the men Of power and ntu-
ence among the Mormons. have not, therefore, vio-
lated tins a v # 1862. since with very few excep-
TONS their poygamous marriages were contracted
before the law was passed. and the Constitution OF
the United states prevents II from being made retro
active.
ordoes he act Of Congress reach a majority,
even. o. those who have become polrgami-ts since
I,02 4 law Of limitation prevents the prosecution
o. any offender against the statute uuess the action
l. begun Within five years after the offence Is conf
united. There are, therefore. IN Utal few humid
I'd out of tue ten or twelve tho III po!ygamsis
Co ta1e the lowest eslmatclw " ,Iave violated the
law of Congress- and who may still be prosecuted and
punished Il the evidence against them can be pro-
cured and a jury can be found which
will convict OF the few Mormon polygamsts who
under any circumstances "a the law now stands
can b. put in peril the majority men Of COM
parativey Ntde standing or tnhuence-iguorant
fore Cners, who embraced Mormonism because 1t
promised 10 better their worldly condition. II has
done, without understanding the character II Its
r.cular doctrines OF knowing anything about it,
rela ions 10 the laws Of the land. These are facts
winch. believe, are not generally understood even
BY intelligent people IN the East, but when ought
e. DC gwen their iull weight
T. The second place. II Is almost impossible FOR
tie prosecuting officers If the Government 10 obtain
proof Of ?olvgamous marriage. The wedding cor
emory among the Mormons Is performed with A.
much secrecy as is preserved by Free Masous In con-
ferrinr their degrees. None but Mormons are al
roitted 70 the Endowment House. and although the
law rearires record Of all marriages TO be kept,
DO Federal Court has ever. thus far, been able TO
Obtain that record. During the trial of the Miles
case Last Winter. Daniel II. Wells was placed
upon the stand and ordered 10 produce
the record OF marriages, and for MS
refusal or neglect to 90 lie was sent TO lnl Tor
Contempt of court Miles had married three women
al The same time, an English girl to whom he
had first promised that she should be- his only wife,
md afterward shat she should be his hrsG wife, and
two Mormon girls named Spencer. When the ceIe-
u0uy was performed one Of the latter vas married
first TO Nilesand his gect and harsh treatment of
tn English girl caused her 10 become a witness
against him. In the Reynolds case conviction was
only secured bv taking ms second wife from her
wssi-tub and bringing her into court without
giving heran opportunity TO consult with any Of
the Mormons or allowing her 70 know what the
effect Of her testimony would be- Her admission
that She had been married 70 Reynolds was all the
evidence that was needed. since the defence had
already admitted the marriage with the first Wife
These cases been exceptional, ana are the only
reeen, ones in which it has been possible TO obtain
competent evidence against polygamist In their
efforts 70 secure such evidence all the powers
ferrod by law upon the courts have been exhausted
Again. until lately It has been impossible 70 OBJ
tain jury in this Territory VINO would convict a
Mormon of bigamy OF poygamy. Under the jury
laws governing Utah the Mormons always had rep
resentatives on every panel. lhis difficulty was
net by the last Mormon Legislature lunwittingly
T. be surel and there Will probably lie no
more trouble on tins score. unless Congress
should interfere to give the MormOLs the power
10 repeal the law, OF n Governor of
the Territory should be appointed who would con-
s,nt 10 its repeal The code of criminal procedure
of California, enacted by the last Legislature.
ferred upon the Judge, IN the trial of any indlct
,nent The right TO appoint tTiers TO determine