National Republican., 1882-12-06
THE BAD MORNIONS.
Many Difficulties in the Way of the Utah
Commission.

Commission.
The Utah Commission, in a report to the
Secretary of the Interior, dated November
II, 1882, detailing the results of their labors
in the Territory, say: "The anomalous condition
Of this country and its people, together with
the inherent difficulty of adjusting the local
laws TO the act of Congress, are such that they
imposed on us great care and deliberation,
lest on the one hand we should 90 beyond the
limits of the law or, on the other hand fall
short of a vigorous and effective discharge of
our duties" We were obliged to construe for
ourselves. The commission did not construe
the spirit of the act forbidding polygamists
and bigamists from voting, only to affect
those who were actually living in polygamy
at that time, for such construction would
render the section perfect nullity, and they
added such regulations as seemed desirable to
carry out the object of the act. The commits
sion recommended that
A MARRIAGE LAW DE ENACTED
by Congress which would form an auxiliary
in the suppression of polygamy.
This law should declare all future marriages
in Utah null and void, unless contracted and
evidenced in the manner provided by the act.
Certain places should be designated for all
marriages, which should be witnessed by GER
tain persons and registered in specific public
Offices, so AS to make the proof of marriage
morally certain. The parties and witnesses
should bo required to make their afidavits
against polygamy.
Another suggestion is that marriages be
solemnized in private but with like guaran-
tees of registration, affidavits, witnesses, &c.
In either case appropriate penalties should be
provided for violation of the act. The COM
mission say that, owing to the peculiar state of
affairs in Utah, the Territorial law allowing
to women the right of suffrage is an obstruc-
tion to the speedy solution of "tho vexed
question:" and should be repealed or annulled
by Congress. To obviate the difficulty in
proving the first legal marriage the commits
sion recommends that Congress declare
THE FIRST OR LEGAL WIFE
q competent witness in such cases. The
commission say that they have not had
time fully to test the operation of the law,
but so far ii has been q decided success in ex-
cludng polygamists from the exercise of suf-
frage; and they are of the opinion that the
steady and continued enforcement of the law
will place pOlygamy in u condition of gradual
extinction. The commission. notices as an
encouraging sign that many of the Liberal "
meetings have been largely attended by Nor
mons, and that these meetings have been char
acterized by cXceptionable good order and
good humor No inclination is shown in the
report to advise Congressional legislation of a
radical character, unless upon further obser.
walton and experience its necessity shall be
demonstrated. In conclusion, the report says
after counseling moderation, "If, however
the next session of the legislative assembly
elected under the act of Congress, shall fail tC
respond to the will of the Nation, Congress
should have no hesitation in using extraordi.
nary measures to compel the people of this
Territory to obey the laws of the land"