Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-12-10


in severalty, to be secured to them
by patent and made ~inalienable for
20 or 25 years third, liberal appro-
priation for the support of Indian
schools.
A BLOW AT THE MoRMoNS.
For many years the executive, in
his annual message TO Congress, has
urged the necessity for stringent leg
islation for the suppression of polyg-
amy in the territories, and especially
in the territory of Utah. The exist
ing statute for the punishment Of
this odious crime, st revolving to the
moral and religious sense of Chris
tendon, has been persistently and
contemptuously violated ever since
its enactment. Indeed, in spite of
c0mmendable efforts ON the part of
the authorities who represent the
United States in that territory, the
law has in very rare instances been
enforced, and for q cause to which
reference will presently be made, is
practically a dead letter. The fact
that adherents of the Mormon
Church, which rests upon polygamy
as its corner stone, have recently
been peopling in large numbers Ida
no, Arizona and other of our western
territories, is we'll calculated to eX-
cite the liveliest interest and appre-
tension. 1t imposes upon Congress
and the executive the duty of array
ing against this barbarous system all
the power which, under the Consti-
tuition and the law, they can WELD
for its destruction. Reference has
been already made to the obstacles
which the United States officers have
encountered in their efforts to punish
violations of law. Prominent among
these obstacles is the difficulty OF
procuring legal evidence sufficient to
warrant a conviction even in the case
of the most notorious offenders.
Your attention is called to arecent
opinion of the Supreme Court of the
United States, explaining it's judg-
ment of reversal in the case of Miles,
who had been convicted of bigamy
in Utah. The court refers to the fact
that the secrecy attending the cele-
bration of marriage in that territory
makes the proof Of polygamy very
difficult, and the propriety is sugges-
ted of modifying the law OF evidence
which now makes a wife incompe-
tent to testify against her husband,
This suggestion is approved. | also
recommend the passage of an act
providing that in the United States
the fact that a woman has been mar
ried to a person charged with bigamy
shall not disqualify her as a witness
upon his trial for that offence. |
further recommend legislation by
which any person solemnizing a mar
riage in any of the territories shall
be required, under stringent penal
ties for neglect or refusal, to file a
certificate Of such marriage in the
Supreme Court OF the territory.
Doubtless, Congress may devise other
practicable measures for obyiating
the difficulties which have hitherto
attended the efforts to suppress this
iuiquity. / assure you of my deter
mined purpose to Cooperate with you
in any lawful and discreet measures
which may be proposed to that end.
Considerable space is devoted to
the subject of civil service reform.
The President prefaces what he has
to say upon this subject by quoting
from and reafiirming certain passa-
ges in his letter of acceptance of the
nomination for the Vice-P Presidency,
The history of civil service reform
in England is briefly reviewed, and
the main principles of the English
civil service system explained.
While declaring his readiness to So
cond any measures Of reform which
Congress may adopt, the President
points out some of the practical diff
fculties which many advocates of
reform have been in the habit of
overlooking or making light Of, and
shows the necessity of proceeding
with caution and deliberation.
ELECTORAL LEGISLATION.
The importance of timely legisla-
ton with respect to the ascertain
ment and declaration of the vote for
presidential electors was sharply
called to the attention Of the people
more than four years ago. 1t is to
be hoped that some well defined mea-
sure may be devised before another
national election, which will render
unnecessary a resort to any expedient
of a temporary character for the de-
termination of questions upon con-
tested returns. MP
Questions which concern the very
existence of the government, and the
liberties of the people, were suggest
ed by the prolonged illness Of the late
President, and his consequent inca
pacity to perform the functions Of
his office. 1t is provided by the sec
ond article of the Constitution, in