New-York tribune., 1882-02-17
TIE SENATE PASSES THE. ANTI-MORMON
BILL.
BY TELEGRAPH TO The tribune. !

IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.I
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-SenatOrs may take credit
to themselves tonight for having performed at least
pne DAVIS hard work this session. Under other
leadership than that of Senator Edmunds the debate
upon the Anti-Polygamy bill might have continued
for a month. In accordance with an understanding
reached last night it ended at half-past .
this evening after which amendments were
quickly disposed of and at o'clock
the final vote was taken and the bill was passed
No amendments of importance were made, except
those reported from the Judiciary Committee, ali of
which were carried.
The discussion of the measure spirited and
interesting Of course, MormOnism and its peculiar
institution came in for unstinted cOndemna-
ton. The measure was however-so said the
strict cOnstTuctiOnists-in violent antagOnlsm
TO one of the fundamental principles OF cOnstitu-
uonal government and the genius of American lib
erty. 1t disfIanchsed and made ineligible to serve
on jures men who We're living in a state of polyg
amy, yet it provided no court or other tribunal to
determine by judicial process whether would-be-
voter or juror was a poygamist or not.
IT lodged the power of judgment in this
regard arbitrarily with Commissioners,
who were responsible TO nobody. Disfranchisement
was punishment and, therefore, this measure was
bill OF attainder and obnoxious TO the COnstitu-
tion.
The most earnest speeches upon these points were
by Senators Vest and Morgan There is not the
slightest reason TO doubt the sincerity of the
gentlemen named, those who voted
with them for propositions which would
have emasculated the and made it, like all
its predecessors this line of legislation, failure
Yet it was noticeable as coincidence that the most
earnest opponents of extreme measures against
polygamy were those who once the cOnspIcu-
defenders of its twin relic" Senator Jones' of
Florida to-day, and Senator Bayard yesterday com
bated the views of their fellow Democrats, a num-
Der of Republicans interjectng remarks from time
to time.
Senator Sherman late this afternoon made a short
speech, saying in effect that the bill was proper in
its intention but likely TO prove imperative, as
was any other measure which depended for
its success upon the will of majority
of the people of Utah The few hundreds
OF actual poygamists, constituting only
about seven or eight per cent of the whole
number of MormOns would be disfranchised by this
measure and made incapable of holding Office, but
this, lie feared, would only make their
influence the stronger over their fellow Nor
mons, who would reverence them as martyrs
TO their common religion. The Mormon population
not living in actual polygamy would still remain in
large majority, and would not only fill the legis-
Iative seats but ali elective Offices The Senator
said he would vote for the bill, but be believed the
Government had power over the Territory of Utah
equal 10 that it wields over the District of
Columbia, and having informed himself at some
pans OF the condition of aff irs in Utah. he believed
remedy Tor existing evils could not be found
except IN the entire abolition of elective govern
ment and the temporary substitution of a govern
mSht Ci commissioners with full executive powers
senator Ldmunds closed the debate with an ar-
RuIent OF zen minutes duration, in which he made
~ pam that The Judiciary Committee had not re-
fortea an Unconstitutional measure, nor one so
toos woIded or framed that Senators could easily
Dhd Iegai defects in IT.. He admitted that Senator
Shcinah was right III inferrDg that the bill would