The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1881-12-15

/, the King OF the Belgians, the King
i Spain aud the President or the Argentil
: Confederation. The King of the Belgial
# having declined to act, am not as vet al
vised rs TO the action Of the King Of Spail
; AS we have certain interests In the dir
puted territory, which are protected
$ our treaty engagements with one OF I'll
parties, it is important that the arbitratio
E should not. without or consent, affect on
rights, and the government has according
Z y thought proper TO make its views know
= to the parties TO the agreement so as to III
tinate them 10 the Spanish government.
The questions growing out Of e pro
: posed Inter Oceanic water way across th
. zsTHMUs or PANAMA
, are of grave national importance. Thi
/ Government has not been .ndutifuI Of tn
solemn obligations imposed upon it by it
compacts Of 1876 with Colombia as the In
/ dependent and sovereign mistress of tn,
territory crossed by the canal, and ha
sought to render them effective by fresl
engagements with the Colombian Rppub
lie looking to their practical execution
The negotiations to this end, after they
had reached what appeared to be Il tnutu.
ally satisfactory solution here, were met ii
Colombia by a disavoWal of the powers
which its envoy had assumed, and by pro-
posai for a renewal OF the negotiations on
fortified basis. Meanwhile, this Govern
lnent had learned that Colombia had pro-
| posed TO the European powers to join in q
guarantee of the neutrality Of the proposed
Panama canal, guarantee which would
be In direct contravention Of our obliga-
tlons, as the sole gt1arantor OF the integrity
OF the Colombian territory and Of the neu-
trality Of the canal itself. NY lamented
predecessor felt 1t his duty to place before
the European powers the reasons which
made che prior guarantee Of the United
States indispensable, and for which the in
terjectIon Of any foreign guarantee might
be regarded as superfous and unfriendly
act.
Ihls Government sees with great con-
Germ the continuance Of the hostile rela-
tions between
chilli, BOLIVIA AND PERU.
An early peace between these Republics Is
much to be desired, not only that they
may themselves be spared much misery
and bloodshed, but because their contfn-
ued alltagonism threatens consequences
which are, IN my Judgment, dangerous to
the Interests OF Republican government
and calculated to odesfroy the best elements
ct. cur own free aud Decentralization
AS In the present excited condition OF
popular feeling In those countries, there
have been serious nisappreAensions of the
position OF the United States, and as sepa-
rate diplomatic intercourse with each
through independent Ministers is subject
lowing 60 the want Of prompt reciprocal
eommunleatIon] TO temporary misunder-
standing, [ have deemed It judicious at
the present time, to send special envoy /
accredited TO each and all Of them aud fur
nished with general Instructions, which
will, trust, enable him to bring these
powers into friendly relations.
THE MORMON QUESTION.
For many years the Executive In his an
1ual message to Congress has pointed out
he necessity for stringent legislation for
he s,1. preston Of polygan1y in the Terri
ories, especially in Utah. The existing
tatutes for The punishment OF the oelious
rhine 50 revolving to the moral and re-
lgious sense of Christianity, has been
and conte:npt,,o,lsly violated
Yer since its enactment. Indeed, in
pite OF commel,dable efforts on the
art OF the authorities who repre-
ent the United States in that Territory.
ne law has on very rare instances been en-.
Orced aud tor cause TO which reference
11lI presently be made, is practically
cad letter. The fact that the adherents of
ne Mormon church, which rests upon
olygasny as its corner stone, have been
gently peopling in large numbers, Idaho.
Erlzona and Others OF our Western Ter
tories, is well calculated to excite the
yeliest Interest and apprehension. Itim-
0ses upon Congress and the Executive
le duty OF arrying aga nst this barbaroa,s
psten1all the poWerW which unsIer the con- i
itutiona1ld law they can WELD for it's de- !
ruction. !
Reference has already been made to the
ostacles the United States officers have
1countered il their efforts TO punish the t
olatlons OF the law. Prominent among {
e obstacles Is the difficulty OF obtaining {
gai evidence sufficient TO warrant d con- /
ctlon, eVen i'll the case Of the most noforf- 4
ls offenders. Your sstteatioIl ID called 10 /
le decision Of tile Supreme Court of the Il
plfed States explaining tts Judgment Of t
yersal in the case Of Miles, who had been
'nvicted Of bigamy il Utah. The Court
fers 60 the fact that the secretary aftendI
= the celebration Of marriages in that 9 2
erritory makes that part Of polvgan1y very :
fncuIG 60 prove, and the propriety ID sug-
.sted OF modifying that law OF evidence ]
men now makes i wife incompetent to Il
stlfy against her husband. This sugges- !,
oia g approved. ! recommend. also. the
ssslng OF act providing that iii the Terri
rles q these United States, the fact that q
woman Wflofsa been married to d per Q
2 charged with biga1ly shall not elfsa,1al1 :, :,
! her % . witness unon his trial for that :, :
tense. - b
I further recommend legislation by y
llleh any pelsen solemnizing i marriage IN