West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1882-09-08

blii put turu, Dc can now uuueCelVe
himself. The Church of the Latter
Day SAINTS will make a strong fight
for the peculiar institution without
which their religion has no char roe .
Such Is their position as declared by
their leaders in an address to the
faithful which abounds in sickeuine
cant and stale platitudes. MANY
wives or none" is their ehibboleth
1t is plain that these defiant Mormon
law breakers must have the benefit
of further legislation.
The address, which is signed by
john TAYLOR, GEORGE @. Cannon
and JOSEPH +. SOUTH, is in pant as
follows:
There have been many times in
our past history when great cxigeu-
cles have arisen, and it has been the
imperative duty of the fret resi-
denoy OF the Church ofJEsUs CHRIST
of Latter Day Saints to give plain
and pointed counsel to the people
over whom an the providence Of GoD
they have been called to preside.
A condition Of affairs exists at the
present time which makes 1t emi =
nently proper that we, as the first
presidency of the church, should ad-
dress you this epistle. The Ed
MUNDs law, designed for the repres-
sion and destruction OF portion Of
your religion by disfranchising all
persons in the Territory or other
places over which the United States
have exclusive jurisdiction, who have
adopted in obedience 10 the REQUIRE.
ments OF their religion the principle
OF celestial marriage, became the
Law of the land on March %, 1882.
AS the law required, FIVE com mis-
sioners, selected by the President
and confirmed by the Senate, wer5
sent TO this Territory to enforce ITS
provisions. As a church, we have
repeatedly testified in the most SOL
emn manner that the institution Of
marriage, which the law is aimed at,
has been revealed to Us by the AL
mighty, and that it is apart of our
religions that il is interviewer with
our dearest and hottest hopes con-
nected with eternity, and that not
FROM any lustlul motives, but because
we believe we should incur the eter-
nal displeasure OF our Heavenly
Father if we did not comply with it's
requirements. We have espoused
this doctrine. It has been argued
by those who are ignorant Of the true
nature of this doctrine, and how IN
,eperably connected it is With all our
hopes OF eternal happiness in that
world beyond the tomb, that this is
not a part of our religion, that this
'ystem Of marriage is not religion,
that 1t IS an immoral and odlous
practice that is shocking to the re-
iglous sense of the nation and 10 the
civilization of our age, and that leg
station framed for its repression and
extirPation should be enacted. The
Federal Legislature has therefore
passed tails act, and the Federal Elk
ecutive has affixed to it HE signature.
In regard to our religion or cur eter-
nal covenants we have no compromise
10 make nor principle to barter
away. They emanate from Cor, and
are founded upon the rex Of eternal
ages. They will live and exist when
empires, powers and nations shall
orumble and decay, and with the
lelp Of the Almighty we will guard
iacredly our covenants and maintain
'ur interest, and be true to our COP
while time exists or eternity en-
lures. Let us guard we'll our fran
3hise, and in one unbroken pLalsux
maintain and sustain our political sta.
.us, and es patriots and freemen OPP
3rate together IN defense Of what few
liberties are left 10 us-in the de-
ense Of the constitution aud in the
ie'ense Of the !ralienable rights Of
nan, which rights always exist and
ire above and before ali consuitu-
.ions-and thus perpetuste 10 poster
~ the inestimsb.e blsssinqs Of free
ioro, including the right to live, The
light to be free, and The right TO
'ursue happiness, uDmolested b7 any
influence, power or oom5inalo1r
The mina,ion H. said to have
been caused by The commissioners
prescribing an cath for those VITO
sre to testify, in which they are 10
.wesr or affirm as lollows: or do
.arther so.emniy swear OR Affirm
Eat ] am not = blgamisl nor uo-
ygamistj that J am not yio'afof oil
.ns laws Of The United States rrobib
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