The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-03-07

sued the discussion of this violation of
private right so far that do not intend
to enter upon ground so we'll occupied
by him: Let me Gail the attention fthe
Senator from Vermont, who has charge
of this hill, to the answer thai he made
to the Senator from Georgia when he
quoted from BurrilPs law dictionary the
definition Of a polygatiist o- bigamist.
The definition there is /: "a man wholhas
hsd"-not who has, but who ..'hss had
two wives or more wives" That is
bigamy or polygamy. His law diction-
airy, cited by himself as authority ap-
provingly, defines polygamist as one
who ct any time in his life has had more
than two wives living at the same time
think this section is therefore not only
liable to the criticism thst was made
upon il by the Senator from Georgia,
bat it is liable to further criticism
which was originally made by the Sena-
tor ftom Missouri early this morning,
thst if a man has been once guilty OF
tie crime of polygamy or bigamy he
can thereafter never be entitled to sit
upon a Jury or vote or hold Office. II
the Senator from Vermont will do me
the favor to look at his own definition,
the definition that he read with approva,
from Burrills law dictionary. he will
| find that it does not relate to the present
condition of the man, but does relate to
his antecedent condition st any time of
his life. 1t is therefore that shall pro-
tpose the amendment that have sugges-
ted 1 would propose at the right time to
this bill.
The Senator from Delaware and the
Senator from Arkansas defend this bill
because it is an attack on theocratic
government which has grown up in this
Terr itory. ] submit it does not attack
the government. 1t attacks neither
those who believe in nor those who up
hold that government. 1t attack. only
the polygamists, when II Is perfectly nos
torious that there are many Mormons
who neither believe in the doctrine nor
practice polygamy, but who most sedu-
lously uphold the authority, the power,
The divine 'nspira Jon of the Latter Day
Saints Church
Mr. President, repeat that | am not
to be riisinterpreted in this matter. i
desire to crush out this great crime, /
desire to produce all over the United
States that condition of society which
believe is necessary TO the enduring ex-
cellence and the perfecting OF our civl
hzation. | believe in home, Believe, in
the family, believe IN the tender iDfu-
ences of wife and mother, and parent
and children, aid 1 do not believe that
they can be found in polygamous house
holds at all ;but because | do not believe
in these things, / am not willing to vote
for these provisions of the bill which,as
cay with all modesty, aud with all re-
spect, do consider to be lll-judged and,
possibly might say, ill-considered by
so able a committee as has reported 1t.
| ~
Mr. PENDLEroN Will the Senator
from Vermont allow me, merely for the
purpose Of getting information. I'd inter:
rupt him before he takes his seat2 The
Senator has said tina. at all times it is
the habit OF gentlemen to say: mot
this bill, not this measure; some other
time, some future time, sothe other
measure. II measures can be introduced
to meet our appreciation we will be ready
to cope with this sunjrct." ] desire to
say that am ready to cope with it now ;
and for nv part, while ] should do II
most reluctantly, nevertheless, if the
Senator from Vermont will incorporate
in the seventh section thesamendmeni
offered bv the Senator from Missouri,
shall very gladly vote for the bill.
Mr. EDMuNDs Yes, Mr.. President,
but that has the effect nf eEasculatine
so far as its political aspects 60, the
whole value of the bill. There is no use
of Disgusting that.