The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-02-16
NO 2ls

say to the great body of Utah peo-
| pie, if you stop this practice and sin
no more, you shall not be prosecuted
for what you have already done. By
the general amnesty act of July II,
1852, Congress empowered the Pres
ident to grant amnesty on such con-
ditiOns as he might deem expedient
for public welfare. it did not,
therefore, follow that he could so
have acted without that legislation,
but the act made it safe that persons
should receive pardon by classical
ton on conditions as distinct from
persons individually pardoned.
Where, as suggested by Hoar, if the
President takes money for a pardon
the remedy is by impeachment.
The section as amended, and The
remaining committee amendments
to the eighth section, were adopted.
The eighth section provides
for the conducting of elections,
the registration and canvass
ing of voters, etc., in the terri
tory until' provision for the same is
made by the legislative assembly
provided for in the bill, by the APP
pOintment of board of five per
sons. to be appointed by the PTesi-
dent and confirmed by the Senate,
all of whom shall not be members
of one political party, etc.
Brown moved to amend so as to
require that not more than three
shall be of the same political party.
Call maintained that the power
to revise the acts Of election officers
was properly one belonging to the
courts, and for the board to say who
should constitute a legislature
would be Unrepublican and farcial.
Edmunds replied that the board
would have no power to decide as
to the qualification Of electors.
QVeSt said the seventh section of
the bill, declaring polygamists in
eligible to Office or suffrage, pro-
posed to take away rights OF citi-
zens Of the United States for past
OffenSes, without trial or conviction
for Offense. The senator from Della
ware (Bayard) had said that terri
tOrial reorganization was analogous
to original organization, when Con-
greSS has the right to impose such
conditions as were now proposed;
but he (Vest) denied there was any
analogy. The doctrine that the
right to vote and hold office in this
country, when once enjoyed, could
be taken away, was something he
had never known to be preached be-
fore, and he denounced it as an arbi-
trary, despOtic and unconstitutional
declaration. He was opposed to
polygamy, but in his adherence Of
it he would be careful not to strike
down the safeguards of personal
liberty.
Garland said it was complained
that the provisions of the bll were
severe and rough, but he would say
they were SO intended to be, and
they were nevertheless sanctioned
by presidents, and the organic law.
with the grant of power given TO
Congress to make all needful rules
and regulations respecting the terri
tories, gave it unlimited control in
the territories. Let it 90 to the
world, lie added, that Congress re-
cOgniZes the organization of terri
JOI 1OOtluCO upOn liiO IISOl y GnoG
one man is inspired by God for q
certain purpose, and we may burn
our statute books and give full
license to inspirations of Guiteaus
everywhere. So long as it retained
its distinctive features the Utah
government could not, by any posi-
bility, be republican.
The discussion was cont nued ac
some length. A motion for eXecu-
tive session was lost, ayes
21. noes 30, and after several
efforts to secure an arrangement
for vote on the bill, interSpersed
with motions TO adjourn, it was
finally arranged that the measure.
should be proceeded with imme-
diately after the morning business
tomorrow, and the debate close at
$50. Upon this understanding Ed
munds consented to an adjourn
ment