The Portland daily press., 1882-01-24

Active Aid OF the Government Invoked
Meetings were held in all the large cite;
last evening to discuss the Mormon question
and to obtain such an expression of public SEN
timent that will stimulate and encourage oul
legislators to immediate and decisive action
The meeting at Plymouth Church jim this city
was largely attended. The tone of the meet.
ing was quiet, but the speakers were earnest
the resolutions lacked not fire and were unan-
imously adopted.
The Hon. Lot NJ. Morrill, presided aud said
on taking the chair.
MIR. MoRRILL's REMARKS.
In sympathy with your sentiments, my
friends, have yielded to your invitation to
preside at this meeting, the object OF which, L
understand, to be to take note of and to declare
against, the prevalence within the United
States of shigh crime and mlsdemeanor In
violation of laws human and divine, and in de-
iance of the national authority. The heinous
practice of polygamy has long been treated by
the civilized nations of the earth as felonious
and without the benefit of clergy. 1t is true
that among the savage nations of the earth
polygamy has existed from time immemorial.
1t is said to have existed kbefore the food and
was UOb uuCOmuOu among 6tn6 pdlIldrcuS ana
was tolerated by the laws of Moses But true
it is that the custom died out about the begin
ming of our era for in the New Testament we
meet with no trace of it, and the passages
which refer to marriage seem to imply that
monogamy was the universal rule and custom
under the Christian dispensation. In the
Christian church polygamy has never been toll
Grated.
In every region of the earth where Christian
ity has not prevailed woman has been looked
upon as inferior to man. Christianity and
Christian civilization has everywhere restored
woman to her equality with man ard both
man and woman have been gamers by the
change. Bnt, alas, in these days and most of
all in our land, polygamy has its defenders
who ground their defence on the absence OF an
express prohibition in the Scriptures. But be
of good cheer let us take courage that what
naces the national well-being cannot, will not
stand the elemental forces that may be put in
motion for its suppression. What abolished
slavery should abolish polygamy, namely, the
moral influence of knowledge reason and re-
ligion.
A partial remedy for this malignant evil was
prescribed by act of Congress for the District
of Columbia in 1881. which put polygamy in
the same category with horse-stealing and may
hem, and all upon the plane of felony.
Judge Charles ". Goddard was then IL
troduced who read the resolutions which we
print in full and said among other things:
JUDGE GoDDARD's REMARKS.
We fight against this evil not as religion
but as an abominable immortality. The
remedy is not to increase the penalties but to
enforce the law which for twenty years has
been dead letter. Revise the jury system
and exclude Mormons 1t may be necessary
also to change the law of evidence so thatthe
difficulties in the way of proving Mormon
marriage may be obviated; it may be necessary
to order change of venue so that Congress
may remove these criminals to another terri
tory for trial. There is danger that this ter
ritory of criminals may take on the proper
tions of a nation.
REV. MR.. DALToN's REMARKS.
Rev. Asa Dalton was the next speaker. He
said that polygamy had been apologized for in
had been thought that the railroad and the in
fux of eastern manners and customs would
kill, by the survival of the fittest, Norm onism.
1t had not SO come about. The Mormons had
been excused by reason of their thrift and in
dustry. In the future the apology will be made
that they are too strong to be. meddled with,
that their rights cannot be safely interfered
with.
The speaker also contrasted the principles
which had given New England her strength
and glory with the vicious and destructive
principles OF polygamy. Ii we suffer this sys
ttIl W lly0 We SHAH leave 10 Iu6 ut4b S6u6Ed-
tion curse as great as that of slavery. This
is not case for argument but for the strong
arm of the law federation is crime.
GEO. f. RMERY's REMARKS.
George f. Emery, Esq, was the next
speaker and said in substance: This is
nat tional evil and We are criminal if we hold
our peace. We are here met by no constitu-
tional impedments as in the case of slavery
fnll 1nfat ha ho6 hol.
the ramp2rts of the constitution. This evil
exists in territory where Congress
has ample Jurisdiction. The law making po
lygamy an offense has been questioned and has
been pronounced constitutional by the Su-
preme Court. The next thing is to see the law
enforced l am not sure but that some more
legislation is required. The law of evidence
should be nlarged-cohabitatio should be
made proof of marriage. / would confer addi-
tional jurisdiction upon the Federal courts SO
that they could proceed by information and
not by Indictment Then take your jury
wherever you can find fair men. Let us
say to these people-yOu are in q state of re-
belion and claiming that you have right to
disobey 9 law. We taught people once in
rebellion that they must submit; let US do it
again. BY the highest sanctions are we called
to act in this matter, as citizens, as Christians.
If we are Christian nation | hold that the
fact should be emphasized.
The services were ended with prayer by the
Rev. D. M. Seward, D. D.
The following resolutions were unanimously
adopted:
Resolged, That the practice of polygamy has for
centuries been justly branded with infamy by the
criminal codes of every Christian nation. Degrad-
ing to}woman and destructive to the family and the
home, it has in all ages been the parent of lgnor-
ance, weakness and unnatural vice, and has wrought
the rum OF every people which it has polluted,
proving itself always and everywhere the deadly
enemy OF virtue. civilization. good order
government.
Resolved. That although this loathsome practice
and forbidden in all the Territories of the United
States under pain of fine and impri sonment. the
Mormons of Utah have for twenty years been al
lowed to set the law of the land at open defiance.
until this body of criminals recruited by their ems-
saries from among the profigate classes of Europe
have oyerspread portions of Idaho and Wyoming
ResoLoed, That while the history of Utah, it's
treasons and massacres as we'll as its moral abom-
nations, is disgrace the American name and the
ton gives no promise of Improvement, but threat
ems rebellion and civil war in the near future
Resot0ed, That the temporizing and yacillatng
policy which began with the appointment of that
arch traitor and false prophet Bligham Young as
Governor OF Utah by President Fillmore in 1850,
has proved contemplate failure and the Mormon
has come for the vindication of decency and The
majesty of law, The authority of Congress is ON
nipo5ent in the Territories and it is shameful that
the deprayed ''public sentiment of a band Of law
less and dissolue fanatics should be permitted long
to defy the lawfully expressed will of the nation
ResotUed, That the legislation necessary for the
prompt extirpation of polygamy and the enforce
ment of the laws among the Mormons ought to be
enacted without delay, whether it be a reorganiza-
of evidence, change of venue to other Terri
tory or the dissolution of the present organization
of Utah and the creation of suitable and effic-
lent government for that community.
ReSotued, That copy of these resolutions, au-
thenticated by the President of this meeting, be
sent to each OF our Senators with request that
hn 70 nf fha VTrfn
States.
A Breach of Promise Suit.
A breach of promise suit comes up at the