The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-03-24

Text az the Measure Enacted by Con-
gress for the Suppression Of Plural
Marriages im the Territories.


nature Of the President
bill 10 amend section 1851 of the Revised Statutes
OF the United States in reference to bigamy, and
for other purposes.
Be ii enacted, ETC., That section $3.50 of the
Revised Statutes Of the United States be and
the same is hereby amended 30 as to read AS
follows-namely Every pofson who has WIFE
living. who. in Territory or other place over
which the United States have exclusive juris-
diction, hereafter marres another, whether
married or single, and any man who hereafter,
simultaneously or on the same day mar
ries more than one woman in Terri
tory or other place over which the United
States have exclusive jurisdiction, is guilty OF
polygamy, md shall be punish ed by fine OF
not more than $500 and by imprisonment for
term OF not more than five years but this sec
ton shall not extend to any person by reason
Of any former marriage, whose husband or wife
by such marriage shall have been absent for
FIVE successive years, and is not known to such
person to be living and Is believed by such per-
son TO be dead (; nor TO any person by reason
Of any former marriage which shall have been
dissolved by valid decree OF competent
court nor to any person by reason OF any
former marriage which shall have been pro-
nounced void by a valid decree Of COM
petent court on the grounds OF nullity OF the
marriage contract
Sec 2. That the foregoing provisions shall
not affect the prosecution or punishment OF
any offense already committed against the
section amended by the first section of this
act.
SEC. 8. That if any male person in a Ter
ritory or other place over which the United
States have exclusive Jurisdiction hereafter
cohabits with more than one woman he shall
be deemed guilty of misdemeanor, and on
conviction thereof shall be punished by fine
Of not more than $500, or by imprisonment for
not more than Six months, or by both said
punishments, in the discretion OF the court.
Sec A. That counts for any and all Of the
offenses named in sections / and 2 of this act
may be joined in the same information or in
dictment
SEC. 5. That IN any prosecution for bigamy,
polygamy or unlawful cohabitaton, under any
statute of the United States, it shall be suffi-
Gent cause of challenge to any person drawn
or summoned as juryman or talcsman, irst,
tia: he is or has been living in the practice OF
bigamy, polygamy or unlawful cohabitatiOn
with more than one woman, or that he is or
has been guilty an offense punisha-
bic by either Of the foregoing sec
tons or by section 1852 of the Revised
Statutes OF the United States, or the act OF July
], 1868. entitled An act TO punish and prevent
the practice OF polygamy in the Territories OF
the United States and other places, and disap-
proving and annulling certain acts Of the Legis-
lative Assembly III the Territory OF Utah." or,
second, that he believes 1t right for man to
have more than one living and undiyorced wife
at the same time, or TO live in the practice of
any person appearing or offered as
juror or talesman, and challenged on
either OF the foregoing grounds, may be
questioned on his oath as to tho existence Of
any such cause OF challenge, and other evil
dence may be introduced bearing upon the
question raised by such challenge; and this
question shall be tried by the court. But to
the first ground Of challenge before mentioned
the, person challenged shall not be bound to
answer it If he shall say upon his oath that he
declines on the ground that his answer may
tend to criminate himself, and ii he shall an
swer as to said first ground his answer shall not
be given in evidence in any criminal prosecu,
ton against him for any offense named i'll Sec
or of this act, but if he declines to answer
on any ground he shall be rejected as incompe-
tent.
SEQ. 6. That the President is hereby author
lied to grant amnesty to such classes Of Offend
ers guilty OF bigamy, polygamy or unlawful
cOhabtation before the passage OF this act, on
such conditions and under such limitations as
he shall think proper; but no such amnesty shall
have effect unless the conditions thereof shall
be complied with.
SEC. Z. That the issue OF bigamous or polyg-
amous marriages, known as Mormon marriages,
in cases in which such marriages have been
solemnized according to the ceremonies of the
Mormon sect In any Territory of the United
States, End such issue as shall have been born
before the LIST day January, 1888, are hereby
legitimated.
SEC g. That no polvgamist. bignmst. or any
person cohabiting with more than one woman,
and no woman cohabiting with any Of these
persons described as aforesaid in this section,
IN any Territory or other place over which the
United States have exclusive jurisdiction, shall
be entitled to vote at any election held in any
such Territory or other place, or be eligible for
election or appointment to or be entitled to hold
any Office place of public trust, honor or
emoiument in, under or for any such Territory
or plaCp or under the limited States
SEC g. That all the registration and election
Offices Of every descr plion 10 the Territory OF
Utah are hereby declared vacant. and each and
every duty relative to the registration of vot-
ers. the conduct Of elections, the receiving or
rejection of votes, and the canvassing and re-
turning Of the same, and the issuing OF certi-
fcates or other evidence of election in said
Territory, shall, until other provisions be made
| by the Legislative Assembly of said Territory,
Is hereinafter by this section provided be per-
formed under the existing laws of the United
States and Of said Territory, by proper persons,
who shall be appointed to execute such Offices
and perform such duties by board of five
persons, to be appointed by the President, by
and with the advice and consent OF the Senate,
not more OF whom than three shall be members
Of one political party, and a majority Of
whom shall be O quorum. The members
Of sad board SO appointed by the President
shall each receive salary at the rate Of 1000
| per annum, and snail continue in office until
|
shall make provision for filling said offices as
herein authorized. The Secretary of the Ter
ritory shall be the Secretary of said board, and
keep journal of its proceedings, and attest the
action of said board under this section. The
canvass and return OF all the votes at elections
in said Territory for members of the Legislative
| Assembly thereof shall also be returned to said
board, which shall canvass all such return md
issue certificates of election to those persons
who, being eligible for such election shall APP
pear to have been lawfully elected, which GER
tificates shall DO the only evidence
Of the right of such persons to Sit in such As
sembly, provided that said board OF five per-
sons shall not exclude any person otherwise
eligible to vote, from the polls, on account Of
any opinion such person may entertain on the
subject of bigamy and polygamy; nor shall
they refuse to count any such vote on account
of the opinion of the person casting it OH the
subject of bgamy or polvgamy But
each house OF such Assembly, af-
ter its organization, shall have the
power to decide upon the elections and
| qualifications OF its members, and at or after
the first meeting Of said Legislative Assembly,
! whose members shall have been elected and re-
turned according to the provisions of this act
said Legislative Assembly may make such laws,
conformable TO the organic act OF said Terri
tory, and not inconsistent with other laws Of