The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1881-12-16

OF t0l6 SuOJ0CC WHICH are OI StedC III.
terest, but which cannot be included
within beeoming limits of this COM
munication. They are discussed ably
in the reports of the Secretary OF the
Interior and the Commissioner of
Indian Affairs.
For many years the Executive, in
his annual message to Congress, has
urged the necessity of stringent legis-
lation for the suppression of polyga-
the Territory of Utah. The existing
statute for the punishment of TINS
crime-so revolving to the moral and
religious sense of Christendom-has
been persistently and contemptuous-
ly violated ever since its enactment;
indeed, in spite of commendable eff
forts on the part of the authorities
who represent the United States in
that Territory, the law has in no in
to which reference will presently be
made. il practically a dead letter.
The fact that adherents of the Nor
mon Church, which rests upon po-
lygamy as its cornerstone, have re-
Gently been peopling in large num-
bers in idaho, Arizona, and other of
our Western Territories, is well calcu-
lated to excite the liveliest interest and
apprehension. It imposes upon Con-
x
arraying against this barbarous sys-
tenn all the power which under the
Constitution and the law they can
WELD for its destruction. Reference
has been already made to the obsta-
Giles which the United States officers
have encountered in their effort to
punish violations of law. Prominent
among these obstacles is the difficulty
of procuring legal evidence sufficient
tn q vsr0p Mt pnnviRfinn n tho
case of the most notorious offenders.
Your attention is called to the recent
opinion of the Supreme Court of the
United States explaining its judg-
ment OF reversal in the case of Miles,
W no had been convicted of bigamy in
u tab. The Court refers to the fact
that the secrecy attending the cele-
bration of marriages in that Terri
tory makes proof of polygamy very
difficult, and tho propriety Is suggest
ed of modifying tho law of evidence
which now makes wife incom Pc
tent to testify against her husband.
This suggestion is appended. L rec
ommend also the passage of an Act
providing that in Territories of the
United States the fact that a woman
has been married to a person charged
as q witness on his trial for that Of
fense. further recommend legisla-
ton by which any person solemnizing
q marriage in any of the Territories
shall be required, under stringent
penalties for neglect or refusal, TO file
q certificate of such marriage In the
Supreme Court Of the Territory.
Doubtless Congress may devise other
practicable measures for obviating
tended the efforts to suppress this ini-
putty. assure you of my determined
purpose to cooperate with you IN any
lawful and discreet measure which
may be proposed to that end.
Although onr system Of Government does
NO. contemplate that the Nation should pro-
vide or support system Of education of the
people, no measures calculated to promote
general intelligence and virtue, upon " hich
the perpetuity of our Institutions so greatly
depend, have been ever regarded with indif-
ference by Congress or the Executive. A
large portion of the public domain has been
education.I There is now SPECIAL reason
why, by setting apart the proceeds of its sales
Of public lands, or BY some other course, the
ton. Many who now exercise the right OF
suffrage are unable to read the ballot which
they cast. Upon many who had Just emerged
volved the responsibilities Of citizens in "a por-
tion Of the country most Impoverished by
war. have been pleased to learn from the
Of intere 1t and effort for their Instruction, but
all that Gan be done by local legislation and
private generosity should be supplemented
by such aid can be constitutionally afford
ed by the National Government.
The report OF TIE Commissioner of
Agriculture exhibits the results of
experiments in which the Department
has been engaged during the past
year, and makes important susges-
tions in reference to agricultural de-
velopment of the country. The Com
missioner's suggestions to urge its
capacity for greater usefulness de-
serves attention as it more and more
commends itself to the interest which
it was created to promote.
1t appears from the report of the
Commissioner OF Pensions that since
1860, 7S9, O60 original pension claims
have been filed. $50. 949 of these have
been allowed and inscribed on the
pension roll; 1859 have been re-
iected, aud abandoned, being ID per
cent. of the whole number of claims
settled. There are now pending for
settlement 265,575 original pension
claims, 227,O4O of which were filed
prior to July LIST. 1880. These when
allowed will involve the payment of
arrears from date of disch arge n case
of any valid, and from date of death
or termination of prior right iu
all other cases. From all the data Oh
! tainable it is estimated Ii per cent. of
the number of claims now pending
| win be rejected or abandoned. This
~h1uu fha at.<,l,a III, .