Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1882-03-22
ANTI-PoLYGlMY.

ANII-POLIGAM
Ters Of tho Measure Enasfea by Congress TO,
Me Suppression Of Ptarot Marriages In
the Territories.
Following is the text of the nti-Mormon
bill as 1t passed Congross and received the sig
nature Of the President,
bin to amend section bs52 Of the Revised Statutes
Of The United s,ateA In reference to bigamy and
BE il 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 az
foilows--namely; Every person who has wife
living, who. in Territory or other place over
which the United States hare exclusive juris-
diction, hereafter marr1es Enether, whether
married or single, and any MN who hereafter,
simultaneously or On tho same day mar
ries more than ono woman in Terri
tory OF other RIace osyx wheh the United
states havea-clus - Zsx<sson "a cy;st, os
polygamy, and shall be punished by q hne oe
not more than $500 and by imprisonment for Q
term of not more than five years but this SEQ
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 iInown to such
person to be living and is believed by such per.
son to be dead nor to any person by rea,os
OF any former marriage which shall have bosy
dissolved by valid decree OF competent
court nor to any person by reason Of any
former marriage which shall have been pro-
nouncsd void by valid decree OF q com.
petent court on the grounds OF nullity OF tn
marriage contract.
SEC. q. That the foregoing provisions shan
not affect the prosecution or punishment a
any offense already committed against the
section amended by the first section OF this
act.
SEC. 8. That II 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 q 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. 4. That counts for any and all OF the
oSoBs3s BaHioa in sections and of This sct
may be joined in the same information or in
dictment.
SEC. 5. That In any prosecution for bigamy,
poygamy or unlawful cohabhtion, under any
statute Of the United States il shall be sufli-
ciont cause Of challenge to any person drawn
or summoned as Jnryman or talesman, first,
that he is or has been living in the practice OF
bigamy, polygalny or unlawful cohabitation
with more than ono woman, or that he il or
has been guilty OF an 0nense punisha-
be by either OF the foregoing sec
tons or by section $3.50 of the Revised
Statutes OF the United States, or the act OF July
l, 1863. entitled "An act TO punish and prevent
the practice Of polygamy in the Territories OF
tho United States and other places, and disap-
proving and annulling certain acts OF the Legis-
IatIve Assembly IN the Territ tory OF Utah;" or,
second, that he believes It right for q man to
have more than one living and undiyorcei wife
at the same Time, or to live in tho practice Of
cohabiting with more than one woman aud
any person appearing OF offered as q
juror or talesman, and challenged on
either OF tho foregoing grounds, may DO
questioned on his oath as to the existence OF
any such cause OF challenge, and other evil
dence may be introduced bearing upon tho
question raised 10y snch challenge; AMI this
question shall he tried by the court. But as to
the. person cfa fsngle Naga ifqssars peaptloped
answer il il he shall say upon his oath that he
declines on the ground that his answer may
tend to criminate himself and il he shall an
swer ar to said first ground his answer shall not
be given in evidence in any criminal prosecu-
ton against him for any offense named in Sec.
or 8 Of this act, but IL he declines to answer
On any ground he shall be rejected rs incompe-
tent
SEC 6. That the President is hereby suthor-
zed to grant amnesty to such classes of Offend
ers guilty OF blgamy, polygsmy or unlawful
,ohabltation before the passage OF this act, on
such conditions and under such limitations as
ne shall think proper; but no such amnesty shall
have effect unless ths conditions thereof shall
DO complied With.
SEC. 7. That the issue OF higamous or polyg-
amous marriages, known as Mormon marriages,
n cases in which such marriages have been
according to the ceremonies of the
states, and such issue as shall have been born
before the LIST day January, 1888, are hereby
egitimat,d.
SIC. 8. That no polygamist, bgnmist, or any
person cohablting with more than one woman,
md no woman cohabitng with any OF these
persons described as aforesaid in this section,
n 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
my Office or place OF public trust, honor or
,molument in, uader or for any such Territory
Dr. place, or under the United States.
SEc. .. That all the registration and election
offices Of every description to the Territory OF
Utah art hereby declared vacant, and each and
syery duty relative TO the registration Of vo,-
,rs. the conduct OF elections, the receiving or
rejection OF votes, and the cauvassing and re.
urning Of the same, and the issuing Of certi-
icates or other evidence OF election in said
Territory, shall, until other provisions be made
BY the Legislative Assembly Of said Territory,
.s 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
aud perform such duties by board OF FIVE
persons, to be appointed by the President, by
md with the advice and consent of the Senate,
not more OF whom than three shall be members
of one political party, and majority Of
whom shall bo quorum. Tho members
OF said board 30 appointed by the President
shall each receive salary at the rate OF $4,000
per annum, and snail continue in Office until
he lattu A nF aot Tarv
shall make provision for filing 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 tho
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 10 said
board, which shall CANVASS all su5li returns and
issue certificates OF election to those persons
Who being eligible for such election, shall ap-
pear to have been lawfully elected, which GER
tifcates shall be the only evidence
Of the right OF such persons to 81. in such A.
sembly, provided that said board OF fiye 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 AMI poygsmy; nor shall
they refuse to count any such vote on acco1nt
Of the opiniJ Of tho psrson casting II on 10
subject OF bigamy or polyg my. BIT
each mouse OF SUN AssSnlD Y, az
ter jts organization, shall have the
powPf TO decide upon the elections and
qualifications OF it, members, snl at o: after
the FIRST meeting OF said Legislative ASsem'ls.
whose meubers shall have been cieriad and re-
turned according to the provisions OF this act
said Legislative Assembly may make such laws,
to the organic act Of said Terri
tory, and not inconsistent with other laws OF
the United States. IA IL shall deem proper con-
cerning the filling of any Offices in said Terri
tory declared vacant by this act