Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-01-23
Of the Mormon Women.

A memorial from EMeUne Is. W els and Ztn2
Young Williams, OF Salt Lake City, Utah, (the
latter daughter OF the late Brigham Young
was presented to the Senate and House OF Rep
TesentatiyeS to-day. 1t sets forth that recent
decision OF the supreme Court or the United
states has declared the antt-polygamy law OF
1862 to be in accordance with the Constitution:
that 1--WE and Mormon women generally, pre-
yiOIlS to that decision, implicitly believed that
this law was IN violation h.m OF ane constitution ms
specting an establishment OF religion. or pro-
hibiting the free exercise thereof" that ''un-
der our present civilization we have peaceful
PROSPEROUS and healthful condition of society
our children are owned and supported by their
fathers, and are equally recognized as heirs in
the estate, and our women are protected from
the temptation TO tnfantcide and Kindred
crfmeS;" that 1.-The enforcement of the law OF
1862, would 1mpriSOn our husbands. deSpoil and
destroy our homes, crush our most sincere al
fectfOnS, render our children illegtimate before
the world, and leave ourselves and thousands
OF women deSOlate and unprotected;" thar
"thlS example set by the United States would
encourage mObS to perSecute and violently
assault and affict us. as In times past when
our people were driven from state TO state far
out beyond the pale of this republic;" that .Swe
went far out into the wilderness by the advice
and at the suggestion OF eminent leading Amer
lean statesmen, that we might worship God ac-
cOrding to the dictates OF our own conScienceS
without fear or moestation, and at the same
tine extend to all, OF whatever faith, the same
precious privilege that ''after the Unite
States had taken possession of the land which
our people naQ redeemed from the desert, and
made prosperous, and which the Mormon bat
talon under Col. Philip st. George Cook, had,
together with what is now known as California.
Nevada, New Mexico. ard Arizona, helped To
conquer. President Fillmore, by the advice
and consent OF the Senate appointed Brigham
Young, then a practical polygamist, governor OF
Utah: we had good reason TO believe the gov
ernment would continue to protect us in our rel
gious faith anditS practices; that ..harsh meas
lres toward our people, such as destruction of
families and homes, viii have tendency to
drive many to desperation. while Just and hu-
name treatment Will foster and strengthen love
and affection toward the government. thereby
securing peaceful issue OF affairs now pend
ing; that I'VE ourselves, and majority OF our
people are native born citizens of the L nIted
States, and desire to live in obedience to the
laws OF our country: Therefore, we pray your
honorable body to repeal the nti-polygamy
law OF 1862 and TO enact such legislation as will
securely iegitimatKe our children. and protect
our names from dishonOr, by preserving un-
broken the existing relationship of families
which are already bound together by the
strongest ties OF affection, and whose lives
would be forever wrecked through separation;
and that in any future legislation conce .ninS
the marriage relation in any territory under
your jurisdiction, you will consider the rights,
the hearts, and the cOnScienceS OF the women
to be affected by such legislation, ard that you
will consider the permanent care and welfare OF
children as the sure foundation of the state"