The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-02-12

would fail to change the fset
They might, with equal pro
prtety declare that baptism
the partaking of the sacra-
ment Of the Lords supper and tbs,
solemniZation of monOgamic mar
riages are no part Of religion. but,
would not millions Of loyal citizens.
holding otherwise, resist with reason
and all the powers bequeathed to
them, the authority of Congress to
legislate against their religious
rights in this regard? Would not.
Catholics and Protestants Join in,
pronouncing, in language of no
doubtful meaning, against even an,
attempt at such fragrant usurp-
alton? Would they not quote
the living words of sthe illustrious
Washington, and repeat that such
expedients are the customary Wes-
pons "by which free governments
are destroyed" and that the "pre-
cedent must always greatly over
balance in permanent evil any par
tial or transient benefit which the
use can at any time yield?" Con-
gress having passed the law, and
the Supreme Court having adjudi-
Gated upon it, we respectfully sub
NIT that it would be ia bad taste for
US, however much We might desire.
to regard fav0rably the recommen-
datiOns Of His Excellency the Cover
nor, to attempt the enactment OF
laws for the regulation of religious
matters, over which Congress seems
to have claimed special legislative
Jurisdiction.
No, Mr.. President and gentlemen
of the Council; your committee
must recommend this honorable
body to leave the responsibility Of
enacting special laws abridging the
religious liberties of the people with
our national Lawmakers. II they
are willing to assume the response
bility, we are not. Judging FROM
the past conduct of His Excellency,.
your committee regret to say that.
they are UNI BILE to see how hs-
"would have the paternal hand OK
the general government, in the
spirit Of the mo It enlightened civil
ization, and with the broadcast hu-
manity, protect and shield the peO,-
pie Of Utah." If he would do this
by urging the paternal governmsnk
to adopt his peculiar mathematical
rule by which thirteen hundred
votes Cor one obscure candidate for
congressional honor and emolu-
ments, were counted q majority over
eigh teen thousand votes cast for the,
hOnored Delegate Of the peoples,
nhnIna frnT1 r1or-cf hoor 70 H..
ed from basking in the glare Of such.
"enlightened civilization" or from
reposing in the shadow Of such
''broadest humanity"
Whatever His Excellency would
have the paternal hand of the GEM
eral government do for the people OF
Utah in the future, they are not ig-
norant of what he has attempted to
do for them in the past. II he has
spoken of, and written about them
in the spirit and language of love in
the past, then indeed, he my Wel5
desire "to Join with us in the abol-
ishment of the doctrine of hate" We
will do what We can to aid His Ex-
cellency and his friends in this mat
ter, for it is an unworthy doctrinetO
preach or practice. The people OF
Utah and their represeE tatives dc,
neither, for their RELIGION, years ago
taught them the better and more,
noble way-"Love your enemies
and pray for those that despitcfulIy
use you" And, thank God, thu
humility of the Gospel of "peace OH
earth and good will 10 men," has not,
only enabled U;ah's people to aboI-
ish, so far they are concerned, the
doctrine of hate, but it enables them
to-day, without the aid Of legislative
enactments, TO unblushiugly, and
with "honor and PRIDE" lcok the
world "full in the face" and SIX nc
odds Of an enlightened civilization
that would chain a thought, pres
cribe religion, strain at a gnat an6
swallow camel.
DANIEL n. WELLS,
Chairman Committee OF tie.
Judiciary.
MOSES THAT CHER,
Chairman Committee on Eduea-
ton.
Adopted by the Legislative Coun-
Gil Of the Territory of Utah, FebrU--
airy 10th, 1882.
JOEsPH F. SMITH,
President
L. JOHN NUTTALL,
Chief Clerk.